Our Future Marine.















Pretty happy cowgirl with her new hat and boots.















*A little bit farther, Maggie*














The now headless snowman.

Life is full of worry.










Our Guatemalan Refugee






















The twerpy two year old.















Our little indian.

Sisters...


































A perfect contrast from the picture above.














..and of course there was the lovely hospital aprons. (just to let y'all know, sister forced me to put this picture on here).




















The oldest and the youngest.

Ok, here is the typical blog-wrong-order pictue post:










Mama and baby are doing well.


































Moments after birth: Talitha Marie










We'll get more posted tomorrow!

The time is near!














The following Gingerbread house was made on Monday by Havilah and decorated yesterday by both her and myself (Lyd). Along with much funny conversation (mostly because we were divided on what to do)
i.e.
Person No. 1: What should we do for the roof?
No. 2: Well, we could put that there and then...
No. 1: No no! that would look bad.
No. 2: Ok, well let me just try it.
No. 1: ^_^
No. 2: *reaches over too fast and knocks over a tree*
No. 1: *horror stricken* Lydddia!!! Look what you just did!
No. 2: * picks up tree which is now dabbed in frosting*
No. 1: Hey that looks cool!
No. 2: *knocks over the next one*
No. 1: *laughing*





















Been meaning to post this for a while...LCPL Benton











A momentary solomn look from the trouble maker.

This is our driveway, several several inches of ice. This is why many have gone off the roads and continue to do so.














A random iced fence post.














And yet another picture of an iced tree. Sorry about the excessive amount but it is fasinating.














The noth side of the house...layered with ice.














...a closer view.

Bushes...resulting in many tree's breaking in the high winds.













Our North window screens have a cool look...there iced.



















This is a field...not much snow left on it, it all blew into our yard.














And below here...is just a poor tree loaded with ice.

This poor blog is being updated...sorry for the long delay. I am writing an entry but perhaps sister dear will get some pictures on here soon.

Pride and Prejudice: Currently playing in theatres

Point 1: The Actors
Point 2: The Movie's setting
point 3: About Endings

In this post I do not wish to go on a rant about the movie but merely make a few pointers and a couple likes and dislikes of the movie. Last night with 13 other girls I went and saw it...although the movie was disappointing it was a fun (and a very cold) get together.

The Actors:

I think all the actors did poorly for there parts with the exception of Mr. Collins. He was perhaps better than the Mr. Collins in the A & E version of P & P and his parts often resulted in heartily laughs. Although I thoroughly enjoyed Keria Knightley acting as Elizabeth in Pirates of the Caribbean she did not make an Elizabeth Bennett. She does not have enough oomph in her character to play such a part. Mr. Bingly was "tolerable" he reminded me of a Uriah Heap character and certainly not the energetic and polite Mr. Bingly you think of. And they defiantly should have switched Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham parts.

The Movie's Settings:

Overall the costumes, makeup, and scenery were poor. In the A & E version you appreciate the movie twice as much because of the vast quality in costume and makeup and the hair styles.
In this newest version they did show Mr. Darcy's house and Lady Catherine de Bourgh's house on the outside as great estates. But, no architecture was shown in the inside and was less appreciative.

About Endings:

The last scene was by far the worst in the movie (a ridiculous kissing scene). And, something that was much unlike Jane Austin and Elizabeth Bennett. A movie that holds true Jane Austin likeness cannot end in mush. Jane Austin was certainly romantic but not mushy.

The conclusion in this newest version did not show any Christian virtues. The elopement of Lydia Bennett was made of as nothing...it showed now sin or guilt on Lydia's part. Mr. Darcy's pride ended up being nothing and at the end of the movie there was no change in his character. The foolish side of both Mr. and Mrs. Bennett was not really brought out. And, Mr. Wickham's evil charter was scarcely shown.

Overall, it appears they made the movie merely for money. It's sappy melodramaticness caused my sister and I to laugh throughout it...I think for my sister to the point of tears. She certainly wasn't moved to tears by it's sentimental state. My love for the A & E version was only increased by seeing this one. Especially because it is 6 hours and not 2. The newest version was so fast pace that you scarcely could keep up with it. And, I now realize that without a good conclusion a movie/book or anything isn't worth much.

I could say more but time calls me away.

-Lydia

Hmm...looks like I need to find some of the other kids. The one of Mary is self taken....lol....
Another the influence of country music? just a guess :D
And no. they are not twins.

Ok, I didn't realize that these pictures actually got posted yesterday. I tried to do it several times but it refused to work so I gave up. Sorry were such terrible bloggers on here, these are just a couple pictures of the three girls from the last couple months. -Lydia

I updated! My brother and my Californian cousin, Crystal.

This poem is too good to pass by...please read and enjoy.


The Quitter

When you're lost in the Wild, and you're scared as a child,

And Death looks you bang in the eye,

And you're sore as a boil, it's according to Hoyle

To cock your revolver and . . . die.

But the Code of a Man says: "Fight all you can,"

And self-dissolution is barred.

In hunger and woe, oh, it's easy to blow . . .

It's the hell-served-for-breakfast that's hard.

"You're sick of the game!" Well, now, that's a shame.

You're young and you're brave and you're bright.

"You've had a raw deal!" I know -- but don't squeal,

Buck up, do your damnedest, and fight.

It's the plugging away that will win you the day,

So don't be a piker, old pard!

Just draw on your grit; it's so easy to quit:

It's the keeping-your-chin-up that's hard.

It's easy to cry that you're beaten -- and die;

It's easy to crawfish and crawl;

But to fight and to fight when hope's out of sight --

Why, that's the best game of them all!

And though you come out of each gruelling bout,

All broken and beaten and scarred,

Just have one more try -- it's dead easy to die,

It's the keeping-on-living that's hard.


--- Robert Service

Little turkey.

The Twerp has now turned two....

...And doesn't she act like it. I didn't expect the change to happen quite so fast, but it has. One day we have a nice little one year old and the next she hits two and turns terrible. Yes, the terrible two's have come.

Miss Esther, on Wednesday morning, her birthday:

Sitting up on my bed playing with several ponies, she is kept up in our girls room because mom and younger siblings are wrapping up a few gifts downstairs. I come up and take the other half of the bed and attempt to study a school book.

Esther talking to ponies:

"argh argh argh" ...Ponies are galloping around

"drink..drink, drink some coffee" ponies is tipped and is obviously drinking off the blanket the refreshing coffee.

I couldn't keep back laughing when she said "drink coffee" so I corrected her and told her horses drink water, but she didn't mind me.

Next she rearranges blanket, smoothes down and fixes the pillow behind her. Ponies are not in the right spot either, each must be carefully moved to her right side instead of on top of her. After a couple more minutes of playing she repeats the careful art of moving them to the spot that is "just right".

Next: Esther is a ghost disguised with a blanket draped over her...She attempts to walk on the bed but ends up tripping on edge of blanket and falling down.
Now, all the ponies are to be put under the blanket. Note: very carefully.

Ponies are forgotten as Esther realizes that I make and excellent source for climbing. After I got her off she still can't seem to resist disturbing me.

Soon she is a monster. She stands up on the bed puts her arms up and hands out. "Argggh...Argggggh". (if you've ever read "where the wild things are" that is exactly what she looked like).

"Don't jump on my bed" I warned. She looked at me took the risk and hopped up and down. Rachel was on her bed studying and we looked at each other and couldn't help laughing (despite how bad it was)...The monster scenes ends with a swat.

Whew, mom and kids are finally finished down stairs and the "monster" can go.

And as far as scenes with terrible two year olds....She started out her birthday by attempting to throw a temper tantrum.

The witness ~Lydia

Wait for me!


Dad and 'the cat'