New Year's Day part 2

Back at our house we were joined by the Axbergs and Luekens for some games

The masterminds try to "check" their opponents move (nice pun, huh?)

Take two!
I love word games where you make your own scrabble board and race against the other players to use your letters first

Yo, Ho! A Pirates Life for me... aka A pirates version of the game Life

Next a new, old game was brought out... Diplomacy.
Instructions were read...

...Orders for the troops written...

...treatise and truces made...

...troops moved...

... and territory won or lost.

Though it is only for a certain number of players, it was just as fun watching them... or spying for certain players ;-)

Meanwhile some kind of dominoes game is started on the other table

Looks like someone did good!

I think Emma has that "special touch" with babies

In the evening we had a time of reading and praying...

...and worship. It was great having the boys be able to play the guitar and drums together.

To end the day, we watched Homeschool Dropouts... a documentary pointing out the six sins our generation faces, how much our parents have done for us, and whether we will drop the ball or further that which we have been given. I would highly recommend it... and it is currently on sale for those who are interested: Homeschool Dropouts

The end of our faithful van

Sunday morning on the way to church our van spun out of control on the icy road and did a 180º into a telephone pole on the opposite side of the road. The impact shattered one of the windows and crunched the door. Micaiah was holding his cinnamon roll then after the crash he looked down and his hands were empty... instead there was glass everywhere as well as Mom's coffee.

Another view from where I was sitting. I think we were all rather shocked... Matthew lost his memory of what happened for about an hour (he still doesn't remember taking this picture), but is better now (or at least back to "normal" :-])... everyone is just sore all over.
"For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone." Psalm 91:11-12

A view from the outside.. none of the doors on this side would open. Praise the Lord it wasn't any further back or it would have been where Micaiah was sitting and further forward would have been where Matthew was.

We have been so blessed to have this van for over 8 years and thankful for the many miles it has lasted (we added almost 200,000) and multiple places we have been able to visit by having it.
"The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the LORD."

Tennis Anyone?

On the way to play tennis, we went by the playground and had to stop and run up and down the ladders and slides.

Jordan caught me with his camera....

...while Marscel seemed to be caught by the playground.

William and his lambies

Pa the pro

Warming up...

...to get a high ball

Did you see that?

Bring. It. On.

And it's over

I think it's so cute how he has his hand behind the pacifier holding it in. I guess we weren't entertaining enough for him

Yorktown Day

Let the picture posting begin... I don't have time to post all the pictures at once, instead I shall have to post it in "episodes" by day. As there were around 2000 pictures taken I decided to post some more of our favorites that Jordan didn't post. Be sure to check his blog out for more: http://niednagel.com/blog.htm

Every day the Lord blessed us with so many blessings big and small. Melissa found out that we would be in VA on the same day that General Cornwallis surrendered his troops at Yorktown: October 19, 1781... 228 years earlier. All the houses would be free to tour, as well as parades and demonstrations throughout the day.

Waiting to depart with the greatest patience

"Welcome to Yorktown!"

"Please enjoy your stay"

Barely visible among the blanket it's no wonder various people asked if he was real

It is said that Thomas Nelson Jr. urged General Washington to fire at his own home upon hearing that it was used by Cornwallis as his headquarters.

Jor-bro and the brick wall... epic, huh?

One of the demonstrations. I don't think the guy in front would last very long

Cutest colonial couple EVER!

The leaders of the brownie brigade

Siblings across the centuries

I never get tired of holding him... my arms may, but I don't

It was the first time our family had been to VA since the Jamestown 400 treasure hunt that we participated in. It brought back so many memories as we found the different places we found answers to clues at. Pa and Jordan hadn't been with us so it was fun showing them all the places we had been to and sharing with them the different stories we remembered. What an amazing time to see God's providential hand played out in our lives as we studied the providential events and lives of those that came before us. Giving there lives, standing up for their family and freedom all based on God's word ~ "Good government generally begins in the family, and if the moral character of a people once degenerate, their political character must soon follow." ~Elias Boudinot
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up" Deuteronomy 6:4-7

One of my favorite pictures of the week

Walking the fields between redoubts 9 and 10...

... and stopping because of some nasty little burs. Pa was so sweet to keep picking them off my ankles as I held William

I will remember the works of the LORD;
Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
I will also meditate on all Your work,
And talk of Your deeds. Psalm 77:11-12

Another cannon with historical Pa

Ma belle soeur marche par.

'Ello darling!

We paused upon these steps talking about what we had seen, enjoying the sites, and taking pictures with tourists before heading 'home'.

Hello all,

We just got back from a wonderful week in Virginia with Jordan, Melissa, and William. We took most of the pictures on their camera so I have to wait till I can get those from them, but while we wait I though I'd post a few "teaser" pictures that we got on our camera.

What better teaser then a picture of William one of the highlights of the trip

This kid already knows when a picture is being taken of him.

The sleeping angel... more to come (hopefully soon)