Sand Dunes

This photo was taken on our way back. James and I estimated that the hike was about 4 miles round trip. The sand dunes were massive in some places making the hike a great -labor-intensive- excursion. This is why all my children are hiding under this sage brush for a little rest.

Dad taught Wes to run as fast as you can on the sand dune and... jump !!!

The sand was still wet in some places. We of coarse had to take advantage of making sand castles.

Dad found a lizard!

I think this photo beautifully demonstrates the massiveness of the sand dunes.

Healthy Living

For my birthday, James bought me a long desired for vegetarian cookbook. I want my kids to have home cooked meals, which they already do, but I'm needing more variety. This was the first meal I made for lunch. It is Italian sauce with veggies and ricotta cheese, veggie crumble, and a Italian biscuit topping with mozzarella and olives. It was a good one, but their all time favorite is tortellini soup with blue cheese biscuits, which I didn't get a picture of.

The weather has been incredible down here. We decided to spend the Sabbath day on the river by where James grew up on the farm. We had lots of fun exploring. The boys climbed "mountains" attempting to catch wild beasts, "lizards", and see who could make the biggest splash in the water. Weston told me he wishes he could live there so he could do that everyday. I know that stung a chord in James' heart as he wish to give his boys a similar situation comparable to his upbringing. I got to walk alone with Timmy as James, Alli, and Wes explored the hill tops. Timmy likes adventure, but sometimes leans towards the low key side of exploration. In our walk he tells me, "Mom, I want to be a missionary when I grow-up." I reply, "When you grow-up?! Timmy, Jesus wants you to be one now." It was an awesome conversation as I told him how being a missionary didn't mean you had to travel to Africa. He also inquired in to the idea of being baptized. I love it! Oh, Lord I pray that as he grows the bad influences of this world don't keep him from having a heart pure for God, and that the desires of his heart will not be moved.

One More Year

One more year. I really don't like adding years to the ones I already have, but I really don't get a choice. It's sometimes hard to figure out what to do on my birthday. Skiing? Hot Tubbing? Snow shoeing? Ahh, that's about it. But, this year my awesome husband made it special. For three weeks he had been planning me a surprise party. Family traveled down, and tons of my friends from Walla Walla, and here in Tri-Cities, came to celebrate. I had no clue! Didn't see this one coming, he was that good. The food was excellent. Of course, it was Thai. And the laughter and fun lasted till the wee hours of the morning. I would love to show you pictures, but I was unprepared. If I knew I was gonna have a party, I would have remembered it, hehehe.

Cinnamon & Sugar

Here is one of my families favorite reasons why they like my famous homemade veggi pot pie. I make enough dough for James to make a pumpkin pie. Then I roll out the extra crust trimmings, cookie cut shapes onto a cookie sheet, and then sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. I then bake them for a couple minutes. While the pies are baking, we savor every bite of the delicious sweet flakiness. We could have gotten a picture of us enjoying these scrumcious treats, but we were too busy stuffing our face.

Winter Vacation

This is the park just behind our home. It doesn't snow much here in Richland, but enough for us to play in. It's always fun to be the first to start new tracks in the snow.

I love this picture! If I could of only been able to capture the screams of joy as they raced down the hill for you to hear.

You gotta make a quick -trick- stack.

Our back porch.

And there's nothing like a bear ride from Grandpa Tom. We did have lots of fun this break. And also did tons more work in our backyard today, prepping for spring. The boys are off to school tomorrow, =( ...or so Weston feels. I am really looking forward to warm weather again, but would really like it to snow enough to sled one more time.

Christmas 2009

Just a few of the many wonderful highlights this Christmas with the Pettett family...

5 more days till Christmas

We are all eagerly awaiting Christmas morning when family all gathers around, wrapping paper goes flying, and excitement springs forth from my little ones like finding buried treasure. Its been a long year, so much has happened, all of our lives have changed so much, but all for the better. I'm looking forward to the next year as we make our new home more special for our family. We have plans for a garden, expanding the grass areas to play, and of coarse a tree play house with a zip line that runs from the play house to the back porch. I especially can't wait for color to be added to the walls, Allis room to be decorated, and more family photos to hang in the hall way. I really look forward to adding another year to my marriage as I believe I am the luckiest girl in the world.