Happy Valentine's Day

We had an early start on Valentine's celebration with a party at our friend Lori's house. She was so gracious to provide all the craft materials for the kids to make cards for the daddies. Andy had a great time drawing and decorating his card.

The weekend before Valentine's Day, we decided to make cards for the shut-ins from High Pointe. Emily and Andy got distracted once they saw their old painting materials. I was left to finish off all those cards.

On Valentine's Day, Emily brought home the valentine's cards she made at school.

Andy and I made these apple pie hearts for dessert at lunch. We forgot how good they were. Next year, we are going to double the recipe!

 For the dinner treat, we made these chocolate cupcakes. The chocolate peanut butter icing was so good that we decided to keep using it for all the chocolate dessert we are going to make in the future.

 

 Just in time, the tulips in the front yard bloomed beautifully.

Many people took a hot air balloon ride on Valentine's Day. We saw at least eight from our back yard.

 

 Since the birds found our bird feeder, the bird food went down quickly each day. Different flocks of birds take turns to eat the seeds. The black birds usually were the first. They gathered on the top of the big trees outside the back yard. Then all of a sudden they all flew down to eat while the doves watched them on the fence. After the black birds left, the doves jumped in until their tummies got full. Then it was the cardinals, sparrows, and other birds' turn. Occasionally we saw some humming birds stopping by.

The week after the Valentine's Day, the City of McKinney stocked 4000 trout fish in a neighborhood lake for the public to participate in a fishing derby. Emily and Andy were so excited to go on their first fishing experience. Unfortunately it was way too cold for us to stay outside. We left withing an hour. What Andy remembered the most was the free hotdog (we went for the hot chocolate but it was all gone. The only things left was hotdogs.)- it was the very first hot dog he's had!

Our friends Bill and Jean Ann came to visit. Will and little David had a great time with the horses.

Andy still likes to use his left hand. I secretly hope he uses his right hand in the future.

 The kids enjoy playing together in the back yard. I was glad to see them finding ways to work together and have fun.

 

 Our friend Clint came to our house to shoot an interview for his work. After seeing all his equipment, Emily took out her little camera to practice shooting pictures.

 

 Our friend Cathy and Gene Vance brought us their home-made bread when they visited us. It was the best bread I've had. I couldn't believe they made it at home. So I decided to give it a try. It turned out to be the best bread I've made. It's called Seeded Whole Wheat Bread (Similar to Whole Food’s “Seeduction” bread). So yummy!

We got the sad news that Emily's teacher Mrs. Oliver is moving away. Emily wanted to take a picture with her on her last day because "Mrs. Oliver is my best friend at school"! We will miss her.

 

We had a great start on FriendSpeak at High Pointe. We had four readers on the first Sunday; six on the second Sunday; eight on the third; ... We'll have about fifteen this weekend just by "word of mouth". David is going to give the second training this Sunday. Hopefully we will have enough workers for every reader.

 



 

 

             For God so loVed the world,

     That He gAve   

         His onLy   

      BegottEn
          SoN
                                       That whosoever
          Believe In Him

                                            Should Not perish                         

                        But have Everlasting life."
John 3:16