Seems About Right

Cemetery. I Mean Seminary.

Tristan's seminary class has been doing some really cool things.

All pictures and captions have been stolen from their class Facebook page.

From October 27:  Seminary is so intense!!!...and thought provoking!!!

At Christmas time, they searched the scriptures for names used for Jesus.  

This is the wreath they decorated with ornaments displaying those names. 

RaeAnn's daughter came to visit, so I subbed for the class for several days.  

RaeAnn made breakfast to celebrate Tristan's birthday.

From March 11:  Last week we had a paper airplane contest!!! 

The purpose of this for those of you who are wondering.... Sin (the paperclip on the wing) will weigh you down!!! 

So repent and fly high and on a straight course to Eternal life!!!

From today:  We have spent 2 days discussing putting on the "Whole Armor of God". We would like to introduce you to Andre Douglas Rami VI...with his shield of Faith, his belt of Truth, his helmet of Salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, his feet shod in the Gospel of Peace and the sword which represents the Word of God!!! 

Ephesians 6:10-18...one of my favorite parts of the New Testament!!!

Also from today:  This has been a fun week...One day we decorated cookies...we went back into the pre-existence

(see the veil in the doorway) and thought about what the pre-existence would have been like.

Jackson-isms

~  "It feels like my whole body is broke."

~  "Burrr!  It's cold.  It's like a hundred thirty cold out there."

~  To Holden:  "Please excuse me, sir!"

~  "How long did it take Jesus to make the days?"

~  "Did you know that the moon and the stars are nocturnal?"

~  "If you're makin' waffles, then I'm eatin'.  If you're not makin' waffles, then I'm not eatin'."

~  "Where was I yesterday?"

~  "I don't want to be in the same blanket with a wet guy!"  (When Ethan crawled in bed with him to snuggle, after a shower, with wet hair.)

I've Been Waiting

~ From Tuesday, February 19, 2013 ~

Tristan got his driver's license yesterday.

And today, this happened in my driveway.

People wonder if I'm scared, how I am ready to allow this to happen.

I've been preparing him for this day for over a year now.
I don't know who is more ready, him or me.

I was dancing with joy, jumping up and down, singing hallelujahs.

Wrestling Banquet

Last Monday night was Tristan's wrestling banquet.  It was held at one of the wrestlers's houses.  His dad had a pretty fancy set up in their garage, so we hung out there and ate and talked before the awards.  He also had a fireplace outside on the patio where the boys hung out some of the time.

This is Tristan with Coach Peanut.  The other coaches were Bobby Aucoin and Coach Roach.  I missed getting pictures of them.  Tristan really loved wrestling this year.  He made some new friends and learned some cool new moves.  He suffered some bruises and gashes and gained about six pounds of muscle.  (Some of that was probably gained during Junior Bronco Wrestling.)

Overall, I think it was a very good season.  The sport of wrestling was totally new to all of us and we learned as we went.  I'm very proud of Tristan for being so willing to try something new, for going after what he wants and working hard at it.  I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but looking forward to next season!

Tristan's Sweet Sixteen

~ From Friday, March 1, 2013 ~

To celebrate Tristan's Sixteenth Birthday, we planned a laser tag party on the USS Orleck.

Tristan, Nick Pietz, Ethan, Zac Goad, Phillip Comeaux, Bryce Anderson, 

Ty Anderson, Gabriel Wing, and Jared Vermillion.

The USS Orleck was built in 1945 by Consolidated Steel Shipbuilding in Orange, Texas.  The USS Orleck DD886 was launched into the Sabine River on May 12 1945, and entered duty on September 15.  She served proudly in Korea and Vietnam, earning many prestigious awards and citations for participation in battle and service to her country, including four battle starts earned during the Korean Conflict.  

She was decommissioned in 1982, transferred to the Turkish government, renamed the TCG Yucetpe, and served the Turkish Navy in the Persian Gulf in 1991.  Turkey donated the ship to the Southeast Texas War Memorial and Heritage Foundation in 1999 to serve as a museum ship.  She returned to her original berth in Orange by tow August 11, 2000 where she served as a museum ship until Hurricane Rita resulted in the loss of her berth.  She is now docked in the Lake Charles River and serves as a museum during the day, and an awesome background for laser tag at night.

Boys being goofy!

 In the picture on the right is Gavin Hilliard.  He was not in the picture above.  

I did not realize it but a couple boys had gone to the restroom when I was taking pictures.

Andrew Aucoin refusing to let me take his picture.

Jackson insisted we have a surprise party for Tristan.  When we could not arrange for the party to be a surprise, we sent Tristan out for a while and made everyone hide so that we could jump out and yell "SURPRISE!!"  Jackson was in heaven.

Zac hid behind the flag, while Ethan hid behind a chip.

Everyone hiding!

Video of Tristan's surprise!!  http://youtu.be/2rGi1XtPr14
Jackson was so excited.  So was Tristan.

Most of my pictures of everyone playing did not turn out well, but I did get these.
~ Allen ~

~ Holden and Ethan ~

~ Finally, a shot of Andrew ~

~ Tristan and Savannah ~

Lighting the candles on his piece of cake.

Everyone had so much fun!
The ship is now all that Jackson and Ethan can talk about and they are both hoping we will
throw them laser tag parties on the ship as well.

My Valentine's Day Poem

~ From February 14, 2013 ~

By:  Jackson

Trucks are red.
Cars are blue.
Cookies are sweet,
And so are you!!!


By:  Holden

I love.....
My Mommy!  My Daddy!
My Ethan!  My brother!
My Jackson because they are my friends!

Happy Valentine's Day!!