Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!! We hope that you all enjoyed a day of celebration with good friends and family. We were so blessed to spend Christmas eve and Christmas day with our familes. We are looking forward to seeing our San Diego family soon!

On Christmas Eve the girls performed in a short concert during the service at church. Here is a picture of them just before the concert. Daniel looked pretty sharp in a blue suit (complete with miniature blazer) but I wasn't able to snap a shot of him.

We love you all and hope that you enjoy your last few days of 2008. Where did the time go??

Blessings,
The Francis 6

Disneyland

We just got back from a wonderful overnight trip to Disneyland! The kids were totally surprised and soaked up every minute of it. Enjoy!

Rocket's Debut...(11 weeks)

"For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well." Psalm 139:13-14

An Addition...

Just two weeks ago we saw the most wonderful sight! A strong heartbeat inside the newest member of the Francis family. That's right...we're expecting and baby is due to arrive late June 2009! We are thrilled and all seems to be going well so far. The kids are thoroughly excited and have already began tossing around some names. Daniel has decided that if he gets a little brother, "Rocket" would be an appropriate name. However, if it's a girl he prefers "Flower." Interesting =)

We are so grateful to God for this wonderful blessing!! Blessings to you all.

Much Love,
The Francis 6
(looks like we may have to change the blog name!)

Long Overdue Updates.....

My trusty digital camera has now moved onto greener pastures. It may have had something to do with the superglue I used in an attempt to fix part of it, but I am trying to convince Dan that it's unexpected passing was due to natural causes. Savannah has been letting me use her camera over the past couple of weeks. Yet, our computer has decided to reject it's memory card. So, what I'm trying to say is that I have no photos to share of McKayla's wonderful 5th birthday, her first toothless grin, or the Chumash Indian Museum the kids and I went to. UGH!!

So, yes, our little McKayla is officially 5! She had a fabulous birthday celebrating with our So. Cal. family. The following Saturday Dan and I took her to breakfast and out to build-a-bear. I don't think she stopped giggling the entire time. Just days before her B-day she decided she was done with her training wheels, hopped on her two-wheeler and rode away into the cul-de-sac. Several days later, while eating green beans, out popped her tooth. Talk about fast maturity!

Hopefully, over the next day or two we'll get the camera up and running so I can post some pictures! NEXT UP....another important family update....stay tuned =)

Autumn Harvest!

Our Autumn Harvest celebrations began back on Wednesday, so sorry we haven't posted in a while. On Wednesday night at church the girls were allowed to come dressed up. So Savannah went as a Veterinarian, McKayla went as Cinderella and Daniel (not wanting to miss out on the fun) dressed up as a football player. He wanted to wear Dan's cowboy hat with the Guiness Brewery patch on the front, but we thought that might not go over well at the church youth group.
Last night, we went to a local church Harvest Party where the kids went "Trunk or Treating." Savannah was Ariel, McKayla was Cinderella and Daniel was Mr. Incredible. I'm sure you can see from the pictures that he's been working out with Dan to make the costume authentic. Daniel kept looking in his candy bag and saying "Is this for me? Is this my candy?" Perhaps he wanted to claim the bag of sugary goodness for himself so no sister could manipulate their way into it.
From there we went back to a friend's house where the kids carved pumpkins and made candied apples. Hope you all enjoyed your evenings...be sure to forward us your pictures!!!

Homemade Applesauce

This week the little kids are learning all about Apples! So, we found a great recipe for Homemade Crock Pot Applesauce. They had a blast making it and tasting it was even better. =)
If had to do it again I might cut back a bit on the amount of water and sugar. However, it was still pretty tasty. Enjoy....

8-10 Medium sized apples (we used gala apples); peeled, cored and diced.
1/2 cp. water
1 cp. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Place apples and water in crock pot on medium for 4 hrs. Then add the sugar and cook for another 30 minutes. Finally, top with cinnamon.

Field Trip to the Farm

Really, what is better than pumpking picking in the fall? Not much. Fall is our absolute favorite season! Ok, so really it's just my favorite season but I force everyone else to love it. Yesterday we made our way to a local farm to choose the perfect pumpkins and experience farm life (we're studying farm animals.)Savannah couldn't wait to pet the animals and McKayla was so excited to milk a cow (she was serious about this whole farm experience). However, cow-milking was not part of the visit, much to her dismay. Daniel just wanted to sit on the tractors.

I did realize that we needed to brush up on our knowledge of farm animals when Daniel held a carrot out to a donkey and said "Hey Goat, come here." =)

From the pictures, I think you can see that it was a great day!! Happy Fall!

Nashville Trip

What a great birthday weekend this was! We were SO blessed to visit our beloved friends (a.k.a Nashville Family) from Thursday-Sunday. Savannah came with Dan and I, while Meema was in charge of Daniel and McKayla. There was no doubt that they had spent the weekend with "Grandma" when Daniel said to me (the day after we returned) "Mom, can we go to the mall? I mean to Macy's?" Hmmm, wonder what they were up to =).
It was a bit of a whirlwind trip, but we loved every minute of it. It was a strange feeling to be staying in a hotel and driving a rental car in our "home" but, still, it was a blast. Thank you to all of you who made our trip (and my Bday) so special, we won't forget it! Enjoy the slide show with some of the highlights. Love to all.

Just Like Big Sis'

McKayla wanting to be "just like sis."
(Savannah is the one in the blue leotard)

Future Ballerinas??

Making Mama Proud...

Life would not be nearly as exciting without kids. Seriously, they're the only ones who can have us laughing and crying in the same moment! Lest any parent think too highly of him or herself, just spend 2o minutes with your child to receive your full dose of humility. So here are some of those moments from this week in our family.I'd like to call them the "Making Mama proud" moments...
_________________________________________________________________
#1
McKayla: (in the car while listening to a song titled "Revolution.") Mom, what's a revolution?

Me: Well, it means a big change in something.

McKayla: So, like, God is a revolution?

Me: Well, sort of. I guess you could say that Jesus was a revolutionary.

McKayla: (chuckling smugly) well, that's just because He was president.


#2
After months of encouragement and "positive reinforcement," we had a break-through with Daniel's potty training. He has been quite willing to pee in the potty but has been much more reluctant regarding "the other." While Savannah was in ballet class, I took Daniel and McKayla down to the park, which was at the same location. Daniel began some sort of Irish jig that involved holding on to his backside which signaled to "Get this kid to the nearest bathroom IMMEDIATELY!" On the way into the bathroom he eyed the vending machine, more specifically the M&M package.
"Oooo, can I have some of those?" Ignoring the statement, although wondering how he could have even thought of that with the impending explosion growing closer, we made it to the bathroom. No luck. He wasn't interested and he wasn't about to go potty. So just as we were getting ready to head out he said
"Um, can I have some of those M&M's?" Seeing a major opportunity and some serious leverage I said "Well, are you going to go potty?" (Bribery, you say? Pshaw, merely positive reinforcement, of course.)
"Oh yes! I'll go potty!" Finally.......SUCCESS!! Beaming with pride, he sauntered up to that vending machine like he'd just won the jackpot. Coins in, buttons pressed...Daniel reached in for the M&M's as a giggle escaped, so proud of himself. He savored every bite while we watched Savannah finish up her class. Afterwards, the teacher invited all of the dancers, and siblings, up for stickers. And yes, this is where the story turns south.

Me: "Daniel, tell the teacher thank you for the stickers."

Daniel: (to the teacher) "Thank you."

He begins to walk away, when the look as though he has forgotten something comes over his face. He runs back over to the teacher (in the middle of a conversation with another parent) and says, at the top of his lungs for the whole dance class to hear..."DO YOU SEE THESE M&M'S? THEY'RE MINE AND I GOT THEM BECAUSE I-WENT-POOOOOOOOO-POOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!"

Oh yes, I'm so proud.

#3
McKayla: (supposed to be in bed, pops in while I am typing on the computer)
Mom, I just read the word Ass.

Me: Um, what?

McKayla: Yeah I know. I did it all by myself. Savannah didn't even help me. I read Ass.

Mom: Where...how did....?

McKayla: (holding up a horse and donkey book) See, it's right there A-S-S. Oh, hey, this other one looks like a good horse too. Good night. (runs up to bed).

Well, I guess the good part is that she's learning to read, right? I know...in 10 years...we're in so much trouble.



#4

Savannah modeling the latest in hair fashion. She couldn't decide which of her new bows to wear...thoughts? Advice? Numbers for good therapists?

The Aquarium

So, time has escaped me and I've let a most blog-worthy event slip through my fingers. I did manage to capture some photos but I can't say that the following event fits into our posts chronologically. So...let's just pretend it does.

Not so long ago in a far away land called Long Beach the kiddos and I took a "field trip" to a fabulous aquarium. We just happened to be studying the Creation story, specifically sea and sky creatures, when, lo and behold, we received a flyer about the Aquarium's homeschooling day (intersting how that worked out). Determined not to miss this opportunity, we packed up and headed out. The girls Ooooed and Ahhhed over each animal, giggling as they ran...uh....eh hem...I mean used their "appropriate walking feet" to each tank. Daniel loved them as well, but would have been much more amused to get into the tank with them. In fact, he attempted this feat in the shark touch pool...in the SHARK touch pool. Why they have sharks in a touch pool is beyond me but...I digress. I think Daniel summed it up when he said "Mom, it was a great day at the Quaqarium!"

Savannah hand-feeding the Lorakeets.


Daniel contemplating his entry into the Shark Touch Pool.



Visiting the Seals.


Savannah attempts a "feel box" at a learning station while
her "friend" looks on.



Morey Eels.....creepy but cool.


Petting the baby Sting Rays.

Daniel the Tumblebee...

About a month ago the local "Parks and Recreation" catalog arrived at our house. Excitedly, the kids perused it searching for some class that suited them. Savannah, the animal-lover, chose "Animal Drawing." McKayla, the inquisitive intellectual chose "Preschool Spanish" (so she's adequately prepared should she run into Dora) and Daniel chose "Tumblebees. "A gymnastics class held on a school bus that has been converted into a preschool gym. The mini-gymnasts can hang from the ceiling, climb on the windows and do somersaults down the aisle. So, basically they can do everything they like to do at home. . . .except with permission =)

Daniel climbed up onto the bus confidently but was a little shy around Coach Ryan....at first. Of course by the end, Daniel was trying to take him down in a sleeper hold.

Our little guy is growing up!!!

Daniel heading onto the Tumblebees Bus.


Circle Time with Coach Ryan



Politely posing for his mother by the bus


Static Cling anyone?

Gotta love that dry California weather.

At the Lake...

So the other day, the kids and I decided to get out and head down to the Lake. There we were minding our own business (and taking cute pictures) when...


They spotted something in the water.



Daniel moved in for closer observation.



Sure enough, they were none other than the "Westlake Ducks."
Known to be rather brave around humans yet ferociously feisty should you
be harboring bread.


Oh so sneaky, they waddled away pretending they didn't see us!

But as we were leaving the unmistakable sound of soggy webbed

feet pitter-pattered behind us as we headed for the car (the kids were on to him).

We tried to get away but he was closing in on us.

He was staring us down with those little beady eyes...suddenly...

Daniel couldn't take the pressure and he made a break for it!