Crazy Hat and Hairstyle Day at AWANA

Fall Pictures

Ask and Ye Shall Receive... -or- We Finally Found the Camera

Hannah made this journal for her friend's birthday.

She decorated Abby's gift box as well.

Boxes made for the candy to sell in the shop.

Paper flower wreath for the shop (hope this doesn't sell- I want it).

Abby's finished paint-by-numbers. It will go in Jacob's room later.

Hope's paint by numbers.

Cabinet is a work in progress.

Beadboard for the back.

Bottom of the cabinet waiting for Brian to put the drawers in and to make the feet.

P.S.: Camera found in Hope's room, in a basket for tea party dishes that was stored in her oven. Wonder why we couldn't find it?

We lost my camera sometime after we got home from the mountains. Looked everywhere. Even moved the fridge to see if it fell behind (and vacuumed the floor under the fridge, too, while we were at it). Goodness, where could this thing be?

Brian is hoping to have the rest of the media cabinet done soon. He has finishing details like beadboard along the back on the inside, crown molding for the top, feet for the bottom. I have to figure out how we will paint it. I'd love to post a picture of how it's coming along, but...

Abby finished another paint by numbers- the one that Jacob didn't want to do. Now she's on to another one that is more her style. She also got her driver's permit and has enjoyed driving around.

Hannah has been working more on her booth this week, getting ready for the holiday season. She was encouraged when one person bought seven of her cards at one time. So, thank you to that person out there!

Jacob is working hard on school. He is especially enjoying his studies about engineering. He really liked learning about Demolition Engineering. My sweet quiet boy wants to learn more about blowing things up. Oh goody.

Hope is loving AWANA. She said six verses this week and earned her book and t-shirt. She loves being able to spend more time with her friends as well.

I am still working everyday with my vision therapy. Sometimes my vision gets blurry at the wrong times (like while driving) since my brain gets confused what it's supposed to be telling my eyes what to do... But overall I am enjoying being able to see more comfortably. I had a face-to-face conversation with someone this week and my eyes didn't get tired afterward, which is wonderful. Seeing fall in a bit of 3D has been a fantastic experience. I never knew the world was so beautiful.

Hope to find the camera soon!

Breckenridge

Brian has obviously been working waaay too hard on the media cabinet this week, so it was time to give him a break and head for the hills.

Who needs Wal-Mart when you can have "Al-Mart"?

This was on the same block as Al-Mart. There are no words for this.

AH, this is what we came for!

And this.

And this.

Beautiful fall colors.

At the coffee shop in Breckenridge.

Sadly, not everyone was happy the entire time.

But it was fun to get away for the day.

Watch out for that first step...

Brian's Project

Brian brought in the shell of the media cabinet to see if it is going to fit.

He noted that our TV will, unfortunately, look very puny in this cabinet! Ah well. At least no one will know when the doors are closed.

He's hoping to get the rest of it finished this next week when he takes time off.

Booth Decorated For Fall

Tonight is "Girlfriend's Night Out" at the shops. There will be refreshments along with shopping.

We went by to make sure Hannah's booth looked alright for the event.

We added a few new fall cards to the baskets.

Hope all those ladies want to buy cards!

Around the House -or- I think I may have forgetten how to blog.

The newest obsession here on the windswept plains? Paint by numbers. Amazing what joy a little Michaels clearance sale shopping can bring.

Abby even listened to some of her school work while painting. It was the first thing she wanted to do when she woke up and she would paint as late as she could (til the sunlight wasn't bright enough to work).

Hannah painted the really big one.

I'm planning to frame it and put it in the master bathroom. It reminds me of the chalk paintings that Burt made in "Mary Poppins". I don't think I'll be able to visit this charming village by jumping into the picture, sadly.

Here is Abby's finished painting. She has it in her room above her bed. She's working on the one I got for Jacob now (Jacob wasn't interested).

Ready for church.

Interview with Brian Price

Brian Price was born on April 27, 1964 in Los Gatos California to Lloyd and Virginia Price. Brian has two older brothers, Harlan and Marty, and a sister who passed away shortly after birth. I (Jennifer) met Brian on the steps of a church here in Denver while waiting to get into a "Glad" concert. A friend of mine saw Brian standing over by himself, and thinking he was an usher, told me to go ask him where the reserved tickets were. Brian was waiting for his friends to arrive and had no idea where the reserved tickets were, but we did talk for awhile. The next day at church, he was there in the college/career group (he went to the same church as Dad and Jon did, but since I was away at college, I had never seen him before). We saw each other off and on during the summer I was home from college and the night before I left for school, he took me home from a church function and we talked for a few hours in the car. While walking up to the house after saying good-bye it suddenly hit me- this was the guy I was going to marry! A couple of months of long-distance dating later, we decided to get married (apparently he had come to the same conclusion as I had) and by the next summer, we were married. Here is Brian's interview, in his own words:

What is your earliest memory? I remember holding my parents' hands while my hand was in a bandage from a burn. (Brian has a huge scar on his wrist from grabbing the iron off the ironing board after he had just learned to walk at the age of one). I remember learning to ski when I was five.

Do you remember your grandparents? Any special memories of them? I remember my maternal grandparents' house was across the street from a mini-market. I remember the smells of the meats, cheeses and strudels sold there. I remember playing in their house and Grandpa reading the Bible in German. With my paternal grandparents, I remember cutting their grass for them where they lived in a trailer park. I remember that they always had lemon drops at their house. Their furniture was always covered in plastic and you stuck to it when you sat down. My Grandpa Price drove incredibly slow on the freeway, so people would pass and honk at him.

Do you have any special childhood memories? The time we moved into our vacation cabin in Sun River, Oregon at Thanksgiving- we cut pine branches and decorated for the holidays. It was cozy and Christmas-y. We spent many holidays at the cabin and so Sun River holds a lot of memories for me. We liked having large bagels and cream cheese at a shop there.

We took a trip to Norway and Sweden to pick up a new car when I was in eighth grade. We traveled through the fjords (sharp mountains that go down into the sea). I remember being in Oslo for a festival and seeing the drunk people (!). We took a trip to Switzerland when I was nine for a two week bike trip. Another trip was to Germany, Italy and France when I was a junior in high school.

What was your favorite Christmas gift? Skis, boots and poles.
Least favorite gift? One year I was disappointed because I didn't get a remote control jeep that I wanted.

Favorite food as a child? Spaghetti/lasagna, apple pie, graham crackers and milk.

Did you like school? At times.
Favorite subject? German.
Least favorite? History.
Were you a good student? At times.

What did you do after high school? I went to college at Santa Rosa Junior College, Chico State, Arapahoe Community College, and CU Denver. I majored in Management Information Systems and I am currently a Senior Programmer at an insurance company.

What hobbies do you currently have? Taking out the trash, yard work.

Are you married? Tell about your first date with your spouse. Yes. We have a different opinion of when our first date was. I think it was when we went to Marie Calendars with another couple after a college group function and Jennifer thinks is was when I went to visit her in Seattle in 1990. (editor's note: A date is when the man asks the woman out beforehand and they go and do that agreed upon thing together. It is not when the man says "Hey- do you want to go to dinner with a group of us after we are done with this meeting?")

How did you meet your spouse? On the steps of a church at a "Glad" concert.

Do you have children? Yes. Hannah, Abigail, Jacob and Rachel Hope.

Other than the Bible, what is your favorite book? "Piercing the Darkness" and books by Louis L'Amour.

Where do you currently live? Franktown, Colorado.
Do you like it there? I love it here.

Finish this sentence: People say my best characteristic is..." That I am easy going.

"I wish I could change.... about myself" That I wouldn't take things so personally.

What is something people might not know about you? I'm a good skier.

What is the funniest thing your children have ever done? When Hannah was two years old, she kept kissing a little boy during the Christmas play at church.

What is the scariest thing your child/ren have ever done? When the fireplace mantle fell on Hope and Jennifer had to call 911 and take her by ambulance to the hospital when she was a year and a half old.

What do you like to do after a long day? Listen to music.

Are you an introvert or extrovert? Right in the middle. (editor's note: according to the Myers-Briggs test, he is almost right in the middle. When we were first married, he swung to the extrovert side. Now that he's lived with me for so long, he has swung to the introvert side. But still, almost smack in the middle).

What is your favorite hymn? The Old Rugged Cross, Amazing Grace.

Tell about how you became a Christian: I remember being five years old and praying at a Good News Club (like VBS) that was held in a trailer.

Favorite Bible verse? "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

What is a word of advice you would give to someone younger than you? Seek the Lord with all your heart and remain steadfast in your faith.

Bonus question!: Who's your hero or someone you admire? Joseph in the Bible. He was able to stand up under temptation and during hard times and still maintain his faith. Also, Daniel in the Bible who was able to remain faithful to God in difficult situations.