Fishing!

For Christmas this year Abel got some money to buy a present from his Gullixson grandparents. We took him to K-mart and looked and looked. We finally found the perfect thing to get, a fishing pole! It would be something useful, it will last awhile (as long as he holds on to it while fishing!), and it is something that he has asked for in the past.
Abel finally got to go fishing yesterday. We went to our garden plot to water our garlic (which is growing quite well). There is a small stream running through it, so we decided that it would be a good place for Abel to practice.
Abel was a little put off  because he could tell there were no fish in the stream. He did catch a variety of objects though: leaves, sticks, and slime. This summer Samuel is going to take him where there are actually fish.

My handsome fishermen!

I caught something! It was just a leaf, but he was pretty proud of it!

Diapers!

Not much is happening around here right now, so I thought I would share something I have been working on. 

For this little one we are planning on doing cloth diapers for a couple reasons. The main reason is it will save us a ton of money (around here even the "cheap" diapers aren't cheap!). Second, we won't have as much trash (which will also save us money since we take our own trash to the dump). And third, why not? :)

I have a number of friends who have done cloth diapers and have made it sound so easy, so we are trying it out. One of these friends has even gone the extra step to make her own diapers. She estimated she can make them for $2-$4.00 each. After I heard this I decided this was the way to go!

Even with my minimal sewing skills these are pretty easy to make. I did make a "practice" diaper to work out all the kinks (meaning my lack of skill). I learned a lot of valuable lessons and I think it will go a lot smoother now.

I bought all the materials online and I also purchased a pattern online that a friend recommended. Even though I have heard from many people not to bother with the newborn size diaper I am doing it. We figured we will be saving the most money at this stage seeing as how babies go through so many at first. It will mean more laundry, but I think it will be worth it.

On a recommendation I am making pocket diapers. I think after I use them on this little one I will reevaluate and see if I want a different style or not. 

Here is a picture of one of the newborn (blue) and small (green) diapers that I made. They aren't perfect, but I am pretty sure they will cover a bum!

 

I'm sure the novelty will wear off pretty quick, but I am excited to change diapers! :)

Lots of Pictures

Sorry it has taken so long to get new pictures up. Things haven't been busy, but it seems I just haven't found (made?) the time. So here are a bunch of pictures from the last month and a couple from this month.

Starting off with one taken just today. Isn't he a handsome guy?!

 At the park with Owen. Owen likes to go up the stairs with Abel and keep an eye on him....

 ...however, he draws the line at going down the slides. He will stay up there and whine though until Abel comes back!

 

Swinging is still Abel's favorite thing to do at the park. He likes these kinds of swings because he gets to go really high! 

I believe I was trying to convince him NOT to through a snowball at me...

Our first snow of the year (and the whole winter...). We weren't sure how long it was going to stick around, so Dad and Abel were out in the front building their snowman by 7:00 AM. It was a very large snowman, about 7 ft tall. Samuel is pretty sure he is the coolest Dad in Bishop (he knows this because we drove around later that day and didn't see hardly any snowman and certainly none as large as his!). :)

The finished snowman!

They also built a snow fort!

We went for a walk a little way from our house. We found a pretty big hill to climb.

View from the top of the Sierra Nevadas.

Almost to the VERY top.

Finally made it to the highest rock.

For Superbowl a couple from church invited us over to watch the game and have supper with them. Well, as you can see from the pictures, we weren't all that into the game! The guys did some bow shooting while Abel gathered the arrows. Abel was pretty excited when Dad let him try it out too. One of his arrows actually made it all the way to the target!

 

 

We went up to Mammoth Lakes  (finally!) and took a look around the town before we dropped Samuel off at the airport recently. We went to the visitor center. Abel found his favorite bear there. He really likes Smoky!

Pray Without Ceasing....

I know that most of you who read this already know about Ruth, Paul, and baby John...but I wanted to share it with anyone who does not know them.

Ruth is Samuel's cousin. She was diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer this past week. She was about 28 weeks pregnant. For her to be able to start chemo right away they decided to have their baby. He was born on Feb. 7th. He was also baptized that day by Paul's father.

Thankfully, John Wilde Webber, is doing well. He is a beautiful baby boy with a lot of people praying for him. This family obviously has a long road ahead of them. Whatever God's will is for this family, we know it is good. (He works ALL things for the good of those who love Him), but that doesn't mean it is going to be easy. Please say an extra prayer for this family.

I always remember the story of Job in the Bible when things like this happen. Samuel and I read through Job when Simeon was dying. It really shows that no matter what God is in control. Who are we to question Him? Were we there when He formed the earth?...but regardless, we still ask the question, "Why?". We just have to give it all over to Him and say along with Job, "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

My favorite hymn verse is one that I have sung often in the past 2 years...
"Well He knows what best to grant me; All the longing hopes that haunt me, Joy and sorrow, have their day. I shall doubt His wisdom never; As God wills, so be it ever; I to Him commit my way." (ELH 468) 

If you would like to read more about Ruth and get updates on how she and baby John are doing or to donate to help them with medical costs you can go to: http://theruthwebberfund.bbnow.org/

You can also see a picture of Ruth and Paul and John on the site.