O is for Hoctopus

We worked on letter 'O' with the girls last week and did this very easy craft. It is an Octopus but my girls call it hoctopus. The girls love paint. What a mess but it is fun.

When Jo gets her hands on glue you better watch out. That girl will glue everything to anything.

Hocopuses all around

Sunday Reflections

"And what is this valley called?" "We call it now simply Wisdom's Valley: But the oldest maps mark it as the Valley of Humiliation."

--C.S. Lewis, The Pilgrim's Regress My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God, For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 2:1-6

Another Day at the Ski slopes

This time we decided to bring Jo with us to enjoy the ski experience. We did not put her on skis yet (and she was not happy about that since she already informed us she WANTS to ski).

She had fun playing in the lodge and spending some time outside as well. Our wooden sled (a gift from grandma and grandpa) was a big hit.

I was asked to take pictures of some of the kids so we spend some time at the bottom of terrain park watching some amazing jumps until ....................

...... I see this through my lens and I start zooming in ....... .... .... the jacket looks familiar ... ... ..

... .... and there he is. I could not believe my eyes, my heart skipped a beat. Sam was making it down that hill without any problems. Way to go Sam.

The boys are doing such a great job and so is Emma.

Here she is getting pushed by Jo after skiing with Daddy.

What a fun day we had.

Happy Valentine Day on Monday

We are alive. I did not blog last week for a very simple reason: stomach bug. Yep our family got hit last week. Not every member of our family got it but it was enough to keep me busy with stuff that was not on my list of things to do that week. We ended up having a very light week of school and caught up on stuff that I forgot about. I also had extra time to do crafts with girls between laundry and was there laundry or what.


It was fun to make Valentine cards with girls and they showered daddy with them when he came home a few days early oh well he was happy anyway.

I hope you all had a nice Valentine Sunday with your family and friends and are surviving this winter.

We are also enjoying the Olympics even though I have to say I suffer watching it on American TV. I do not understand why in the age of High Tech we are not able to watch everything LIVE from the Olympics. I am not saying I have all the time in the world but it would be nice for once to see an event in full in real time like rest of the world.

Not much snow in New England this year.

Sunday Reflections

We sin because our longings are so strong at the operational level - not at the verbal level, where we confess "Jesus is Lord" - we feel that something in addition to Jesus is necessary for our happiness and well-being. We will never find the full freedom promised in the gospel if all we want from Jesus is relief.

-James Wilhoit, Spiritual Formation As if the Church Mattered

Therefore God exalted [Jesus] to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9-11

Sunday Reflections

Christ teaches us that it is not enough to speak gloriously about Christ and faith. We must look at the fruits. For where these do not appear, or the opposite appears, surely there is not Christ, but nothing except a false name. This is why we must tell such people: "To be sure, I hear the beautiful, splendid name; it certainly is noble and worthy of all honor. But who are you?"

--Martin LutherAnd without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

Out of the mouths of Babes on Monday

If you ever go skiing and hear someone singing Europe's song 'The Final Countdown' you can be sure the Steigers are on the hill. Nate is my child who lives in his own world most of the time. He doesn't ski on trails that is too boring. Not Nate. He prefers skiing on the little paths between trees. He doesn't exactly ski quietly either. He will spice it up with LOUD singing with 'The Final Countdown' in his repetoire. Thanks uncle Vittee for Lego Rock Band. That is one way to introduce my kids to rock music.

So next time you hear it while you are out skiing the Steigers are on the mountain.