Cabin Time

We have been trying to get up to a cabin on Mt. Lemon since Christmas! We were originally supposed to go for a few days between Christmas and New Year's but several of us were sick so we rescheduled for January. Well in January the forest service was doing something with the roads so they had to reschedule on us this time. Finally we were able to go up this past Mon-Wed. I should say that this wasn't just a cabin but an actual camp run by a Baptist church in Tucson. Within the camp they have a cabin that they allow pastor's and their families to come up and stay for FREE! So we were up there for a two fold reason...family time and a chance to check out the camp to use for our youth camp this summer.

Do you see the SNOW?? The kids were so excited. They were praying for snow our whole drive up.

Two cuties loving on one another.


Now since we are a large family ;) we actually stayed in the dinning hall. If you look at the back of the picture there are three rooms we were able to sleep in. This worked out great. We were able to use the kitchen and rec room and fire place all in that building. Everything was there except the bathroom. We had to hike up to the pit toilets. FUN, NOT! But I survived.




Jay in the kitchen

Jadon just hanging out

Game Time




We bought our ginger bread houses the day after Christmas this year since we had decided to do them at the cabin. So of course we got them half off, which was a sweet deal and then everyone got their own. Even though we didn't get to the cabin right away we saved them.





Anastasia's house





These are some of the cabins where the campers will sleep.

Joshua and all his snowballs

She got pelted.

They are trying to scrape ice off the table.


I love this pic.

We had a great time just hanging out as a family with no TV, no computers and no cell phones....WHOO HOO! I can't wait to go up again!

Our Anniversary

Today I celebrated being married to my best friend and the love of my life for 16 years! What a wonderful celebration it was. We were able to go stay the night in a hotel (JUST THE TWO OF US!) we have not gotten away, just us two, in over 2 years. WOW.

We have a wonderful friend, Ms. Cindy, who was thrilled to come and stay the night with our kiddos. What a blessing. Jay did have class both Friday and Saturday. So we went for a late lunch/early dinner and then checked into the hotel. Jay went to class and I got to spend some time all by myself. Boy that was a treat. It was so quiet!

The next morning, Jay had to be at class by 8:00am. I got up with him and we had breakfast at the hotel restaurant then he went to class and I went back to bed and slept till 11:30am!!!

Jay got out of class early and we enjoyed the rest of the afternoon together. It was a much needed get away for both of us.

I am looking forward to the next 16!

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Happy Valentine's Day!

I LOVE Valentine's Day and I love the traditions we share as a family on this special day.

This year since Valentine's Day was on Monday I set up for our Co-op to host my favorite thing.....A Pink Pancake Brunch. Jay even came and cooked all the yummy pink pancakes. After we we all full we played heart bingo, decorated heart cookies and ended the afternoon with an Arizona snowball fight.

Once we got home the Pearce family was not done celebrating this day yet. We still had all our fun family activities to do like.....

Picture of kids all in red...

Our traditional Valentine's kiss with each kid....

Exchanging of small gifts and cards...

And of course our traditional dinner.... and fondue dessert

Kung Pao Chicken and rice

Our day wouldn't be complete with out reflecting on God's love for us:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Do you know of God's everlasting love for you?

Superbowl Party

I think I have mentioned that Jay is also the Youth Pastor at our church now. So he wanted to host a Super Bowl party. Now mind you we NEVER watch football and if we watch the Super Bowl it is just for the commercials. And on top of all that we knew we were hosting this party but about 3 weeks before it we canceled our cable (not even thinking :) ) So we called and got it turned back on and we will cancel it again afterwards. (That story is for another post).

We planned fun games to play as well and there was plenty of yummy food too! I got a few pictures but then my camera started acting funny. I guess it would help if I read the manual on how to set it. ;)

Ok so the best game of the night was by far the "banana split" game. I can at least say that because I was not one of the participants. hehehe....

Two players layed down on the ground (covered in a trash bag) while the other players stood in a chair and had to drop the ingredients for a banana split in to their mouths (we did not use nuts and the bananas were cut up so no choking hazards here). It was hilarious!

By the way who won the Super Bowl? ;0