Breakfast at Tiffany's...I mean home

Today kicked off a new adventure at our home. We are now going to try and have breakfast together every morning at 8:00 AM. Daddy and whoever is awake are in charge of making breakfast. This morning was day one and we had French (I surrender) Toast and strawberries. Tomorrow is pancakes.

The Man in the Mirror

Michael Jackson wrestled with the man in the mirror. Well yesterday, I was in the living room when I heard the boys yelling, "Daddy, Daddy, come quick!!" When I arrived, Luke informed me that Reed was stuck. I found Reed sitting in the sink, explaining to me that he could not get out. Since he was a bit affraid, I did what any good dad would do. I said, "sit still I need to get the camera...daddy needs a new blog." Reed relaxed and this was the result....


Since Reed is fearless, we have now added a hard hat to his wardrobe....Never can be too cautious. I have noticed that our kitchen cabinets were getting a bit overwhelmed, so I got to the source of the problem. I put on the table all of the kids cups...Do two toddlers really need 29 cups to share? Fly Daddy says no! Now our cabinets do not spill two cups out of it every time you open the door.
BTW...Michael, stay away from my kids or I will send you to Never Never Land!

Boys and Their Big Toys

We had a fun night out the other night. Some students were in a play at "The Center of Learning." So we went and then took a stroll around the campus. Very fun night capped off by 99 cent shakes at Sonic!!

Beam me over Scotty!

Well the morning started at the church with some paperwork followed by a great time in Memphis. I love this group of people!
The road to the airport took a detour to Red Robbins. I always enjoyed the "Little Red Riding Hood" story. Not sure it has anything to do with our day in Memphis, but thought you would want to know.

Sloan and Ben pondered the vast menu.
These three were just glad to be out of the car!
Lindsey stopped chewing just in time for this pic. She is a great woman to have on the team! Beans sporting the cap.
Ken and Libby played the red straw, while Casey sang vocals.
The groupies enjoyed the performance.
Mark found a girlfriend in Memphis, she seemed a little stoic to me.We found this authentic Czech torture chair that tried to Kaitlyn, but we rescued her.

We debated whether or not to take a swim....deciding it may make the flight a bit longer....
I helped this family learn to read in our spare time, thankfully the book had lots of pictures.

Then it was off to the land of checked luggage and security checks.

Ken and Lib checking out the ticket situation.

Mr. Cool. I think those glasses cost $5 at Wal-Mart if anyone wants to start a trend.

Beans on the move...

The look of FOCUS! Casey brought her A-game... Ken reminding the team not to say "bomb" in an airport...then security reminded him of the same (just kidding)
I think some may not sleep due to anticipation and excitement.
This may be the best picture I have of Big Ben...AKA "Thunderabs"
I would like you to think they were praying, but I prayed for us AND had the camera...that kind of multi-tasking is beyond me.

Surprisingly, everyone made it through security without much problem. In appreciation of their service of driving & in hopes that they will not beat me up, I post this pic of our servants who helped transport the team. This picture was staged, but those left behind felt these very emotions.

Thanks to all who have allowed their kiddos to be part of God's mission around the world and to all who have supported their efforts!!

God protect the team you have sent and may they fulfill all your purposes!

Jump for Joy!! Nana and Papa are Bueno!

Yes that's right! Would you expect to start out anywhere other than the Bueno? That is where our adventure began Friday afternoon. It was FUN day with Anna's side of the family as her brother was in town with his wife and daughter. Here are some highlights....

Anna and her brother.

Not sure who these three kids were, but they kept asking for money and showing me their tongues as a way to say "more tacos please."

Nana and Papa phase one was to eat out at TB....but the next phase was Incredible!!

Next, we were off to Maumelle to a place called the "Jump Zone." The kiddos were locked and loaded with anticipation to their adventure. It was difficult for them to sit still for this pic....well except for Jack

We were reminded that Luke has no fear as he tackled the large slides with reckless abandon. He had the time of his life.

Ryan and Yumi who are very photogenic took a break from all the festivities for this pic.Jack was never put down and Nana and MaMaw took care of his every need, well not every need. :)
G-Dawg, is so smooth, he always dresses for the occasion. I could not believe he called ahead in order to be able to match the equipment.

Although, Reed was enthusiastic about Taco Bueno, he took a little time to warm up to Jump Zone.

Yep, that is my wife and her sis going through the "tight squeeze" part of the obstacle course!Ryan got a bit confused with all that was going on. I am not sure if that is an official "murse" or what.

Once home, Papa put on the burgers!! MMMMmmmm Meat!!

Luke and Gage got their skate on!!

Superman says, "Crash and burn, eh Maverick?"

And all the kids played with glow sticks!!

So thanks Nana and Papa for an awesome day of fun and family. Everyone had such an awesome time!!

Even the frog.....

Guys Play Dress Up Too?

We played X-Box 360 Wednesday night and one of our students had a new shirt and sunglasses that he had purchased for top dollar at..........Goodwill! We couldn't decide what to label the folder that held all the pics. So we settled on "MetroChristians." Enjoy.

You can now find the shirt on E-Bay for double the price it was bought for....you guessed it, $1.00.

No Officer I don't know Why You Pulled Me Over

I have had the privilege of speaking with Arkansas's finest twice in my 18 years of being a Razorback. The first was on my way to baseball practice while in High School. I was going 38 in a 20 residentual school zone and tried to get around a corner before the policeman could get to me....Didn't work.

The second time was on my way to work at 2:00 AM in a part of Little Rock that the only way I would have pulled over was if the police were there. Unfortunately it seemed to him that I had invited the event to happen. He checked to make sure my temporary tags hadn't expired and then let me go.

Neither time did I experience what I did about 9 days ago in Tulsa. As I was only half a mile away from the place we rented a 15 passenger van, I heard a beeping sound behind me. I figured it was Drew, my high schooler who had come to drive my car from the airport where I keep it while I have the van. I quickly realized that unless Drew had brought some blue flashing lights with him that went unnoticed, I was in trouble.

I pulled over into a church parking lot, rolled down my window & turned off the van. The officer quickly made it clear to me that I had made an illegal turn on the only road I had to turn on. As I reached for my license and insurance, I appologized and explained I was focused on not getting lost....He was unimpressed.

He looked at my driver's license and immediately entered into a conversation that went like this: --"Sir, do you have any guns on you?"

-"Uh, no sir." (unless you would include these in that category **kisses bicepts**)

--"Any weapons on you at all?"

-"Nope"

--"Then you won't mind if I check?!!"

-"Of course not....but I am not sure what to do. You want me to stay here or..."

--"Step out of the van please."

So I get out of the van and he quickly puts his hand on my shoulder and pushes me to the van. As I stand there with my back to the cop and hands up, he pulls my shirt up (why is he pulling me over again?). After my bottom gets a few pats and my pockets get peeked in, he instructs me to follow him to the back of the van.

I am about to tell him that there might be someone behind the van that is with me, when we see Drew (my size and a football player) waltzing up to us about 25 feet away. The officer did a drop step, put his hand over his gun & said, "Can I help you sir?!!!" I leaned over and identified Drew as one of my high schoolers that is helping me. "I need you to wait back at your car please sir!!" Drew consented.

"Do you know why I am asking about weapons?"

"I really have NO idea officer."

"Your last name is W........"

"Has been all my life (ok so I really didn't say this)

"Yes sir, it is"

"W............'s are the largest dealers of guns and ammunition in the Tulsa area!"

"Well I am not one of them."

I was being frisked because of my last name!! Someone else actually has it! I wonder if they had to come up with 4 letter names for their kids.......ooops, sorry, back to the story.

"Where are you coming from and where are you going?"

Finally the God question!!!

"I am coming from Conway, AR returning a van that my church rented to go to Mexico to build 2 houses for poor people. The place is only half a mile from here." Then I stood back in case God wanted to smite him.

"OK, no warning, no ticket, have a great day!" and drove off.