PHOTOS: Saturday Photo Session

Random Memory 7

This one’s not exactly out of nowhere. We discussed it over Christmas and my mind flashed back to the conversation recently as a string of vehicle recalls hit a certain car manufacturer over the last few weeks.

We rely heavily on our automobiles and expect certain parts of the vehicle to perform simple basic functions. For example, one would assume that a door opens and closes…oh, and that it doesn’t fall off consistently.

I remember the first incident very well, recall discussion of the second and was brought to tears having never heard the third.

One night on the way home from the thriving metropolis of Des Moines we stopped for gas and snacks on the way back to Pella. I remember distinctly that some form of ice cream treat was purchased at the fueling station because I never got to eat mine. Why? Because I was in charge of holding the sliding door of the mini van in place during the hourish journey home after it came tumbling off the hinges. It is after all a little cumbersome to hold a dislodged door with both hands and consume a tasty ice cream treat at the same time. I recall locking my entire body rigidly in place trying desperately not to be swung into the ditch as dad navigated the route home at Mach Three. Yes that final suggestion is only half true and was added to aggrandize the story but I do remember holding on very tightly…and missing out on the ice cream.

Part two of the story, brief but remembered, was that the Young People’s group at church borrowed the van for some form of Wednesday night entertainment and apologized afterward for damaging our door. Mom told them it was not a problem as we knew the door was prone to these fits and they had not been the first to experience it. Sorry folks…we lent you a vehicle with temperamental doors!

Finally the last chapter. It is the one I did not witness so I feel at liberty to add in my own details to make it as humorous as I remember it the day the story brought me to tears. This I know…mom dropped my sister off at high school one morning (I was now in college), the door came off yet again and they simply threw it inside the van and mom took off for home. I believe it was raining. I will also suggest that mom was in her bathrobe with curlers in her hair and little sis was devastated at the horror of this developing scene that was happening in front of the entire school (converging on the scene at that very moment) and ran to hide in the bushes as mom lost a slipper, threw the door inside…the door and laid rubber squealing into the storm.

Clicker Crazy

You know that guy in your house who can’t keep his hands off the remote control? The one who’s constantly flipping to see what’s on the other channels and can’t stick with one show from beginning to end? That guy in our house…is two.

Kellen knows what channel all of his cartoons are on. He knows how to record shows on the DVR. He knows how to access the On-Demand programming. He knows how to drive us all up the wall!

We have to hide the remotes or Aidan squeals as his little brother flips the channel during a program they’ve been watching for ten minutes. We have to keep the clicker out of reach or he drives his mom bonkers flashing up the satellite menu in the middle of her show so he can get a read on tomorrow’s programming. We have to monitor our little remote control fiend at all times or his dad discovers that Kellen is recording the show he’s watching…and the six that follow it.

He’s almost three and he’s got three family members diving for the remote control whenever he comes around just to keep it out of his curious little hands.

VIDEO: Bible Verses II

Aidan's back with verses H through P! Last time around he did six, this time nine which has him reaching back in his memory bank to early November.

Kellen sat this one out not able to sit still through nine verses at one time but he still learns them right along with Aidan and giggles everytime someone says Deuteronomy.

The Eyebrow

Who does Kellen look like when he whips out his elevated eyebrow?

I say it's former wrestler and current actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson...

...Rachel thinks it's acting legend Jack Nicholson.

Mirror Magic

Family Fatigue

It's been a week and we're all yawning just a little...