Santa Claus is comin...

Last night we ventured into Bellevue for Snowflake Lane. The kids loved the lights, music and overall fun!

Rudolf was a big hit as well!

Then Santa today at Molbaks...

Greyson loved Santa, just kept starring at him. Then would run back over to him each time we tried to leave. :)

Molbaks has the coolest stuff, one of which a giant zebra!

Brother (Levi) not so much a fan of Santa. Even with Mom holding him...

I love this one where all the kids are telling Santa what they would like this year.

The whole gang, minus the guys.

Whoa...baby it's COLD outside...

Like seventeen (17) degrees C.O.L.D!!!
Thus far, Josh has put in a 93 hour work week! People continue to pour in wanting...needing snow tires, etc. It's been a record breaking week on all accounts, and will be a recond breaking month indeed. I am so thankful there will be something to show for all this lack of a husband and daddy. Especially at Christmas time and all the magic of snowfall to boot! I know, I know...I signed up for this, but sometimes it is frustrating and down right depressing...
BUT the boys and I aren't letting it get the best of us. We are enjoying these snow days with the best of them. Sledding at Grammie's for three hours was an all time highlight!

The one time we saw Daddy during last Sunday's am snow. :)

Microloan Sales for Christmas

On the heels of my last post, Eastside Women of Purpose is selling microloan gift cards for Christmas...


(front & back of card)
50,000
This is the number of young adults caught in the sex industry in Pattaya, Thailand.
$100
This is the amount of U.S. dollars needed to provide a young woman or man, formerly enslaved in prostitution with education, job skills training and a microloan to start a new job or business.
$25
Is all is cost to purchase one card and help participate in changing the direction of these peoples lives.
We know that many of the children that are kidnapped from their familes are as young as three years old. If and when they are rescued they are roughly 15 - 17 years old. They literally have no acedemic knowledge or overall skills. Through the purchase of these microloan cards, they are provided with education and training to begin their own business. Once they are able to pay back the loan the money then goes directly back into the program to help another indiviual.
Help us RENEW a life this Christmas by selling $25 microloan gift cards to friends & family.
If you are interested in participating, I would be thrilled and love to hear from you. I would be happy to mail them out to you, just e-mail me your address s_arnold4@hotmail.com or you may purchase the cards directly below through paypal.

($1 fee added for online purchase)

The JOY of less

I love our church and I LOVE what they are going after this Christmas season with Advent Conspiracy. Our family is on board, take a look I think you might be too!

WE.ARE.A.FAMILY

November launches into a very busy, hectic and at the end of the day emotional time of year in the Arnold household overall. Having a husband that runs a tire store, this means snow tire season+LONG days at work=The Discount Tire Widows Club :) It seems like we(I've) been running since September, Greyson's birthday, Tee Off Against Trafficking, Levi's birthday, Thanksgiving and finally my darling cousin Janae's wedding this past Friday night. I had the pleasure of helping and assisting her with all the wedding details. More on that later... Back to Thanksgiving, my brother Michael was home for 15 days. Sadly one day shy of Thanksgiving, to which we celebrated early so we could share it with him. Prior to the big feast Kara Hicks took some family photos of us all on a beautiful sunny afternoon. I love how these photos turned out (of course) and I love that we all are a family. Weird how none of us look related?? :)

RETIREMENT

I've always thought it ridiculous when parents says their children are going to "support" them someday, with their athletic skills. Please... Josh has been raving to me about Levi (our lefty) golf swing. So, Levi had me come outside to show me himself. He's good and cute! ;)

Look at me...

Levi Grey 9.15.05

TURNING THREE!

Our big boy Levi turned THREE today. It's really hard for me to wrap my mind around having a three year old. Has it really been that long? It's almost surreal at times when I think back, the years go by so quickly.
Levi loves to have fun and is borderline OCD when it comes to all things Cars. He is often a serious guy though, taking everything in...watching, observing, sizing up the situation. I love that these pictures captured a lot of that. I love that out of ALL the cool stuff he acumulated over the past few days he woke up this morning wanting to play with the silly trucks that came on his cake!! Of ALL things...

We love you so much Levi and couldn't be more crazy about you and your brother!

Uncle Michael is HOME!

Lil buddy is home for two weeks, then off to San Diego for the next two years.

I just love these photos of Levi & his uncle Michael playing cars together...

Is it odd that my three year olds head, is the same size of my almost 20 year old brothers...should I be concerned?? :)

New Season, new look, new pictures, new post!

My darling friend Amy Cheng took some beautiful family photos of us. Not only do I love her and her friendship. But I also love her heart for delighting in others and caring for the opressed. To top off all of Amy's fun and lovely qualities she is a wonderful photographer. I had a tough time narrowing it down, but I had to share a few of my favorites! Thank you Amy!!

So I know you all are thinking how many photographers does this girl know!? Truth is I feel so very blessed to know and have each of these fine young ladies - Carlee Avery, Amy Cheng & Kara Hicks in our lives. They each have a unique talent and bring a ton of creative & beautiful photography to the world!