Got snow?

We Do! Of course it only lasted a couple of hours, but when I got up this morning there was a nice (thin) blanket of white covering the Arizona desert plain - somewhat of a phenomena if you know what I mean. It was beautiful and I could just sense the dry, dust ridden, wind blown desert plant life breathing a sigh of refreshing satisfaction. The kids were out making tracks in their P.J.'s and boots- you'd think they'd never seen the stuff before. What really blows my mind is that this time last week it was 85 degrees and the kids spent the day running through the sprinkler in their swimming suits. The inside of the house got up to 90 and we had to open all the windows and doors to cool it off. They told us when we moved to McNeal that the weather here can be a little fickle...they weren't kidding.

I love love

Happy Valentines Day!We have some flowers for you!
There were chocolates too, but...
they didn't make it!

We love you all !
xoxoxoxo

Fun with Zach & Jane & 185

Zach took me flying. It was fantastic. We had so much fun together and I loved watching him do what comes so naturally to him. He makes me feel so at ease. Even if there was cause for concern, he would never let on. It was a gorgeous day and we did a bunch of landings on the 1100 foot strip. At one point he said in as excited a voice as he could muster..."Let's do some engine outs - there really fun." My thoughts were...Huhh? Whatever you just said does NOT sound like fun. I guess the gist is at a certain point in the pattern you "pretend" that the engine is down and glide to the strip and land. It did end up being fun...and it did make me glad to know that he can land the plane with or without a engine - may come in handy one day.

my boy

I thought this day would never come...but it has! My son has finally given in and is now doing business with Mr. Potty! I have begged, pleaded, blackmailed, bargained and threatened...all for nothing. He saw straight through my various methods of manipulation and would have nothing to do with them. I could make him sit but I could NOT make him go. Finally, he decided that he wanted to be a big boy and he took the initiative to get the job done. Which I am learning is his way...his idea...his timing. He doesn't like me making a big deal out of things, (which has always produced great results with the girls. They like mommy to cheer lead,) not my Tovie. When it is all said and done, I tell him how proud I am of him and then he responds with a "your welcome mommy." Maybe he was tired of hearing me complain about changing him and decided to do me a favor.





Tov's Tumbleweed
Now if you look very closely...he's kind of hard to see since he is so camoflaged, but if you look really close you should be able to make out the form of a silly little three year old boy hiding
behind a tumbleweed.



The story goes...
I was busy with something in the house when I heared the front door open. I could tell that Tov was huffing and grunting as he struggled to get something inside. When I "followed up" I noticed that he was coming out of his room after quickly shutting the door behind him. I opened his door to discover that he had hawled a huge tumbleweed into his room. It took up all the floor space and was much bigger than him. I took this picture after he brought it back outside. It left quite a trail of sticks and pokies on the rug and was a much thinner tumbleweed as a result. What I am still puzzled about is... what possessed him to bring the thing inside in the first place?

get a load of this...

On a pleasant day in November I walked to our little storage unit to retrieve some Christmas stuff. I opened the door and flipped on the light... I noticed a dark shadow on the wall next to the door jam - about shin level. This (pictured) not-so-little, creepy crawly was right by my naked shin! (I was wearing capris.) I have become acquainted with Tarantulas, Scorpions and even some pretty knarly looking centipedes since moving to the desert but this was a first time meeting with one of these bad boys. I was pretty proud of myself - I handled his presence very calmly while I rummaged for my wrapping and bows (although I never let him out of my sight). Now that we have meet, I am surprised at the attitude I've developed, a kind of "been -there- done -that" attitude. I think God is easing me into this idea of living in and amongst large, poisonous insects. Don't get me wrong...the thought has terrified me so some time now. Give me a bear or a moose any day...at least you can see them coming and they can't very well crawl into bed with you without you knowing. And if you know me at all, you know I have a very over active imagination. So, over the last few years, Missouri and now here, my Gracious Father has been introducing me to bugs, one by one, starting with the friendly, but long legged stick bug and unusually hairy wolf spider. Now we are on to the bigger and badder ones and I'm doing great. By the time we get to the Philippines I should be able to handle whatever comes my way no sweat (as long as I have a hefty broom with a long handle.) Zach will always be the designated squasher - I don't think I will EVER be able to stomach the crunch...yuck.

I realize a few of you (I'm not naming names) may not know that this is a Black Widow Spider. This particular one was unusually large, lucky me, and this is an actual photo taken on our personal camera.

Sweet Story

The kids have been attending AWANA club at the little Baptist Church in Douglas. It is something they look forward to every week. Well, a AWANA group in Tulsa decided to adopt our family for Christmas this year. Tulsa Bible Church has been very inolved with NTMA and faithful supporters of many of our missionaries. They were glad to find out that one of the student families had young kids that attended AWANA - That's us!! They were so generous to our family and the kids loved opening the packages and personal cards from their new special friends. They asked me for gift suggestions - I told them that Tov was into any and all electronic equipment. He now has several real but retired cell phones, calculators, and a wireless phone with answering machine and other odds and ends. He has a whole office set up in his room. I love that when he talks on the phone he uses his serious, get down to business voice. The girls really enjoy their new doll house with ALL the accessories! I was just as excited as they were when we opened it up...I can't help rearranging furniture and making the living room welcoming for guests every time I go into their room to put away laundry :) Thank you Tulsa Bible Church AWANA Clubbers and thanks Auntie April, Vince and Christine for your contributions too!!! Your thoughtfulness is overwhelming.

Christmas in California

The Keller family visited the beach in Oceanside, CA!
We were only there for a few hours but it was a huge hit. Avery fell deep in love and could not contain her excitement. At one point she exclaimed in her very dramatic, schmaltzy way...I looooove the ocean Mommy. I never want to leave it!" Of course we had to say goodbye to the beach and be on our way. It took our weepy kids quite a while to recover. Just one taste was all it took. The feel of sand between the toes, the sound of the surf, the salty air...it's got a hold on us. I really think God was giving us all a little taste of what is to come.

my water babies

Watching the girls gleefully play in the water made so many memories come flooding back. Whenever we visited my grandma when I was little - the hands down highlight was pool time. We would swim and splash and grandpa would throw us high into the air...it was bliss. I don't think anyone can appreciate the warmth of the sun, the feel of the water and the smell of the chlorine like an Alaskan grown kid. Do I hear an Amen!

To Grandmas house we go

My dear sweet Grandma recently moved to Palm Springs. She was living in Phoenix but as soon as we moved to AZ she left for CA. She assures me that we had nothing to do with the move (yeah right). She moved to Palm Springs to be near my Aunt Sandy. They are best friends and it is so much fun to see the two of them in action. My Grandma is 86 and so full of life, her mind is sharp and her smile so bright. It has been such a joy to be able to spend time with her while we are in this part of the world. I think I have spent one Christmas with my Grandma in all my thirty years so this year it was so wonderful to spend Christmas with her & my Aunt Sandy. My sister Katy flew down from Idaho to join us too - what a treat! They are such delightful people and I am happy that my kids get to know them. They loved having kids around and Aunt Sandy assured me that the chaos they created was a welcome change. It was our first Christmas away from the familiarities of our Alaska families and friends, but being with Grandma, Auntie Sandy and Katy was a worth it all. It was pretty weird sitting by the pool on Christmas day but I have to say I got used to it pretty quick.

2 little angels, and 1 sheperd

Every year the NTMA family puts on a Christmas program for the surrounding community. Everyone is invited ,and believe it or not, a lot of people look forward to the event and actually show up. I had the wonderful opportunity to sing in the Choir and be apart of a Missionary Pilot Wives Quartet ;) It was a lot of fun getting together with others who enjoy singing as much as I do . The kids were a part of the Cherub Choir and stole the show. I must share that I had my doubts that they would come through for the performance because the few practices we had were pretty sorry. They would sing their little songs with barely a whisper and pathetically ring their little bells. During the "dress rehearsal", Tov was so enamored with the microphones that he took off right in the middle of "Come on Ring Those Bells" to go look for a stool so he could be lip level with the microphone. So when it was time for the actual performance I didn't know what would happen. It was a relief to know that even if Tov picked his nose and Avery lifted her angel skirt up over her head in front of everyone, the audience would be be just as thrilled and delighted as if they sang perfectly in four part harmony. I thought the kids would just clam up and stand there but when they saw all the people they came alive and sang their little hearts out. I couldn't believe the difference. Avery especially...my timid one was like a shining star. You couldn't wipe the smile off her face and when it was all over she asked me if she could sing for everyone again. Miah sang the second verse of Away in a Manger as a solo. I am such a proud mama!

girls just wanna, they just wanna...

These are the girls I love to hang out with. From left to right - Candy, Bailey, Missy, Me, Kelly, Kari and Jonie. We are all Missionary Pilots wives (MPW's) that live, work and play together so we are very close. Our fabulous husbands kept the kids and sent us off on an overnight shopping adventure to Tuscon! My dear friends treated me to a delectable (belated)birthday dinner at the Olive Garden and then we stayed up late at a friends Condo knowing we didn't have to wake up early if we didn't want to. What a thrill! Of course we were all so excited about the day that we woke up early anyway, ready to brave the crowded mega malls with high hopes of finding perfect gifts for our loved ones at discounted prices. Oh but first... Starbucks...Here we are getting fueled up for the big day.

3, 4, 6!!

Birthday season has passed here in the Keller home. We've racked up a few more precious memories and have all had enough cake to last until...oh I don't know...a really long time. The kids are at the ages now that they really anticipate their special day and like to be involved in the preparations and planning. Gone are the days of the candle clad cupcake cake and the Sunday comic wrapped box of Kleenex (the perfect gift for a one year old)...now they have opinions and expectations that are hard to keep up with. Not only that...they keep track of what you did last year that they want repeated! When Miah opened her Birthday card from Nana this year and a five dollar bill fell out - she recounted that last year Nana sent her one dollar and she remembered that she bought two princess pens with it at WalMart, one for herself and one for Avery. Amazing! I have to be careful that I don't overdo it - who knows what kind of energy I'll have next year...

Play Dough Fun

My kids love playing with play dough. There is nothing like a big lump of fresh, homemade, non edible goodness - Even I can't keep from squishing, squeezing and rolling it into a snake. The kids have been at the ball/snake stage for some time...but now they have graduated to more sophisticated play dough molding skills. Miah is into nests (complete with eggs) and teas sets. Avery makes cinnamon rolls, cookies and the occasional snowman and Tov loves to roll and squish his play dough as flat as he can and cut shapes with his special play dough pocket knife. I especially love that this particular activity keeps them occupied for a least a good half hour, maybe more.
Here is a fabulous play dough recipe that stays soft and pliable for months and months. Depending on what Koolaid flavor you pick - it smells wonderful too.

2 1/2 C. Flour
1/2 C. Salt
1 Tbs. Cream of tarter
1-2 Pkg. Koolaid
3 Tbs. oil
2 C. Boiling water

Bunko Buddies Brave the Butte

I just found these pictures that my lovely friend Sarah put on a disk for me from this summer. Oh what wonderful memories came flooding back when I opened them up... Let me explain why this particular event from my past is so meaningful to me. First of all -these are a few of my dearest friends that I have shared many wonderful life moments with, (Sarah Coke, Jen Howell and Rachel Kroon). We all have very young children and because our lives are so "wrapped up"in our little people we can sometimes forget what life is like on the outside and what to do with ourselves without our little attachments. We often face a very real identity crisis...what DO I like to do for fun? what ARE my Hobbies? Who am I? So often when we are together we are in mommy mode, swapping potty training techniques and sharing the latest outrageous family drama. We all pour ourselves into our families and find so much joy in taking care of them, but on this particular day, it was so refreshing to just be friends, having fun, laughing, being crazy and enjoying one another. Instead of playing Bunko on the first Tuesday of the month, (which was our usual practice) we decided to hike the Butte, get some exercise and enjoy a beautiful Alaskan summer evening together. It was wonderful. I know it looks like we are all about to hawk loogies (I've never written that word before...not sure how :) in that last picture, but that is absolutely NOT what we were doing! We were, with extreme feminine delicacy, spitting cherry pits. It just so happened that this little amusement turned highly competitive and it wasn't long until all feminine delicacy went straight out the window! And so I must say that it was very very close, but I am to this day the reigning Cherry spitting champion! (Sorry Sarah - you know I had to say it!)

Fall Festival Fun

This year the whole family dressed up for the NTMA fall festival. As you can see we went for a folk fairytale look and this was the first year I actually MADE costumes. I know it looks like Zach didn't dress up at all...and in actuallity he didn't...but I incorporated him into the theme as well. He is Zach and I am Jill...you know...Zach and Jill went up a hill :) We had a good time. I was so pleased with how my little gingerbread man turned out. As soon as I slipped this little number over Tovie's head he was off..."can't catch me, I'm the Gingerman!" he would say. I though it was very fitting since it's hard to keep up with him anyway!! He attempted to bob for apples at the carnival but turned out to be a big cheater. He doesn't like his face in the water so as soon as his lips submersed...he grabbed the apple and stuck it in his mouth. Avery and Miah had a ball with the games and of course the candy - they were the cutest Goldie Locks and Red Riding Hood ever! It was a very memorable night.

nuggle me

There's a story behind this picture. I was working in the kitchen this morning, as I usually do most mornings, when Tov walked by clutching his "dinor" (dinosaur) blanket and sucking his thumb. I heard a muffled "I need to nuggle mommy," but before I could answer Avery volunteered for the job and Tov quickly made his way to the couch and to the loving arms of his sweet sister. A little while latter I noticed Miah sitting dejectedly on the living room chair. I asked her what was wrong and with a sniffle she replied, " I want to nuggle Tov too but Avery won't let me. She's HOGGING him!" I conviced Avery to share Tov with Miah and then had to take a quick picture to document this perfectly precious mini drama to share with you.

Molasses Crinkles

Zach is a dedicated die hard fan of chocolate chip cookies and because I am a dedicated die hard fan of Zach Keller, I try to make them for him as often as I can. I think if I ever quit making them, for whatever reason, Zach would think I didn't love Him anymore and that our marriage was in jeopardy. Making cookies for Zach is one way I tell him I love him, in a language I know he understands.

So it is fall and we have introduced a new cookie in the Keller household that, though it may never out rank the chocolate chip, it is definitely a close second especially this time of year. This cookie is Zach Keller approved and though it is never to replace the Chocolate Chip, it is worth passing on to you as a tried and true favorite. Enjoy!


Molasses Crinkles

3/4 C. Softened Butter
1 C. Brown Sugar
1 Egg
1/4 C. molasses
2 1/4 C. Flour
2 tsp. soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/4 t. salt

Mix everything together. Shape dough into walnut shaped balls and roll in sugar. Bake @ 350 for 10-12 minutes. Do not overcook. They are supposed to be a soft, chewy, melt in your mouth cookie.

to my honey

I love you
I am so proud of you
There is no one else I would rather spend my days with and share my life with.
You are a treasure and a gift to me and our family. I love your heart and am so thankful that I have it. Where ever you go, whatever you do - I'm with you darlin'

XoxXOo

(Big kiss, little hug, little hug, little kiss, big kiss, big hug, little hug)

Sweet Feet

Oh how I love these little people. Only a mother finds such odd poses so irresistible. I've had a certain urgency in my picture taking of the kids lately. I feel like if I don't capture their little parts and pieces at every opportunity they are going to change and grow before my eyes and I will have missed my chance. Take Tov's little tootsies for example. They are still so soft and kissable but I'm sure at any moment they are going to start sprouting hairs and get all narly and stinky. It's only a matter of time. I'm sure every stage has its joys but I'm just not ready yet.

Bumma's Visit

Zach's mom came to visit us and stay with the kids while Zach and I traveled to Idaho for some special training. The kids loved having her here, of course, and Bumma spoiled them rotten with little gifts, outings, stories, more stories and treats. She did learn that giving them ice cream right before nap time isn't the best idea. It was so nice that she was able to meet some of our friends and experience for herself what life is like here in the desert. We love you Bumma!