How Do We Measure Up?

How do we measure up? We had fun with Josiah's lesson last week, learning about penguins!

Of course we're not comparing ourselves to other people. Our ultimate standard is God's Word. We recently, however, had a chance to compare ourselves to penguins. They are truly unique birds, and the Emperor Penguin takes the cake for the father's care over he and his "wife's" egg while she goes and replenishes her nutrition stores in the ocean.

The theme for the week was, "I show love to everyone, especially my family."

The verse for the week:
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. 
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 
1 John 4:7 NIV

Here's how penguins and Baxter kids measure up.

Silas: Exceeds penguin height
Amelie: Exceeds penguin height (and her brother's height by a little!)
Emperor: 48"
Josiah: 46-1/4"
Ian: 40-1/4"
Rachel: Somewhere between the King and Ian (but closer to Ian- I'd say 38-1/2" to venture a guess)
King: 36"
Yellow-Eyed, Gentoo, and Chinstrap- 30"
Lemuel: 29"
Macaroni- 28"
Adelie: 27" (Amelie likes that her name is only one letter off from this penguin's name)
Rockhopper: 22"

None of the kids were sure about whether they'd want to meet a full-grown Emperor face-to-face.

Los Colonias Park

Kids + Water = Fun and Mud!

Let's just say we love living near the Colorado River... and we love it more when we can actually get down to it to play. We spent an afternoon at the nearby Los Colonias Park, and boy was it fun! Such groans of sadness when it was time to go... but we'll be back!

Photo Opp... attempt!

So he doesn't pose a whole lot for the camera...

I was trying to get a smile...

the smiles were happening when his back was turned and he was running away...

and he studiously AVOIDED looking at the camera... the WHOLE time!!!

Amelie... 9 years old!

This girl loves horses, is developing lovely handwriting, gives sweet help to her sister and brothers, and is growing up so fast! Happy Nine Years Old, Amelie! (Okay- this is a little late as her birthday was a bit ago, but that's okay.)

 

A horse piñata was the order of the day- lovingly created by Amelie and Silas.

Then they beat the poor thing to death...

And Lemuel Turned One...

There once was a birthday boy,

Who turned one year old.

He went along with the fun,

but wasn't too bold.

He learned about presents,

poked at his cake,

but mostly was there,

for US to celebrate his day!

 





The happiest moment of his birthday- food packets from Grandma and Grandpa!!!



L-R: Ian, Lemuel, Amelie, Silas, Josiah & Rachel

Lemuel didn't really care about his cupcake. He mostly poked his finger in and out and licked off the crumbs and frosting. Overall he seemed seemed very unimpressed.

 

 



Healing for Hewa Baby Shower in March 2015



The animals- on the his baby shower cake in 2015, and on Lem's birthday cupcakes.



The animals were properly "disposed" of (ahem- eaten) after their birthday duty
by older siblings who were oblivious to the freezer burn due to the sugar content.

 

Happy Birthday, Lemuel!

Giving Thanks

We are so thankful for all of the people who remember us throughout the year... and sometimes we aren't timely with our thanks! But, we are thankful!