PUMPKIN PATCH 2009

Anyone who lives in Bakersfield has to have heard of Murray Family Farm. We have been there a couple of times. However, this was the first year we went to the pumpkin patch (it's a patch......with pumpkins). Who would have thought one could make money on a patch of pumpkins. I hear it's pretty big money. Those pagans love their holiday traditions. In case you are wondering we are anti-pumpkin carving, and we do not place candles inside hollowed out pumpkins to represent the spirits inside. Whoa.....glad I got that off my chest. Boy do I feel better.

Anyway, we had a wonderful time on the tractor pulled hayride, the corn and potato sack mazes, the giant ant farm where people are the ants, and the pumpkin patch! It was Grants first time to the pumpkin patch. He didn't really get the concept though. He thought it was a pumpkin throwing contest and was striving for first place.

Family farms are close to my heart (Brandy is talking) because when I was a kid my grandma Dolly Barton......yes her real name is Dolly Barton......used to take all of us kids to Al Busells Ranch. I think that is how the name was spelled. It was basically the same concept as Murray Farms. We would go and pick strawberries, pumpkins, play on the hay bales and it was always a time to remember. I thought everyone went to Al Busells Ranch. I realize now that my grandma took us for the purpose of making childhood memories. Thanks Grandma Dolly! That is why I try to take my kids to Murray Farms.

My (Brandy's) mom went with us too. She is a faithful grandma to our kids. Not only does she enjoy spending time with our kids during special trips like this one, she and Demi have a Saturday night ritual where Demi spends the night at Grandmas house and all moms rules go out the window. Thanks for that one too mom. LOL. We love you.

See pictures randomly placed within the blog. I just can't figure this thing out.......curse this blogging program thingy.

BIG BEAR, CA. Grrrrr!!!

Spent a weekend in Big Bear with Brandy's Great Aunt and Uncle, JoAnn and Terry Turk, at their cabin. Man, are they fun!! And man, is Big Bear beautiful. We finally found the place we are going to retire to! This picture was taken at the marsh across from Big Bear Lake. Grant was throwing rocks in the water. You can see the beautiful trees and mountains on the other side of the marsh. Big Bear is beautiful and great for all seasons. This is also a special place for Josh and I because we were lucky enough to spend our honeymoon week in JoAnn and Terry's cabin, a wedding gift from them!

This is the back of the Turk's cabin. Josh, JoAnn, Terry, Grant, and Demi were enjoying the morning breakfast time with the local wildlife. There are a lot of gray squirrels, different types of birds, and other critters crawling around. The animals will come and eat peanuts off the patio and corn on the cob that was hung on the trees. They are pretty brave. Uncle Terry got some sap from the trees on his leg. Putting a wives tale to the test he applied mayonaise to his leg and ta da it came off. We were all impressed. Apparently one of the locals had told them about the mayonaise trick. Hmmmm.....who knew? Might come in handy on our next trip in November.......Hear that Grogan's?

Big Bear has so much to do! There is a ski resort for winter snow skiing (Do the Grogan's snow ski?) Apparently during the summer months there is aggressive down hill mountain biking where the ski resort is. No thanks. Big Bear Lake is ginormous and breath taking......hopefully we can go boating next summer when Grant is a little bigger. Water skiing anyone? Fishing? Horseback riding? Mountain climbing? Hiking? Ice Skating? Yes all these things can be done at Big Bear......not to mention......the observatory that is managed by a few Universities. They placed it at Big Bear because it is one of the places in the U.S. that has the most sunny days. Whoo Hoo you can snow ski in your bathing suit if you wanted. LOL. If you wanted to...that's all I'm saying...if you think about it. It is better to snow ski when it's warm than when it's freezing cold.....trust me.....I know.

You can also just kick back, make a fire, enjoy the stars at night, yes real live stars, we don't get them much here.......bunches of them......for real......if you think about it. What?

The Grogan's are going to join us in November. We haven't actually been there in the winter, but Brandy's aunt said that the cabin care taker would have to turn the heater on a few days in advance to make the cabin warm and cozy.......that's um a little worrisome. Well all we can say is you better bring some warm clothes. But then again maybe not.....because there is a lot of sun. Remember.....the big yellow one's the sun.....LOL!

Return from Sabbatical

I know it's been a really long time since our last post, but there is good reason for that. We just returned from our African Safari and unfortunately we did not have access to a computer while we were there. Man, did we have a great time!!!!

Well, I better come clean before I am found out. We didn't actually go on Safari. I know you are all sooooo surprised!!! We have just had some really crazy busy months. We are so glad to be back on the blog scene!!! We have missed you all!!!!

Quick updates:

Josh is still owning and working his own business. It is doing great! We are so rich (in my dreams.) Josh is teaching our churches disciple class every sunday morning and it is really flourishing with new converts. The converts are being baptized in Jesus name, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and assimilating well into the church. Josh is also on a new venture to be bring his pre-marital body back. It has been a long journey. He injured his shoulder and had to stop working out, but now it is feeling well enough to do certain excercises. No heavy weight training though. He has been working out with brother CJ Casey and doing quite well. He has lost 25 lbs and only has 322,000 lbs to go! Well not that much really. More like 25. He is doing great and even gaining belt loops back!!!!! Congratulations Babe....Keep up the good work!!!

Brandy is doing the same old stuff. Working, going to school (Master's degree & teaching credential), taking care of the home (with Josh's help!!!), and taking care of the kids (with Josh's help!!) Not much excitement here folks!!!! Sorry. However, in one year when I am done with school and all it's madness.....I will be a much more exciting person!!!!



Demi is growing up too fast and is so beautiful. She just started 2nd grade last week at Bethel Apsotolic Academy. She loves her teacher Sis. Casey and all her friends. Pastor Frost let me know that everyday Demi sees him at school she runs to him for a big hug. She really loves her Pastor. Pastor Frost tells her, "I just can't wait until tomorrow, because you get prettier every day!" He is a great Pastor!!!! Demi is so excited that she has a kitten now named, "Snickers". Quite frankly, I think it's possibly the ugliest cat on Earth, but Demi disagrees. They cuddle and sleep together all night in Demi's bed. Which I just think is totally disgusting. There is no telling what critters that cat is hiding in its fur.



Grant is almost 21 months. He is learning all sorts of new words. If only I spoke Telegu (the language his babysitter speaks to him) I could probably understand what he was saying. No really he is also saying English words. He says, caca (I don't think this is really English, but I know you all know what it means), mama, dada, ball, airplane(sort of), kitty(sort of), more(pronounced MO), Ama(mom in Telegu). The tiny tyrant is still ruling the house! He already beats Demi up with a wiffle ball bat and whatever else he can get in his hands. He is so smart too. The other day he got two spatulas and pushed a chair up to the stove so he could cook! Of course I stopped him. Hey this could work out in later years though!!!! I wonder if he would like to do laundry too?

MANSION IN SKY

We just closed escrow and boy are we EXCITED!!!!

Here's a picture of the "Guest House" entrance

Check out the pool

Join us for dinner???

The Main Entrance

The View

Walking on Sheet's of gold, real gold 23.5 K

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

The above pictures are pictures of Hearst Castle......a man made castle. The man has perished and the castle remains. We serve God because we love Him, not because of the mansions he has promised. He said "If you love me, keep my commandments." One of the greatest commandments I have found is John 3:7 "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." He has built the mansions and has prepared a place for us because he loves us. Soon this world will perish, but the mansions He has built will remain. I choose to dwell in those mansions how about you?

Until then I guess I will visit the sheets of gold, until I can walk on the streets of gold!

"the BBQ king"

You are gazing upon smoked tri-tip and ribs. A six hour process. Brought to you by Brett Burton, my brother-in-law. The man knows what he is doing when it comes to smokin meat! Brett is married to my sister Sarah "Bug". We really enjoy having family time with them and it's not just because of his mad BBQ skills. Keep up the smokin good work Brett!!!! We love you guys!!!!!

Sunday Fun!

OK. Boys......disgusting little creatures. This is Grant eating a chocolate candy still wrapped in the foil. We had a difficult time removing this one from his mouth. He was like a pit bull on a pork chop according to Josh.

This post is specifically for "Kokie Girl". Easter Sunday morning I was home with Grant doing homework and suddenly realized I did not hear anything in the house. With children silence equals trouble. I went searching and found him in Josh's bathroom. Grant was having a ball. He found Demi's Hello Kitty electric tooth brush and was swirling it in the toilet and then brushing his teeth! He is quite the one for hygiene. He had been doing this for a while because his entire shirt was soaked!!! I wanted to throw up....I was so disgusted. I screamed and washed him up and couldn't wait until Josh came home and received the nagging of his life!!!

I did yell at Josh and told him, once again, please close the toilet and the bathroom door. He said "Yes dear", once again. That afternoon Grant again had disappeared. I found him......you guessed it.......in Josh's bathroom shoving towels in the toilet!!! Apparently he thought they needed washed...and if it's clean enough for your tooth brushing then why not clean the towels there too?

So I made Josh get the towel out. Hmmmmmm.......I wonder if Josh has learned his lesson?

I do have to admit that even though I have to put up with Josh's forgetfulness about closing toilets and such.......he could possibly be the best husband and father on planet Earth. This is true.

You Rock Baby Girl!!!!

Proud mom and dad want to give a "shout out" to our baby girl Demicans.

Demi has really learned a lot in Sister Caseys first grade class....including how to be more independently responsible for completing her work. Sister Casey has a tough job and with her help and expertise I think we have helped Demi to reach a monumental point in life and academia.

Two words.....Time Management!!! This may be a strange concept for a first grader to need to learn, but in our household time is a precious commodity. For the past few weeks Demi has successfully been completing or almost completing all her work in class and then what she does not finish she does at day care after school. She is trying really hard and we are so proud of her.

Yesterday Demi did not do her homework at day care......I think spring break messed up her system and she forgot. Anyway, she woke up today and on her own did her homework before going to school!!!!! How's that for first grade motivation!!!! She is growing up so fast and becoming a little funny lady!!! She is doing so well in school and received all A's and one B on her report card!!!! WOW!!!

We would like to thank all the school staff and day care staff support that help our family every day!