Papa Comes to Magdalena...

... and makes the kidlets happy!
Okay, okay... I was pretty content as well... :)

It was a nice week [after the strange, but obviously providential delay in him actually getting here!] and just tonight Candi told me, "Steph... I'm crying because Papa isn't here." Besides the fact that she was justifying her whiny attitude, I think it rings true across the board... they really enjoy having a big, overall-wearin', whisker-toutin', bear-hug-givin', man around the house! :)

It's nice having a different schedule than a few years ago, and we enjoyed being able to eat lots of our meals in the house with Grandpa...

Did I say eat? Or play around...? :)

Like I said... "play around!"

We also had fun before devotions at night, playing in the living room.
Pictured above... Candi getting her nose and face smashed!

I also taught the kidlets how we used to give Dad foot-rubs after he got home from working in the fields... and warned them of the exceedingly ticklish places on his feet that were best to be avoided; seriously. Thankfully they listened and we have no mortally wounded children... :)

Demonstrating the proper technique... ;)

Those are some big boots to fill...

... and some stinky socks, too! :)

Dad also enjoyed badgering the Wulf boys and trying to get them to understand that it was infinitely more exciting and important to be a pirate instead of a jedhi (sp?) or a Roman centurion. Go figure.

The kids picked out Christmas gifts for Grandpa, Grandma and the aunts... so they were really, really excited to watch Dad open his Japanese peanuts!!!

While Dad was here, we also had out first-ever chili bake-off!

It was a lot of fun, and pictured above are the two winners: 1st place was Emily with a chili-cheese-cream-cheese-bean dip, and 2nd went to Duane with his tweaking of an "Our Favorite Recipe"... good times. :)

Thanks, Dad, for coming... the kids and I enjoyed having you; and there's nothing quite like looking out the window and watching four kidlets grasping the hand of and trailing behind Grandpa. Very precious memories for me... and for them, too!

Thanks for the prayers through the Christmas season and all the well-wishes. Monday we start back to school and back to a set routine... and I think we're ready! [At least THIS mother is!] Please pray for the hearts and the salvation of these children... that they can truly recognize what the most important things in life revolve around... HIM!