Horse Vets Gone Wild

The gals in Erick's Vet office gave all the horse doctors tickets to race at Pole Position Racing in Murrieta.  The boys and I had a blast watching them and Erick said it was a ton of fun.  The picture below is Erick in the front.  You can see more on our Flickr site.

Kids with scissors

I know that almost every kid has done this.  And today was Mile's turn.  I was in the kitchen and Miles comes running up to me very excited and proud of what he just did.  He cut a large amount of hair off his head!  He said "Look Mommy!"  So anyway, after I saw the uneven mullet he gave himself, he got an emergency military buzz cut.  Unfortunately, my buzz cut didn't completely hide his jagged cuts.  If you look closely you can still see his handy work.

Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart

I read this book when it came out at the beginning of this year.  I loved it!  The author talks about biblical manhood and womanhood, God's design for marriage, sex, and how to have healthy relationships.  This book is hard to put down.  It is winsome and a fast read.  I am re-reading because our church college group (that my husband teaches) is going to go through this book in a midweek book study.  Erick is also going to be teaching on Biblical masculinity and femininity, marriage, sex, family on Sunday nights at Kaleo starting in January.

Hear is the description of the book from the back cover: 

"There is a radical, biblical alternative to much of what is taught and practiced today regarding relationships. Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart presents a bold plan for escaping the swift currents of contemporary patterns of hooking up, shacking up, and breaking up. It draws a compelling vision of complementarity between the sexes. It instructs men on what to do and informs women on what to look for in their mutual pursuit of a healthy, tender, long-term relationship."

The Girltalkers did an interview with John Ensor recently.  You can read it on their blog.

Exploring in the park

Yesterday, Erick took the boys to the park behind our house.  These are taken by Erick with his Christmas present.

Christmas Eve

Miles fell asleep around 2:30 on the sofa and slept for about 3 hours.  He was exhausted from a long weekend at both of his grandparents houses.

Miles with the gift from Don Lee (all the way from Korea).

Mason is all over the Legos this year.

Christmas with the Arings

My niece, Lucy with her mama Jeri (my brother's wife).

My mom has made a stocking for each of her grandkids.  This is Lucy's new stocking with the "Sugar Plum Fairy" on it.  So cute!

Christmas with the Cobbs

Here are all of the Cobb dudes so far...  from the left, James (the youngest bro) with son Tyler, Chris (AKA Paco - the middle bro), Erick (the oldest bro) with son Mason, and Pops with our other son Miles.

And here are all the Mrs. Cobbs.  From the left, Kristie (Erick's mom), Kristi (Chris' wife), me, and Britni (James' wife).  I think we need some little girls in our laps!  But I have been told Cobbs only have boys!?

Photo Shoot by Tim

Yesterday our talented friend Tim took some photos of us at the park.   

Festival of Lights

Last night Mason's kindergarten class put on a holiday program, "Festival of Lights".  Mason did a fantastic job.  They were all so cute!

Kaleo Christmas Party

We had a blast last night at the Kaleo Christmas party.  It was like old times having a packed house (55-60 people).  Josh was a great sport in playing Santa.  Jenny, Rosy, and Courtney did a great job setting up the house.  The highlight of Mason's night was when Courtney gave him the white elephant gift she won (glow in the dark batman underwear)!  Thanks so much to Tim for taking some great pictures!  They are up for viewing on the Kaleo's Flickr site.  Thank you everyone for making it such a fun night.  You all are such a blessing to Erick and I. 

Everyday Talk

I just finished reading Everyday Talk: Talking Freely and Naturally about God with Your Children by John Younts.  What a wonderful book.  I loved it!  This would make a great companion gift with The Jesus Storybook Bible.  Here is what Tedd Tripp wrote about this book:

Everyday Talk is a masterful book. It provides valuable talking points for conversations about everything from weather, to sex, to music. The two essential features of biblical parenting are properly aligned in this book: penetrating insight into the heart and the centrality of the gospel, not only for salvation, but for life. - Tedd Tripp, author of Shepherding a Child's Heart

The Blind Boys Of Alabama

How could I forget this one!  Go Tell It On The Mountain by the Blind Boys of Alabama is by far my favorite Christmas album!

Books for Christmas Gifts

Westminster Bookstore's

Gift Giving Guide is here!

Also Tim Challies has a book guide.

Good books make great gifts!

Christmas Music

This is what Miles and I are dancing to while we are making Vegetable Beef Stew. 

And while mentioning Christmas music I am also enjoying your King has come.

Vegetable Beef Stew

Here is what's for dinner at the Cobb casa.  This recipe was taken from Taste of Home.  But like most of the time I mix it up a bit and add and subtract a few things.  I have not made this particular recipe before, so no promises ; )  But it looked good and right now it smells yum-o!  I love slow cooker meals.  I can chop everything up in the morning when I have extra time and presto dinner is ready when we are!

Vegetable Beef Stew:

3/4 pound beef stew meat cubed, 2 tsp canola oil, 1 can (14 oz) beef broth, 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, 1potato cubed, 1 c. frozen corn, 1/2 c. chopped carrots, 1/2 c. chopped yellow onion, 3 garlic cloves minced, 1 tsp thyme, 1tsp "21 seasoning salute" (Trader Joes), 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1/4 c. water *(actually after making this tonight, I would change this to 1 cup water), 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley.

Directions:

In a nonstick skillet, brown beef in oil.  Transfer to slow cooker.  Add broth, tomatoes, potatoes, onion, garlic, corn, carrots, thyme, seasoning, salt, pepper.  Cover and cook on high for 5-6 hours or until vegetables and meat are tender.

Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into stew.  Cover and cook on high for 30 min. or until gravy is thickened.  Stir in parsley.

BTW:  We will have extra if anyone is hungry tonight =)

Mom at Race for the Cure

This is my mom (Evie), my niece (Lucy), and my brother's wife (Jeri) at the San Diego Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure '07.  This is her second year in the race since her diagnosis of breast cancer in 2003.  I think she looks exceptionally festive this year =)  Love you, Mom!

It is beginning to feel like Christmas

We went and got our Christmas tree today!  I was hoping for a California style palm tree (inspired by Holly H.'s cute sago palm tree all decorated with lights), but I was unable to drum up enough excitement from the family about my non-traditional idea.  Miles seemed to like the Charlie Brown style tree at the lot.  But we ended up with a beautiful Noble Fir.

We also loaded up the great Cobb Odyssey with fire wood.  Sorry I forgot to capture that moment on camera for you all to enjoy!

I am loving the rare rain and cool weather!