The past couple of days have been a true gift. 

Friday was my Sabbath and it was filled with a little work while Eden was in preschool, then we went to chuck “e” cheese and we suppressed Eden with a playmate there with one of her best friends, then we played outside where we got this pic.  Eden put herself down for a nap and I took a great 7.5 mile run that ended with the assistance of a headlamp.  Dinner was amazing too. 

Saturday was more of the same with a family hike, some Toy Story mania on Wii.  Katie was trying to work and then she was playing 2 players at the same time (see pic). 

The Dog even has loved this little bit of spring before real winter has come. 

The other night Eden wanted to put herself to bed. She read some stories with the kindle fire and then snuggled down. I had to come in for a final back rub and Katie had to pray with her, but it was a great start. Way to go Eden!!

Tomorrow is party time for Eden. I can’t believe that she is going to be 4!!!  Where has the time gone.  I wanted to post a pic of the awesome job Katie did to make the house look great.  We even have a glass slipper on a pillow that goes with the princess dresses and castle.  Katie is so creative.   

One of the most dangerous things that I have ever encountered is my mother with an idea or a vision for what something could be.  It is awesome to watch her work though. 

Her latest idea is the transformation of our old High School youth room (now going to be a middle school room).  The room is in a part of the building that isn’t much used and has a couple of couches (hence a youth room).  In the picture she is getting ready to paint a wall a “bright yellow.”  She has also gotten a very large white board, wanted to use some white board paint on the top of a table, “found” a snack cart and has some other improvements in mind.  One of the dreams that she has is wireless internet access. 

She is a great dreamer and do-er.  I love her energy and excitement in renovating for ministry with young people.  I will try and keep you posted on the progress.

Here is a really great artical fromt he barna Group about the way that we use technology and its impact on our families. 

The digital age is affecting more than how America communicates. It is also shaping parent-child relationships in striking new ways.

Barna Group recently completed a study about the influence of technology in families, releasing the findings in a new digital report, The Family & Technology Report.

The research was conducted in partnership with Orange, which is part of the reThink Group. The innovative study included nationwide interviews among parents and 11- to 17-year-olds from the same households, allowing comparisons between the parents and the tweens and teenagers who reside in the same home.

Highlights from the study included the following five findings:

1. Parents are just as dependent on technology as are teens and tweens.
2. Most family members, even parents, feel that technology has been a positive influence on their families.
3. Very few adults or youth take substantial breaks from technology.
4. Families experience conflict about technology, but not in predictable ways.
5. Few families have experienced—or expect—churches to address technology.

Read more here:  The Barna Group – How Technology is Influencing Families

This past week were were in Disney for a much needed family vacation.  It was a really great time.  We took a couple of days to be in the park and then 3 days on a Disney cruise ship.  It was GREAT.

I am always a little crazy the week before and after vacation because of the things that have to happen getting ready for the trip.  But during the trip I love being away.  For most of this one we didn’t even have cell reception whiich was even better.

I love having this time with family (my parents took us).  It was the most time in a long time that Katie, Eden and I were together.  It was really great to spend time with my girls.

Now it is back to the grind with confirmation coming up this weekend.

The other week when Katie and I were in the throws of trying to push out some young adult materials for the Conference Young Adult Council, I took a number of pictures of nativity sets from our home. 

I got out the tripod and my nifty 50mm 1.8 lens and started snapping.  Soon I found that I had a very interested assistant who was willing to hold up backdrops, move furniture, and hold lights at just the right angle. 

After she got the hang of it she wanted to shoot some ornaments on our tree for her self.  So we gave her a crack at it and she did rather well.  take a look at some of her shots. 

It was so much fun. next time I think that we are going to try for some sunsets.

On Thursday Katie went to Princeton for a conference for young adult ministry.  This has left me and Eden home alone.  Today we had the whole day to play and be dad and daughter.  It was really a blessing to have the time to spend with her. 

This morning my domestic switch must have been flipped.  Before Katie went to New Jersey she stocked up and got food ready and set clothes out for us.  Well just clothes for Eden, I still dressed myself.  In light of that I did some laundry this mourning, vacuumed, did dishes and picked up the house.  Then I started to cook.  Eden and I made mac and cheese (the fancy kind), some “turkey feathers” (chicken tenders dusted with gluten-free honey chex, delicious), and finally we made some turkey sugar cookies. 

It was such a great morning and then we played outside and we were one the swing for a ton of time.

We miss mom, but is was a great day to hang out with my Eden.   

In just a few short hours the Bishop clan is going to be making another trip to Sesame St. Place. This time they are having their Halloween party and we are all supposed to wear costumes.  Eden is having a little trouble committing.  Within a 10 min. span she said that she wanted to be a dinosaur, Tinkerbelle, a blue banana, a princess, and pinkalicious. 

However Katie and I have our outfits ready to go.  I screened a couple of shirts that will leave me going as Spiderman and she is going to be going as bat girl.  I am sure I will let you all know how it goes. 

I have been off of work this week and it has been a blast to spend some much needed time with Eden, Kronk and the Misses. 

Here is a post that Katie did about our trip to the Crayola factory in Easton PA.  It was sooo cool.

For more of on her blog check out: http://katiejpbishop.blogspot.com/

I grew up museum spoiled. Living in Washington DC, I was blessed to have total access to history, creativity, beauty. From the American History Museum to the National Zoo, to the arboretum to the White House, I am museum spoiled. And the best part…they are all free. So when I heard about the Crayola Museum Factory in Easton PA, I was a little nervous.

Would it be worth the 3 hour drive? Would it be worth the $9 admission price (before parking?)

YES!

Not only was it worth the drive and worth the money,

but we have to go again.

So laid back.

So child friendly.

So, so cool.

So colorful!

(yes, this is me and my mother-in-law rocking out at the video dance party. What of it?) And lots of projects to try. Something for everyone.  With our admission, we got in free to the Canal Museum.  I will post about that tomorrow. Very cool too!