Goodbye 2010 | Hello 2011~

 From our family to yours Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

This year started with some interesting changes, no jobs to new jobs, and proved to bring more change as the year went on.  New ministries, bible studies, and directions, through it all we sought to follow God where He lead, and leave our own paths behind.  Here's to more of the same in the new year and more readiness to say, "here I am Lord, use me as you will, lead me in Your ways and not my own."  We love you Lord, and we love you family and friends!

Our Christmas card this year, had this on the front, and this below inside:-)

2010

* First trips to the snow *

* Lost and Found jobs (Tom) *

* First solid food (Daniel)*

* First King's Game Attended (Holden)*

* New Foodie Adventures (Anna)*

* Teeth , oh the teeth (Daniel) *

* First steps (Daniel) *

* First swim across the pool (Holden) *

* A Fourth Birthday and a First Birthday celebrated *

* First Day of Pre-K (Holden) *

* First family Vacation *

* New Ministries and Directions *

* A year  filled with brotherly love, all things boy, and God's love and provision guiding us down new paths.  We feel extrememly blessed to have shared this year with you all, and to journey together this path God has us on.  May we all seek Him fully this new year and always. *

See you in 2011~!

Last Snow Day of 2010

We headed out yesterday mid-morning to enjoy a day in the snow...or a couple hours at least, we do have little bitties;-) It was quite a frigid day.  OK in the sun if you were moving around, but when the wind kicked up or you sat for a bit COLD:-)  Well in my standards!

We bundled Daniel up best we could...we never buy snow gear for the little's as their exposure is low...they don't enjoy it too much so we don't keep them out long...ANYWAY, he didn't want to be put down!  He would tolerate Tom pulling him in the sled, but NOT me...ME he wanted to hold him, THE WHOLE TIME!

DO I LIKE THIS?  OH NO I DO NOT!

The snow was BEAUTIFUL and DEEP.  Holden managed to walk on the top layer of snow...TOM and I we sank!  Over knee deep! We REALLY could have used our snow shoes!

Tom and Holden (unseen here) working on the run.

Daniel was happy to sit in my lap and "HELP" me take pictures, so that's what we did most of the time:-)

More work on the run, it's serious you know!

See I was there, and I make him HAPPY:-)  I cherish these days!  They are SO fleeting I know!

Someone (ahem...Uncle Josh) told Holden he could eat snow as long as it wasn't YELLOW or BROWN, So it is one of his favorite things to do while out in it.

"MMM Good!"

It was a fun day!  I am so glad we live so close to the snow, but we don't have to deal with it in our everyday:-)  Although some snowed in days would be fun!  Looking forward to 2011 and what God has planned for our little family!

Random Decemberness:-)

Let's see other than the photos seen in the Photo challenge we had some other fun parts:-)   When we gathered as an extended family to celebrate Christmas, there was also cookie decorating, WHILE listening/watching the Christmas story unfold through flannel graph (one of Holden's FAVORITE things)...lately Holden has just wanted to DECORATE the cookies and NOT eat them!  Yep definitely OUR kid!

LOVE this one while we are singing Happy Birthday to JESUS!

This month Daniel turned 16 months...I know no 16 month post...oh well!  He has discovered Legos, anything he can manipulate, AND has added a few words to his vocabulary, the words he did have are becoming increasingly clear:-)  I can't think of them right now...maybe 18 months will get a BIG post!

He still LOVES to snuggles, gives his brother a run for his money with the toys now, and SCREAMS if things don't go his way total DRAMA!

MANY days we stayed in our robes/PJs most of the day...AND some days he said "TALK TO THE HAND"  What a wonderful December was had in our house!

Our Home

A little bit of Christmas at our house.  I literally did 90% of my decorating on Christmas day:-)  The tree was up and decorated but the rest, well I lacked motivation and inspiration.  Until the day when people were coming for dinner.  Some fun stuff to remember.  Above, some of my favorite ornaments this year, Below more ornaments and some decor:-)

Until next year Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Our Christmas Day...

This year we woke up and it was just us:-)  We had people coming for dinner but we had our Christmas morning to ourselves.  We got up, relaxed, had a great breakfast, played, read the Christmas story, and eventually opened presents.  It was calm and FUN:-)

The boys were in their BUZZ LIGHTYEAR PJ's courtesy of grandma:-)

 Holden posed by the tree, Daniel not so much:-)

Some sort of ninja gymnastics move, Daniel wasn't so happy about it...typical fair at our house.

Our Tree...

Umm where did MY BABY go!  what an AMAZING smile!

Holden and Tom made breakfast:-)...I heated up homemade cinnamon rolls:-)

we had the fire on ALL DAY! :-)

 this year was the first where we had an Advent calendar with chocolate.  It was our nemesis.  A battle to eat right to get the chocolate, and then there were days we totally forgot about it.  I think Holden still had about 8 chocolates this morning.  He shared some with Daniel.  there were NO complaints.

daddy reading the Christmas story from Luke.

Trying to figure this present thing out.

A WONDERFUL day.  Filled with our family, prayer, presents, and fun.  AND in the afternoon family and friends came over for a wonderful meal and more good times:-)  We are SO blessed.  The boys LOVED ALL the visitors, and great times were had by all.  

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

12.25.10 | December Photo Project

Merry Christmas from the CRAZY house;-)

12.24.10 | December Photo Project

Waiting for our guests:-)  Whether we have any or not!

12.23.10 | December Photo Project

Holden REALLY wanted you to see his SOCK:-)  Tonight he and I headed off to Auburn, where we attended with Beth, Josh, MJ , and Miss A, a Gold Rush Christmas Eve, complete with a Bluegrass band.  Gotta love the diverse churches around here:-)  Nothing like hearing a couple "gold miners" telling the Christmas story.  There was the band, the drama, some singers, some dancers, and a little talk on the "true" meaning of Christmas.

Holden enjoyed it in his jumping, and fidgeting BOY way.  On the way home, when I asked if he learned anything new tonight he said, "No was I supposed to?" followed by, "Mom, we already know about Jesus and what His birth means, why do we need to go listen to it over and over"  Of course followed by a LONG conversation of why it is good to be reminded of Jesus and what He did for us, COMPLETE with many more questions!  LOVE this boy!

Looking forward to being with our church family tomorrow and again hearing the story of GOD'S SON being born in a manger.  And singing praises to our God and King who's PROMISE rings true always.  

12.22.10 | December Photo Project

This was BLISS.  two boys happily playing side by side, even TOGETHER at times:-)

Unfortunately, after getting the cookies all assembled yesterday, I got sick AGAIN:(  Luckily everyone else is still recovering/staying well...I on the other hand wish today I could take a "Go Back to Bed Card".  Thank goodness Tom takes such good care of me EVEN while working!

12.21.10 | December Photo Project

I was feeling MUCH better today.  I spent the morning assembling and packaging these cookie plates for a facility that helps families get back on their feet.  They have 24 families...so we did 24 plates.  Thank goodness the women in our church did not disappoint and we were able to give them FULL plates of cookies:-)  A simple way to hopefully put a smile on someone's face in this season.  And remind them that God loves, and treasures them.

12.20.10 | December Photo Project

These two would like to tell you THEY did not get the horrible stomach bug that Holden and I are suffering from.  Hopefully soon we will be back to regular scheduled programing:-)

12.19.10 | December Photo Project

Today we celebrated with family.  Had great food, heard the Christmas story, decorated cookies, sang Happy Birthday to Jesus, and had a little gift exchange.  What fun:-)

Preschool Christmas Program

 We ALL went to Holden's preschool program this year...Daniel was kind of surprised we got to STAY in the preschool classroom...quite often now when  we drop Holden off Daniel thinks he should stay too...I am sure until he realized I left he would be fine:-)

I was sure Holden would sing this year because he practiced at home:-)

He didn't quite sing but he did do the hand motions and sang SOME of the words:-)

Serious business this bell ringing!

 My friend Catherine caught this SO cute!

This is the part where the little snowman melted in the sun...ALL week I heard about how the different kids melted...I guess this is how Holden melts:-)

He got a little CRAZY with his "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" hand motions:-)  I don't think his neighbor was thrilled about that!

He realized he was supposed to bow...he was a little late, but still SO CUTE!

This is about how family pictures go these days:-)  AT LEAST Holden is the one choking himself and Tom or I are not doing it!  Daniel looks thrilled right?  Our friend and Pastor was making funny faces to get him to smile...I don't think HE or Tom thought he was funny:-)  Sorry Brad.

Pancake and sweets for breakfast after the show...oh yeah and HOT CHOCOLATE of course!

The big man in RED paid a visit too.  Holden was so sad he didn't read them a story.  Apparently that's what Ms. Wendy said would happen.  But most of the kids and parents were DONE with the party and making their exit, so no time for Santa to read.  Holden didn't want to leave until he got a story, but thankfully we convinced him it was OK. I thought for sure it would be just us and Santa and that Holden would MAKE him read...:-)  A fun day and a fun way to start the Holiday Break!  MERRY CHRISTMAS!