Ben trying out Uncle Peter's Christmas Present.
12.29.2011
12.28.2011
9 Years
Today we celebrated NINE years of marriage. It is hard to believe it has been that long.
Here is the picture that went out in our wedding invitations. :)
It has been an amazing, hard, fun and incredible adventure, and every year Jesus takes us further into the Gospel, closer to Him and closer to each other.
We were able to get away for an ENTIRE day (thank you Becki!!) together. Because our anniversary falls right before the new year we did some life planning (while sipping coffee), saw a movie together (in a theater!) and went to the Melting Pot. It was a good day, and fun to pretend like we were 19 again. :)
12.27.2011
Juice Anyone?
And I have yet another obsession. JUICING!! I have had a vitamix blender for about 5 years now, and LOVE it!!! And I recently borrowed a juicer from my sister-in-law and we have been using it almost every day!
I know it is lame, but I feel like a better mother if I can get veges into the kids... especially a whole bunch before noon! When I just had the vitamix we would make smoothies and such (laces with plenty of spinach), but I have found the kids love the smooth juice, so I have started using both!
FIRST, I juice some combination of apples, oranges, celery, carrots, cabbage, beets, pineapple and tomatoes.
I know it is lame, but I feel like a better mother if I can get veges into the kids... especially a whole bunch before noon! When I just had the vitamix we would make smoothies and such (laces with plenty of spinach), but I have found the kids love the smooth juice, so I have started using both!
FIRST, I juice some combination of apples, oranges, celery, carrots, cabbage, beets, pineapple and tomatoes.
THEN, I throw it all in the vitamix with ice, bananas, avocado, spinach, pineapple and cabbage (for fiber) and TA DA!!! You have amazing juice that your kids slurp right up!!
And all in all it takes me 10-15 minutes from start to finish (washing both machines).
(The only downside are the looks your husband may give you when they see yet another appliance - with 8 pieces - take us residence on the counter... I think he still loves me :).
(The only downside are the looks your husband may give you when they see yet another appliance - with 8 pieces - take us residence on the counter... I think he still loves me :).
All Boxed In
I recently played a game where we attempted to list all the toys that made it in to the Toy Hall of Fame. Do you know what was #1??? A BOX!!! And it is soooo true. :)
I bought a box to organize the kids clothes (horray for hand-me-downs!) Well, needless to say, I didn't get to it right away, and the kids, particularly Ben, have been having a blast with the box. :)
This is how I found him this afternoon when I banished him to the couch for rest time. :)
I bought a box to organize the kids clothes (horray for hand-me-downs!) Well, needless to say, I didn't get to it right away, and the kids, particularly Ben, have been having a blast with the box. :)
This is how I found him this afternoon when I banished him to the couch for rest time. :)
And here he is the first day we brought it home.
I ended up giving him some animal crackers and he was happy as a clam for an hour.
I ended up giving him some animal crackers and he was happy as a clam for an hour.
12.26.2011
Naomi: 20 Months
How can you not just smile when looking at this face? Sometimes I forget how much she doesn't look like me, until someone comments... "Wow, she is sooo blonde!" Or I look at us in a mirror. :) He definitely got more of her daddy's genes, but she does look a little like some of my baby pictures, just dipped in vanilla. :)
I LOVE this age. 18-19-20-21 months... they just become little people. They can hold your hand in a parking lot instead of having to be held. They start really communicating. They want to participate and personally just bubbles over constantly!
She is adding new words every day, although she mainly uses her amazingly expression-filled face, and pointing and grunts to get her point across. (Which she is VERY good at). She loves to keep up with her brother, and do everything he does. She likes shoes and bracelets, but also loves to play with matchbox cars and airplanes. She has all the noises down for a good crash. :)
Too Much Fun?
I think all the Christmas fun did her in. The day after Christmas she came downstairs with her favorite blankets and was acting cranky... Andrew offered to cover her up, and there she slept... on the rug in the middle of the living room. :)
Christmas!!
We had a wonderful - albeit hectic - Christmas this year. :) Here are a few pictures from Christmas Eve and Christmas.
We let the kids open one present on Christmas Eve.
Yes, we are THOSE parents, who give their kids books. :)
Naomi got Blueberries for Sal
Ben got The Complete Collection of George & Martha
Christmas morning... opening stockings at home. :)
The off to the in-laws by 8am - just in time for amazing cinnamon rolls and presents!
Here are Daniel, Jonathon & Becki - waiting patiently to open presents. :)
Na found a good perch.
Playing piano before heading to church all decked out in there Indian clothes from my grandmother.
Naomi got a little tired during church.
Not a great picture, but we documented the event right?
The kiddos.
Cinnamon Rolls, Presents, Church, A Game of Settlers & Pictures we went home to hang out with my brother Ryan & his wife Meredith, and celebrated yet again. :)
Opening their big gift from us. An Art Easel!
Ben playing sword fight with Uncle Ryan.
At this point he had chopped off one leg and an arm.
Naomi having a blast making Auntie Mers entertain her. :)
We let the kids open one present on Christmas Eve.
Yes, we are THOSE parents, who give their kids books. :)
Naomi got Blueberries for Sal
Ben got The Complete Collection of George & Martha
Christmas morning... opening stockings at home. :)
The off to the in-laws by 8am - just in time for amazing cinnamon rolls and presents!
Here are Daniel, Jonathon & Becki - waiting patiently to open presents. :)
Na found a good perch.
Playing piano before heading to church all decked out in there Indian clothes from my grandmother.
Naomi got a little tired during church.
Not a great picture, but we documented the event right?
The kiddos.
Cinnamon Rolls, Presents, Church, A Game of Settlers & Pictures we went home to hang out with my brother Ryan & his wife Meredith, and celebrated yet again. :)
Opening their big gift from us. An Art Easel!
Ben playing sword fight with Uncle Ryan.
At this point he had chopped off one leg and an arm.
Naomi having a blast making Auntie Mers entertain her. :)
12.24.2011
Friends
When I was little I learned this little jingle:Make New Friends
But Keep the Old
Some are Silver
And the Other Gold
Josh & Missy are Gold! :) Sadly, J & M don't get any picture space now that they have a child (and one on the way!), but here is their daughter Alina with Ben and Naomi. They had such a great time together... which means the adults had time to talk without constant interruptions!
They were able to stay with us for a few days before Christmas and we loved seeing them!
Alina's B-day is Dec. 23rd, so we were able to celebrate with her.
Here are Ben & Naomi - every so ready to help her open anything. :)
The party was at the Play Lodge!
Ben got to try the stocks out. :)
The Three Kidlets. :)
12.21.2011
Friendship!
Here are Melanie, Becki, (Juliet,) Lara & I visiting the gingerbread houses at the Grove Park Inn.
We are all in bible study together and it has been such a blessing to be in eachother's lives!
12.17.2011
Big Girl Bed
Well, we have officially moved Naomi to a big girl bed.
I don't know if I was ready yet, I am not ready for my baby to be a little girl yet.
But their room was quite crowded with bunk beds and a crib,
so here we go! It will be an adventure!
She slept all night the first night,
and almost all night the second,
so I guess I can't complain. :)
I don't know if I was ready yet, I am not ready for my baby to be a little girl yet.
But their room was quite crowded with bunk beds and a crib,
so here we go! It will be an adventure!
She slept all night the first night,
and almost all night the second,
so I guess I can't complain. :)
12.12.2011
12.09.2011
12.05.2011
Kid Chatter
A: Ben, what are you thinking about?
B: (Pause)... I am thinking about who is the best at disobeying.
A: Oh really, well who is it?
B: You (meaning Andrew :) & Grandpa & Uncle Daniel.
---
My sister-in-law Becki watched my kids while I was at a book fair and while picking up my brother from the airport...
Becki: Ben, do you know that Uncle Micah is coming today?
Ben shakes head yes.
Becki: And are you excited?
Ben: Yes!! I didn't know you know the awesome soldier's name! I love soldiers... because they kill the bad guys.
---
B: Oh no! This is just awful!!
L: What is awful?
B: I forgot to tell my teachers something!! (at Bible Study Fellowship)
L: Oh, and what did you forget to tell them?
B: That I am going to be a soldier when I grow up, like Uncle Micah. Isn't it awful that I forgot Mom? Oh well, I guess I will just have to tell them next week.
B: (Pause)... I am thinking about who is the best at disobeying.
A: Oh really, well who is it?
B: You (meaning Andrew :) & Grandpa & Uncle Daniel.
---
My sister-in-law Becki watched my kids while I was at a book fair and while picking up my brother from the airport...
Becki: Ben, do you know that Uncle Micah is coming today?
Ben shakes head yes.
Becki: And are you excited?
Ben: Yes!! I didn't know you know the awesome soldier's name! I love soldiers... because they kill the bad guys.
---
B: Oh no! This is just awful!!
L: What is awful?
B: I forgot to tell my teachers something!! (at Bible Study Fellowship)
L: Oh, and what did you forget to tell them?
B: That I am going to be a soldier when I grow up, like Uncle Micah. Isn't it awful that I forgot Mom? Oh well, I guess I will just have to tell them next week.
12.02.2011
12.01.2011
O Christmas Tree
We love to get our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving! We chop if down, drag it home, set it up and decorate it all the same day! We love it!
Here are a few pictures!
Naomi enjoying her candy cane from Santa (she did NOT enjoy Santa).
Ben and Uncle Ryan with the hat switch.
(Never mind that it was 70 degrees and hats were not necessary).
Andrew and Meredith's brother Noah doing the dirty work. :)
My lovely photogenic helpers dragging out the Christmas boxes.
Ben decorating the tree.
Last year we decorated after Ben went to bed, and he woke up the next morning distraught that we had done it all without him. So this year he wanted to put EVERY LAST ORNAMENT on the tree.
The angel ornament seen in the picture has special meaning. It came in the box of ornaments we got from Andrew's mom when we got married (most of them ones that Andrew had made). One for every year. This particular one I call the "retarded angel" (not very pc i know) and he lives on the back of the tree each year. :) But the funny this is that Naomi saw it, and loves it... pointing it out almost every day. Silly girl!
Here are a few pictures!
Naomi enjoying her candy cane from Santa (she did NOT enjoy Santa).
Ben with his sweet treat. :)
We don't really do Santa in our house, not because we have a philosophical reason against it necessarily, but more because I just think there are so many things I want to teach them about Jesus and his birth and the real reason for the season, that I don't want to waste any of this precious time on Santa. So when Santa asked Ben if he had been a good boy and what he wanted for Christmas, Ben just looked at me, as if to say, "Who is this guy, and what's with the questions?" :)
We don't really do Santa in our house, not because we have a philosophical reason against it necessarily, but more because I just think there are so many things I want to teach them about Jesus and his birth and the real reason for the season, that I don't want to waste any of this precious time on Santa. So when Santa asked Ben if he had been a good boy and what he wanted for Christmas, Ben just looked at me, as if to say, "Who is this guy, and what's with the questions?" :)
Ben and Uncle Ryan with the hat switch.
(Never mind that it was 70 degrees and hats were not necessary).
Andrew and Meredith's brother Noah doing the dirty work. :)
My lovely photogenic helpers dragging out the Christmas boxes.
Ben decorating the tree.
Last year we decorated after Ben went to bed, and he woke up the next morning distraught that we had done it all without him. So this year he wanted to put EVERY LAST ORNAMENT on the tree.
The angel ornament seen in the picture has special meaning. It came in the box of ornaments we got from Andrew's mom when we got married (most of them ones that Andrew had made). One for every year. This particular one I call the "retarded angel" (not very pc i know) and he lives on the back of the tree each year. :) But the funny this is that Naomi saw it, and loves it... pointing it out almost every day. Silly girl!
The finished product! I love our not-very-beautiful tree! We collect ornaments from every place we visit, and so each ornament has meaning, or at least a story, so it is fun to revisit all those places and memories while decorating the tree each year! (And then you also don't have the clutter of trinkets from all the places you visit the other 11 months of the year! :).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)