2013 Highlights...

This, of course, tops my list... (can't watch it without getting chills...)

Other highlights include:

An unexpected Spring snowstorm that was absolutely beautiful!

Mommy/Daddy pre-baby getaway to Gulf Shores, Alabama!

Lucas's Kindergarten graduation

As mentioned above... : )

Time with some of my TU girls... days after Brady was born.

Montana trip in July! (This time, for two full weeks!)

Being home with these two, full time!

Two super-fun trips to Missouri!

Trips to Ohio!

So incredibly grateful for how the Lord has blessed our family this past year.  As always, time with family and friends tops my list of favorites every year- and the memories we make together.  Really looking forward to what this next year has in store...  whatever that might be!

Happy New Year!!!

Christmas in Ohio 2013

How do you bottle up a week of wonderfulness?? 

(Is that a word?)

The only way I know how... 

Now... for the sake of my blog book (which can't print out the videos, I will also include my TOP 10 pics from our time in Ohio, in no particular order.

Zara reading to Soph

Soph and Caden playing with the magnetic letters Grandma made

One of many Gator rides

Pile 'em in!

Mom/Grandma outdid herself again with the fancy Christmas din-din!

(Prime Rib...oh yeahhhhh!)

Zach with Brady

Grandma and the boys

Zara was super pumped about throwing snowballs... 

I had to really watch my back!

Grandpa reading the Christmas story before presents are ripped open

Zara, Claire, and Soph with their waitress aprons that Grandma made

Close-up cuteness!

Ditto!

Can't get any better than siblings putting Legos together and enjoying each other's company

Loved Lucas's face as he opened his new Pacers jersey

Could Mom GET any more creative?!  Love my little minions!

Soph and her new doggy!

PS...I lied.  That was 16, not 10.  Couldn't help it.

My Busy Little Elves

We've been busy!

 (Oops...forgot to get a pic of both kiddos putting "kisses" on each of these delicious works of art.)

Shh... working on a project for Great Grandma!

We also opened stockings tonight since we'll be headed to Ohio this week.

Celebrating Advent. (Weeks 2-4)

 Week 2:

• We lit our second candle.  This week's focus was on the angels.

• Our scripture was Luke 1:26-31:  God sent an angel, Gabriel, to Nazareth a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledge to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.  The virgin's name was Mary.  The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored!  The Lord is with you! .... Do not be afraid, Mary!  You have found favor with God!  You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus."

• We added the angel to our stable, and later in the week we sang "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", and the kiddos each made an angel using a cone-shaped dixie cup, foil, and crayons.  We also discussed other stories in scripture where angels appeared such as Daniel and the lions den.  

Week 3:

• We lit our third candle.  This week's focus was on the Bethlehem.

• Our scripture was Luke 2: 1-5:  In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world... and everyone went to their own town to register.  So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  

• We added Mary and Joseph, an empty manger, and animals to the stable and later in the week we sang "O Little Town of Bethlehem".  I had other ideas in mind for this week but we never got to them... : ( 

Week 4 (Plus the Christmas candle):

• We lit our fourth candle as well as the Christmas candle in the middle since we won't be home for Christmas.  This week's focus was on the Jesus's birth as well as the shepherds.

• Our scripture was Luke 2: 6-20

• We added Baby Jesus to the manger as well as the shepherds and sheep.  We plan on singing lots of songs this week including "Joy to the World!", "What Child is This", "Silent Night", and "Away in a Manger".  This week we keep the activities simple to focus on Jesus's birth.  And of course, we look forward to being with family to celebrate together!

Snow-biking...a new sport for Lucas.

Yep.  That's our Lucas...riding his bike in the snow.

 Absolutely love that he wanted to do this...

Check this out...all the way through.... :)

Christmas Card- 2013

One of our three Christmas cards we sent out (Yeah, I couldn't choose just one!)

Stationery Card

View the entire collection of cards.

The back of the card pic: