365 Project | Week 2

We were blessed with a good week. :o) Everyone is healthy--something I do not take for granted. The weather finally took a look at the calendar and decided to drop the temperatures a bit, though, so we transitioned to indoor activities.

Day 7. Some day this young man will be this tall next to his Daddy without standing on the window ledge!

Day 8. I LOVE this boy's enthusiasm for life! Praise the Lord for his energy! Later in the day, after he decided to use up some of his energy outside, I glanced out the window to find him walking along all of the stone walls on the perimeter of the driveway. Gulp. Thankful also for good balance!

Day 9. When sister and brother are crafting, the littlest one wants to, too. :o) I'm so glad he likes crayons! He's already starting to centralize his scribbles over the objects on the page. :o)

Day 10. Baby Raar. You are well loved. Very. well. loved. It's a good thing Mommy knows how to use a needle and thread. Nearly every tag has now been reattached at some point in your life.Day 12. Southern snow. :o) A brief glance in the kids' room shows the remains of a localized storm--a multitude of flakes now cover their walls, door, and bed. I claimed five for the dining room. :o) (Side note ... it happened to be a very sweet working-together day--it was fun to hear them working on their project together.)
Day 13. Excited to see Daddy! :o)
Day 14. Just one of many piles headed for the consignment sale. I've emptied nearly twenty (or more!) bins and boxes over the last couple weekends. Purging is done ... now the prep work begins. Lots of ironing in store for the next couple weeks.

365 Project | Week 1

This year I joined a 365 Project hosted by my favorite digital photobook company, Picaboo. My goal, therefore, is to take at least one picture a day. Every day. For an entire year. Hmmm. The two biggest challenges I see thus far are

1. Taking the pictures.


2. Choosing just one when I do take pictures.

Anyway, I guess that's all part of it. It's been a fun challenge thus far. Here's week 1. ... hope you'll enjoy the journey with me.

Day 1. Taken by my better half. He snapped this fun brother-moment from the kitchen window after church. I completely forgot about taking pictures on yes, the first day of the challenge.Day 2. Hannah and Grandma's gingerbread house ... I love the gumdrop path! Day 3. Yes, Mom, I finally lit my special candle. :o)

Day 4. Friendship bracelets return! Now if only we could get a lesson from Aunt Barbi ...Day 5. Our third child has now explored a roll of toilet paper ... as did his brother and sister before him. However, my 30-pounder was much more interested in the scale. The toilet paper just happened to get in the way. Day 6. Lots more pictures of this fun day will appear in another post. I love how Peter is peeking through the chain at me in this one though. Day 7. Daddy is cutting the final vent hole! Woo-hoo!!

Before the Memories Get Boxed Away

Before Christmas memories are entirely boxed away for another year, let me share just the highlights for our family who was not able to join us ...

Our annual Christmas Eve portrait ...
And our annual Christmas Breakfast ... Yes. That is sugar--both powdered and brown. Yes. It IS breakfast. Yes. It is absolutely just as yummy as it looks. ;)

Enjoying gifts ...

This young man gets so excited about receiving gifts--including socks! :o)

Hannah was very excited about her next installment of the Little House series ... we've already finished reading it together! Thanks, G&G!

Thanks, Great G&G! The John Deere tractor was a definite hit!

Thanks for the Bible cover, Uncle Pat & Aunt Judy!

Guess who's excited about "little" Legos this year? :o)

Emily joined our family ... a huge blessing from a friend at work. Daddy is enjoying his new Irish Flute.

We were blessed to have the week off between Christmas and New Year's, and doubly blessed for G&G to be able to join us. We didn't try to tackle the world (and we certainly didn't take many pictures of it even if we did!), but in the midst of relaxing, Chris and my Dad got the vent holes cut in for the HVAC system we will, Lord willing, be getting installed early this year! (Yay for central heat/air!!!)

Mostly, we just enjoyed being together (and left the camera on the desk.) Here's a few favorites we did manage to capture ...

(I LOVE this picture, Mom!!!)

This was Peter AND Grandpa's first Lego model!

And unpictured is the blessing of lots of good conversation, fun game nights, and plenty of yummy food!

So thankful for your visit G&G! We love you!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Merry Christmas,
from our home to yours!

We are so thankful for the God of Heaven who loved us enough to send His Son
to Earth to make a way for us to join Him in Heaven.

You shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21

Favorite Things

In Matthew's opinion, your favorite things should all be gathered in one place. Such as a dump truck, a balloon, Blackie, a blanket, a fire truck, a construction book, a puppy ... Yes. All of your favorite things should definitely be in the same place. It's so much more fun that way! If Mommy were to gather all of her favorite things, here's some of what you'd find ...

A little (eh hem) boy with a contagious smile who's fascinated by trucks ...

Has unbounding energy ...

And a good measure of resourcefulness ...

A little girl who's quickly becoming a young lady ...

Who was a fun blessing and HELP in the kitchen this year as we made 200+ dipped pretzels!

A big brother who is (usually) happy to hang out with his little brother ...

Legos ... and the creativity to turn them into all sorts of cool projects ... like towns ...And towers (with Daddy's help) ... (although, for the record, standing on the stool to reach the top of unusually tall creations is no longer permitted due to a concern for Mommy's heart ... among other things ...)

Catching a (sometimes squabbly) brother and sister happily reading together ...

Grandma H's annual set of nativity stickers which continue to work their way into more and more intricate Christmas pictures ...

Monkey Bread and the monkeys who helped me make it!

My first flower, brought to me by Peter, after our tiniest one went Home. The Lord miraculously kept this dandelion open and bright for nearly a week!

Random winter flowers blooming in our yard--also brought to me by Peter. The beautiful bouquet from my husband ...

The pink daisy in that bouquet which made me smile when I felt like crying.

A little girl who loves her Daddy ... And sends him a text to let him know. :o) Traditions like the lighting ceremony ...Simple Christmas decorations, including Christmas cards from so many friends ...

And very dear friends who watched our munchkins for us so that we ...

Could go here ...

And enjoy plenty of this ... ;o)

And that is a glimpse of this Mommy's favorite things ...

:o)

Merry Christmas!