New Year's Eve Thankfulness 2008

This morning's devotion asked the kids to write down the things they are most thankful for in 2008. It was heartwarming and cute all at the same time. It will be fun to see how they change year to year.

Here is the list (Bryan and I tagged along):
Katie: my toys, my baby sister, and friends
Grace: my toys, my baby sisters, my family and friends and everything God provides
Jack: our house, my family, my baby sisters, my friends and everything God provides for us
Mommy: our home, health and family and friends and God's constant love and mercy and good food
Daddy: my family and being able to lose and keep off the weight and having family that is supportive.

May God bless you all in the new year! We love you!

The quest for the Christmas card picture

We thought it might be a little entertaining to give a pictorial story of the "quest" for the perfect Christmas card picture. It *only* took around 200 pictures before we got one that was acceptable.

Here are some of the rejects:Our smiley little Mary was not inclined to share her smiles on picture day.

"Maybe if we move over here..."

Mary really likes to sit on the fireplace, but Grace is hiding.
After Mary had a meltdown in the jammies, we tried dresses. Incidentally, Mary is wearing a dress that my aunt Prudi made for me when I was Mary's age.
Mary did LOVE the candy cane.Ok, Jack and Katie, you are supposed to be smiling!
I don't even know.
This was pretty good, but I REALLY wanted to get one in the matching pajamas. I mean, how many times are we going to find matching pj's in all the kids' sizes?!?
So, we went back to the jammies (yes, I realize the kids had to have a lot of patience this day!). We finally got a picture we liked. Then we realized the cards need a HORIZONTAL picture...
Luckily, I am married to a "tech geek" with a flair for Photoshop, and he "fixed" it for me!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!
Here's to a blessed New Year!!

Getting to CHRISTmas

How does the song go? Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat... Anyway, that song is in my head now. Oops! We FINALLY got a picture of the kids for the Christmas cards and pictures. No, I'm not putting them up (and they aren't posted anywhere else either, so there!). This is just a teaser. Maybe if I get off the computer, the Christmas cards will be mailed some time this week :). It has been a quieter Advent it seems. We had the Joy Box from church yesterday. We also lit the candles on the Advent Wreath at church. It was a day to help get us into the season of CHRISTMAS and not just be speeding through December. I think we all needed that. (I started this on December 14th)
Now that it is December 23rd, I may take back the speeding through part :). Between the yuckies and the ice, the last week disappeared. The kids are getting so excited for Christmas, and it is contagious (better than other contagious things). We have so much to be thankful for this year. Driving around yesterday, we discovered that many businesses had water pipes burst over the weekend, including our pediatricians' office. However, the city of Crown Point seemed to be on top of warning residents about the cold mixed with power outages - to the point of going to all the area churches to inform people of warming centers. Our power flickered often but didn't stay off for any length of time.
Today is a fun day of baking and making candy and wrapping presents and making presents (nothing like a little procrastination to get things moving along). And, of course, for really remembering the reason for Christmas and making it about CHRISTmas and not just December 25th.
Merry CHRISTmas, Everyone! May God bless you!

Merry CHRISTmas! (more to come soon!)

We are sorry for the lag of posts. My wife is working on a post that I promise will be more interesting than what I write. The kids caught the plague that has been going around. I am happy to report as of today everyone seems to be on the mend. We experienced quite the icy mess yesterday yet our prayers go out to our friends (The Daugherty Family) who are struggling with a tree that crashed through their house early yesterday morning (I remember dealing with a similar issue in our house in Lafayette and it was not fun at all).

Below are a couple of pics from yesterday:

A bush in our back yard.

I loved the bright red berries encased in little ice diamonds.


My Little Photographer (she wanted to go outside and help Daddy).

Our little photographer at work! (I didn't even realize she was taking this picture.)



My poor little car that had to be chipped out of the ice.
Oh and we are thinking about opening an ice rink as you can see by our driveway.

Silver Linings...

Ok, so instead of getting bogged down in what is not going my way, I think it is much more helpful to look at the bright side :). So here goes...

I'm not going to be upset that I'm sick... I'm thankful that I don't have anything contagious. I'm thankful that I have unexpected time with the kids and Bryan when I would have been at work or busy decorating the house. I'm thankful that the lactation consultant and my ob are so nice and awesome that they got me in within ten minutes of talking to me on the phone and took my concerns seriously so that everything was caught early. I'm thankful that I am usually able to exercise and be healthy. I'm thankful for Bryan being flexible and picking up the slack (and the kids) for me.

I'm not going to be frustrated that Goliath keeps chewing up toys, mostly barbies and polly pockets. I'm thankful that he is helping us purge. (ok that might be a stretch) I'm thankful that he has healthy teeth and is so cuddly and cute.

I'm not focused on Bryan being gone for an entire week... I'm thankful that he is home almost every other night by 5PM AND makes our dinner, in a mostly healthy way too. I'm thankful that he still has a job and that we have our home.

I'm so thankful that we are FINISHED with Christmas shopping and can now enjoy this wonderful Advent season.

I'm not upset that the kids have made a huge mess in the family room and kitchen - AGAIN... I'm thankful that we have been so blessed to have them in our lives. I'm thankful for our wonderful children who show us the true meaning of life and love every day and realize how much more important that is than a clean house would be!

I'm not upset that it is bath day for Mary... I'm SO THANKFUL that she made it through a bath WITHOUT crying!! Honestly, this is a FIRST for her. I'm very thankful for her wonderful big sister, Katie, who showed her how much she could have in the bathtub. I'm not sure Mary believed her, but at least she didn't cry :). Thank you, Katie!!!