Christmas Prep part 2

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas"

"Ev'rywhere you go"

"Take a look in the five and ten glistening once again"

"With candy canes and silver lanes aglow."

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Toys in ev'ry storeBut the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be
On your own front door."

Christmas Prep part 1

Let me start by saying that Christmas is my favorite time of year. I remember so many Christmas holidays from when I was a child. It's not the presents I remember, but the traditions, the smells, the shows, and the foods. I also love that Christmas is a time of giving. There is something about giving that makes me look outside myself and focus on others. I have a few ideas on how I'm going to teach this principle to my children this year. More on that later.

It been a tradition for our family to start with Christmas as soon as Thanksgiving is over. Some of us *wink wink* start on Thanksgiving day as soon as the turkey has been consumed. With all the black Friday shopping and work, this household waited until the weekend to begin the merriment of pulling the decorations out of the attic. Ayden and I started early with a foam gingerbread house. Ayden was so proud to help.

Then we ventured outside to watch daddy put the lights on the outside of the house. I caught a few heartwarming smiles while we waited.

It takes some dedication untangling the lights and replacing broken bulbs. (I'm just glad I didn't have to do it, ;)

I claim no responsibility for his attire, hehe. Ayden is independent and I am proud to support his creativity. He did have a clear box on his head and he said he was an alien. He cracks me up!

This is one of several attempts Logan made to get up on all fours. I think this is the beginning of walking if I'm not mistaken. I'm in no rush for this little guy to take off. He can take all the time he wants.

Dedication, dedication, dedication...

And boy did it pay off.

There are still a few things to do on the outside and many, many things to do on the inside. Parts 2 through how ever many it takes to get this done, coming up!

Things I am Thankful For

Bad Luck

I feel we have had a bad run of luck with cameras. Our first camera was stolen soon after we moved into our house several years ago. We replaced it with a similar model and that lasted for a while I'm thankful to say. But it recently had an untimely death due to being dropped one to many times. We went several weeks without a camera and only then did I realize how much I needed it. Logan's teeth were about to pop through and he was starting to pull up. I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to capture those precious moments. After a few weeks we were able to get a new camera and I fell in love with it! It was with us only a few short weeks before it too was stolen. I know that many things are stolen everyday, but it seems that in our small circle of family and friends, we are above average for losing them. I know that it is a material object and of little importance in the long run. I think if I could I would just ask for the memory card back with the pictures that I lost. The pictures are what I will miss most. Being that it is a time of Thanksgiving, I do have many things to be thankful for. I'm thankful that my car was not harmed in any way. I'm thankful that my children and family are safe. And I'm thankful for a God that gives peace in a situation where a non believer may fret. I'm also thankful that God throws things in our path to get us back on track to where our eyes need to be focused. Happy Thanksgiving and remember to be truly thankful for what matters most.

Hopefully I will be able to post new pictures soon!

My Love

It was five years ago today that you changed my life forever . I'm blessed by you in so many ways. As you always say, "my love for you continues to grow everyday", I could not agree more. You have blessed me with two wonderful children and I cannot thank you enough for being the father and husband that you have been and I know that you will continue to be. Let's cherish the dance and enjoy the next 60+ years!

First ER Trip

Unfortunately, with some changes brings a bit of experience in the form of pain. My dear little Logan was so brave in his adventure of the living room that day. He traveled so far (from one end of the room to the other) to make it to the chair. I'm sure he thought "hey, that looks like a study object I can pull up on." It's funny how some things happen right in front of your eyes and yet you just can't stop a chain reaction. I looked at that sweet little hand holding on to the chair rail. I thought "hmm... that could be dangerous my little love." I got up, walked around the table and at that moment time sped up. The chair was not a study unmoving object and it could not hold up to the small about of weight pulling back on it. It tipped causing my little love to fall straight back on the unforgiving tile floor. Needless to say, as the chair tipped it also fell. Straight onto the forehead of the already injured boy. Seconds that seemed like minutes went by before I got to him. He cried tears of pain, but he was so brave. Mommy on the other hand was a wreck. When Ayden was younger he had lots of spills, but none so bad as this one. The knot that rose immediately on the back of his head was the size of a baseball. I knew that I had to take him to the ER. A good friend of mine was home and so Ayden was able to go play with her daughter. I had to be focused. We arrived at the emergency room and there was no wait thank the Lord. I was hoping and praying that there was no hidden damage by the fall. He had no symptoms of anything major, but you just never know with a baby that cannot tell you what hurts. My heart sank when I found out we had to have a CT scan. That made the possibility of a head injury all the more real. I'm so thankful to say that everything came out clear. He was a very lucky little boy! I pray this will be his first and last ER visit. (Sorry there are no pictures for this event, my camera was the last thing on my mind at the time)

9 Adorable Months

This little smiling face brings so much joy into our home. I'm sure I've said this before (because I say it all the time now) I cannot believe it has already been nine months since Logan joined our family. He has been pulling up, crawling, cruising, eating solid foods, drinking from sippy cups, and just about trying something new everyday.









I cannot tell you how hard it is to take pictures of a small child while that child is trying to put everything in their little mouth. Today at the park he sampled the leaves, dirt, grass and pine needles. (don't worry grandparents, I didn't actually let him "eat" anything)


Logan LOVES water. These pictures around the fountains were some of the best because he enjoyed himself immensely.

What a Cutie!

This is what I look forward to seeing in the mornings.

It took a while, but once he started, there was no stopping him.

Logan has begun to pull up on everything.

It sure makes bedtime more fun that's for sure!

My little guy is now 9 months old *sniff sniff* ... Check back soon for 9 month pictures!