{this moment}

Conquering the World Together...

Christmas Morning!

We had our first Christmas together with just our family of four. While it was a special time, we really miss spending time with all our family in Ohio. The boys still were spoiled like crazy...here's a few pictures with my new lense...that I'm still learning how to use, so some of them are out of focus...but we'll get better! I hope you had a great Christmas celebrating the Greatest Gift of all!

Noah said we needed to pray before we opened our presents, so pray we did! Here's his sweet prayer...

This was the big present this year, they opened them from Grammy and Auntie Karen!

Jakey opening his stocking!

Noah was really into it this year...Jakey was still interested in other things...

Christmas Morning 2010!

Santa had a little help from Cole Haan...

Stockings...

{this moment}

All Together!

The Best of Friends...

Oh my boys...I love them so much. We've entered into a new chapter with them. They've always gotten along fairly well, but they have really become the best of friends...and at times...the worst of friends, but hey, that's normal! Jakey is able to talk so much more, he's always been pretty verbal, but now he can really express his thoughts and carry on a full conversation. The other night I snuck some pictures of them playing "horsey" up and down the hall. It starts out all fun and games...

Even with a little "nay" in there...

and ends with more laughter...

I really love these boys and the ages and stages we are in! Enjoy your holiday, we have all our family flying in today!

PJ's

It's been a pj's day around here today! We slept in...well, Daddy went to work out at Nike Golf, but we slept in. I worked all morning and during naps getting things ready for my jr. volleyball league, ordering last minute Christmas gifts, finishing up home-made chicken & veggie soup, playing with my boys, and getting our house ready for out of town company! We're so sad to miss all our family in New Hampshire and Ohio this year, but excited to spend our first Christmas at our house too. My mom's side of the family is all flying in so it will be fun to spend time with them as well.

I guess we should all get out of our pj's and ready for the gym!

Just the Beginning...

We love and feel so blessed to be a part of such a fun lifegroup. We've been going to church for a few years, but really got plugged in 3 years ago with an AMAZING group of believers. We blindly signed up for a lifegroup of young marrieds...and got connected with other amazing couples in a similar phase of life. We were the only ones with kids at the beginning, but now there are ten! We went camping with our lifegroup this summer and I made some predictions as far as next summer camping...and so far it's all coming true! LOTS of other kids for our boys to grow up with! We are now up to nine couples, and with all the pregnancies and new babies, we end up with about six couples each week. We couldn't ask for a better collection of personalities, and it's been so amazing to see how God has worked in all our lives. What a blessing a community of believers is in our lives.

Last night was our White Trash Christmas Bash...everyone dressed up in their best white trash outfits, brought white trash food, and exchanged white trash elephant gifts. So funny to see what people came up with. It took our ugly sweater Christmas party up a notch from last year;)

Here is the food...complete with KFC, cheeze whiz, texas caviar, pigs in a blanket, and lots of other yummy...yet trashy foods.

This is Joy...who won best costume...isn't it amazing!?! Complete with beer, cigarette, belly shirt, baby, and perfect outfit. Every detail down to the hair and all is there. The best part...they are new to our group, and she still felt comfortable with us to bear it all! ha ha, I LOVE those types of people in our group!

{this moment}

Noah and his two best friends from preschool at their Christmas party...

Five Year Celebration!

We had a fun weekend away celebrating our anniversary! We stayed at the Benson downtown...and enjoyed our beautiful city! We don't often get down there anymore with our boys, so it was fun to rediscover different areas. We ate a lot and enjoyed having nothing else to do besides spend time with eachother. We ate at the hotel, El Gaucho, Jake's, and the London Grill. So basically...a LOT!!! But we both really enjoy that, so it was fun;) I only took this one picture...but Andrew got a few on his phone, so I'll post more after I get them from him!

this guy...

Five years together today with this guy...

who gave me these guys...

Who loves these guys...

And who I can call my guy...

Our Christmas Cards...I think...

I have NO time on my hands, but I still want to make our Christmas cards to send out. I like to make something handmade, and something that people can put right up on their fridge or whatever. So, I just slapped a picture on some cute Basic Grey paper...my favorite paper company.

Any suggestions? Atleast it will be a little easier then these cards that took me FOREVER IN years past!!!

Polar Express...

My boys LOVE the Polar Express. We read that book atleast once a day...even when it's not winter time;) They both have it memorized, and they love the movie. We had a great trip last year, but decided we wouldn't do it again this year because of cost. Well our friend, Matt, very generously got us free tickets in the nicest car! We never would have spent the money on the nicer train, however, I would almost say it was worth it. Or maybe it's because my boys are older, but it was great. They didn't move from their seats (a miracle), and were calm and into it the whole time. I can honestly say it was a relaxing experience...is that crazy for those of you who know my boys? The train ride also seemed to be better then last year. Each song only played once, it was at much better volume and quality, and the service was better. There were more characters from the book too. And no Christmas carols. Not sure what was from the nicer seats and what was updated from year to year.

Reading the story...

Me with my boys...not the best picture of me;)

Noah cupping his hands just like in the story to yell, "Merry Christmas!"

Noah singing Josh Groban...gives you a little picture of how calm it was!

Jakey listening to his bell...

Santa giving the first gift of Christmas...it does look like he's had a few too many hot chocolates...

With the hobo...they weren't to interested;)

Noah ringing the bell and saying, "I believe!"

What a blessing those tickets were...so thankful to have such a fun experience with my boys again!

{this moment}

Potty Training at it's finest...

Random...

Here are a few pictures to keep up my poor little blog as I'm crazy busy this week...but I have to give you something to look at to keep you coming back;)

My parents just moved into their new house last week...this is from right after they got their furniture in...it's much more decorated now. It's so fun to be there and to know all the time they put into every detail. Lots of big open space like this to have lots of people together hanging out!

Jakey watching the duck game on their new projector. Just a little screen;)

Andrew and the boys sent me this picture when I was our of town one weekend...don't they look like they really miss me?

And just to see if you read this far...that's really not the tv at my parents house;) It's our friends, but just thought I'd see if you read the whole thing! Love you mom;)

Water Slide...

I'm going back through some of our old pictures from Andrew's iphone, so I'll have to share some of those caught in the moment memories;) That is my favorite thing about having that phone, you can get those little moments captured!

Trimming the Tree...

It was fun decorating the tree this year with the boys. Noah helped me with all the lights and Jakey was a pro at putting on the ornaments. It's fun when we get out the same stuff every year when Noah is remembering things and asking about things. Special ornaments, decorations, and memories. It's what it's all about!

Above is Jakey's handy-work...he liked the small balls. Below is Noah's work...all the big ones;) And you know what? I pretty much left what they did because they were so proud. My perfectionistic side that sometimes comes out took a deep breath...

Cutting Down the Tree...

We went out to Redland today to cut down our tree as a family. It's always an adventure trying to get four people out the door and happy...especially when it's a full day. We did the gym in the morning, then out to lunch, then cutting down the tree. That means we have to have gym clothes, lunch clothes, and tree clothes. And shoes. But we did it, and although everyone wasn't smiling, once we got there, everyone was happy;) Tell me I'm not the only one who has mornings like this.

We found this farm from a flier up in New Seasons, and I'm so glad we went out there this year. It was the nicest couple who live on their tree farm out in the country. It's actually right by where we get our raw milk, so not too far! They had lots of beautiful trees to choose from, and any tree was $20, which is a fair price and much better then $5 a foot! They sold homemade jams and such, which were really tastey, and the farmer gave the boys rides on his 4 wheeler...they loved that!

Noah thinking he's a big man with the saw...

Watching Daddy...and helping!

Playing with Andrew's iphone 4 since our camera died after the first picture! Grrr....although I will say that it does take pretty good pictures in a pinch;)

We found our tree! Not too fat, not too tall...last year we had to cut off the top of the tree to get it in our house with the star on, and it took up so much space in our little place. So, short and skinny we went, and it's perfect. It's funny how trees always look so much smaller out in the field then they do when you bring them home!

Noah was really interested in helping again this year...Jakey was much more interested in the mud...I love that picture of him...especially for it being on the phone!

Me and my boys!