Snow..Snow and more Snow!!!

We have had no shortage of snow this winter. As of today we have had more than 15 inches so far and the way this winter is going I feel pretty confident that we are not done. I have lost track of our snow days and 2 hour delays. I do know that we have used all of our days plus 2 so our summer break will be at least 2 days shorter;-(.... I must admit the occasional "surprise" snow day and lazy day is great. I LOVE having all my kiddos home but I don't want it to eat away at our summer vacation so....enough already!!!!

This is a sneak peek at one afternoon the fun that the boys and I had while Isabella was napping.

***I should mention that I do realize that the boys look a bit like criminals with their face masks on but hey they are warm!!!!!***

Happy Birthday Our Sweet Isabella Grace!!

What an amazing year!! We could hardly wait to celebrate your 2nd birthday. It is not possible to put into words how you have blessed our family. You have completed us and we love you dearly. Gods amazing grace brought us all together and made us a family. I had so many emotions come over me as your birthday got closer. I was not there when you were born and I struggle so deeply with that but I am quickly reminded and humbled by the fact that your birth mother was there and she made such a selfless choice...a decision that brought you to us. So...whenever I would begin to get upset or ponder the fact that I wasn't there I decided during those moments I needed to pray for her and be thankful and look forward to the thousands of moments that WE will be there all because of her choice and Gods grace.

Happy 2nd Birthday Isabella Grace!!

Christmas Blessings 2010

Santa ate his cookies and fed the reindeer their carrots;)

Look what Santa brought...

Christmas Eve with the Smith family...

I sadly took very few pictures on Christmas Eve. Not sure how this happened. I made more of an effort the next few days.

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Christmas with Auntie Beth & Uncle John...

although I didn't get a picture of Uncle John

(do you see a trend in regards to my camera?)

Christmas cookies at home with Mimi!!!

Making Christmas cookies at Nana and Papaw's

What a FABULOUS Christmas!!!

Gavin's priceless art....

I believe it speaks for itself....

Polar Express day....

Last Friday was Polar Express day at school. Oh... how I love Kindergarten. They wore their PJ's to school and watched the now classic movie with their classmates and friends. What a fun way to kick off Christmas!!

All I want for Christmas is....

Eli just lost his front tooth and he was so excited. Both boys have lost at least one tooth on the bottom but this is the first "front" tooth. The tooth directly beside it is loose as well so who knows maybe by Christmas he can say.."all I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth..."

O Christmas Tree....

There is nothing like the smell of a real Christmas tree! This year we did what I hope will become a new tradition for us. We went to Ahrens Christmas tree farm, in Reo, and pick out our tree which was followed by Derrick cutting it down. It was so much fun searching for the perfect tree. Derrick and I had discussed it beforehand and decided that as long as they picked out a tree that would physically fit in our great-room then whatever the boys chose would be it. I can be a bit OCD so I was secretly struggling with this a bit...(charlie brown). We left Isabella at home with Nana because it was a pretty cold day and we were not exactly sure what to expect. As you can clearly see the boys did a FABULOUS job picking out our family tree. It is beautiful!! Each year as we put up our tree and decorate it we remind the children (and ourselves) that the tree is a symbol that reminds us of Jesus. The cross which was made of wood that came from a tree is the obvious connection we make. We even hang a nail in the very center of the tree to remind us that we are celebrating our Saviors birth. Our Savior that eventually died to save us. Christ is the gift that you receive over and over again throughout your life as he carries you thru the good, bad and all that is in between.

Have a very Merry CHRISTmas!!!!