Happy Wednesday!!!

This weekend, Amelia was able to enjoy playing in the snow for the first time. She was quite unsure at first but decided she was excited to be outside. Daddy made her a snowball and she immediately tasted it ..."mmm!"

I am still not sure what she thought about being ankle deep in it ... or how her world was now all white and cold. She repeatedly ran around saying, "cold, cold, cold." I love being able to watch her discover new things and how she employs all 5 of her senses now to learn about them.

And, still, points out trees... everywhere.

Our advent calendar activity today was to go get donuts! (One Momma was looking forward to) I am enjoying these activities and gives me something out of the normal to look forward to. But today was great! We stopped in at Dunkin's and got a few donut holes to munch on. We had fun playing around, giggling, and popping wonderful delicious fried dough. Amelia pounded 3!

Amelia seems to be growing up fast and today I felt it. Sitting at a table, almost conversing with her, I could almost see her growing ... 2, 3, 4, ... 10. I am thankful for our happy, healthy toddler and with eager anticipation, I look forward to the next weeks, months, years watching her.

Christmas time is here...

Ah, I am just busting at the seams with Christmas spirit. I have been looking forward to all that this time brings ... decorations and music, family and traditions, and most importantly celebrating, worshiping, and thanking Christ Jesus.

Sunday we were able to get our tree. My parents came with us per tradition, although we missed the rest of my family.

Amelia thoroughly enjoyed walking through the trees. This kid could just walk for hours and with tons of trees to check out... we could have kept her busy all day.
We found a good one and Daddy and Papa cut it down for us ... now to decorate!


In eager anticipation of the season, I made some crafts last month. the Noel sign...
I also put together an advent calendar. I wrestled with a few different ideas for how this would work. Finally settled on one, and got it done the day before Dec. 1st. Each day we have a Christmas related activity. Some are as simple as watching a movie or making cookies, but we also have days to visit a nursing home, deliver goodies to a neighbor, and write Elsa, our Compassion Child. Along with our activity, we have scripture to read to prepare our hearts and minds for the season.

December 1st activity was get a new ornament for the year. Because we own few ornaments, I decided last year, we would make a new tradition to let Amelia pick out a new ornament each year. We had fun finding this one, and this year, she actually had an opinion about one.

Oh, and she is not foaming at the mouth here... she is sucking on a mint m&m :)
And the first snow on the first day of December was perfect! Enjoy your holiday season. I am sure we will!!!

Thanksgiving Weekend

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Week... James took the whole week off and it was wonderful to have some much needed time to spend just the three of us. We painted our living room and kitchen in between playing games, getting ready for the family gatherings and enjoying a down week.

Thursday morning we went over to my parents house and helped get a huge thanksgiving meal ready. After we ate we snuggled up on the couch for a few hours for some football ... does it get much better?

Why are family pictures a giant struggle?

Amelia with her cousin Ellie

Thursday Afternoon we braved the rainstorm and headed down south to the Humphrey Thanksgiving. It was an enjoyable, relaxing time as usual and got to see family we hadn't seen in a long time. Mom-Mom and Dad-dad let us crash there until Saturday afternoon.

Amelia did great as usual and was being silly most of the time.

dressed up for mom-mom... Thanks, Aunt Teena!

Amelia also got to play with Olivia, her second cousin (and by "play with" I mean steal Olivia's toys and play with them.)

Amelia got to walk with Dad-dad to get the mail in the morning... she liked his hat!

After the craziness of Thursday and Friday, we were able to enjoy a calm, restful Saturday. Watching football, eating left over after left over, and ...

reading.

Again, the struggle of a family picture.

What a wonderful time ... a time to remember and be thankful for the things we have, the family and friends we have been given, and grace, oh the grace abundant. We have been truly blessed.

Weekend Activities

We had quite the weekend ... 3 different parties to go to. Friday night we had a small group party to finish out our "semester." We greatly enjoyed growing together and the fellowship we have had over the past couple of months and look forward to starting back up after the holidays.

Saturday was another crazy day. First, our nephew, Lincoln turned 3! We had fun at the monster truck party ... complete with the monster truck cake.

Lincoln

The awesome monster truck cake from the artist stylings of Landon Kauffman.

Amelia always loves hanging out with her cousins. Here she and Ellie are watching a video of Linc's 3rd year of life.

Cousins ...

After that party, James and I attended an 80s party with several friends from church. It was excellent. Costumes, food, 80s music, an 80s scavenger hunt ... All in honor of our friends about to have a baby. It was the best "before two become three" party I've been to. :)

James and I ready to go.

So thankful for such great friends. Looking forward to a calmer week ahead and Thanksgiving!!!!

Sweet girl reading her bible ...

Happy Tuesday!

Trick or Treat!

Our little Lion...