Family Photos

Our Christmas celebration started at Thanksgiving and is just now wrapping up (I've got to start taking down the tree tomorrow, folks).  My brother's family arrived on Thanksgiving Day and we had a whirl wind of a week celebrating and enjoying family as much as possible.  His girls are getting so big, I had to keep reminding myself that his baby is just a couple months away from being two- not much of a baby anymore.

One of the best things that we did while together was getting family photos done.  Okay, I'll admit it, I went in kicking and screaming.  What I thought was going to be a cousins photo with just the kids ended up being adults too, and right now I'm not just loving my body- post 3rd baby. Bleh!

But I'm so glad we had them done. My dear sweet friend and cousin, Emily, took them and she did a great job with so many wiggle worms. 

And I ended up with family photos I could use for Christmas cards... bonus!

My sister and her family have to be the most photogenic people I know.

My brother and his girls... see, I told you the baby isn't a baby anymore.  Don't you think it's time they try for another?  Maybe a boy this time?

Usually when a camera points at me my face does something incredibly ridiculous; I get this disease from both of my parents. But Emily was able to get several good shots of my parents together.

I love this photo of Finley snoozing away as Cruz throws a huge hissy.

And this one of Eliana so intent on her candy sums her up completely at this point.

So, that was the beginning of our holiday season... maybe I'll share some more of it, but we'll see.  I need to start school again with Diego and go back to work. Whew! What a way to start 2011!

Happy New Year

To you and yours!

Do You Hear What I Hear?

My tree fell over last week.  While it had almost all of the ornaments on.  (My kids were upstairs, so they couldn't be squashed by it... or blamed for its demise.)  I was in another room, too. The sound of a million pieces of glass tinkling as the ornaments hit my hard word floor would have been prettier if I hadn't known exactly what had happened.  But the sound of a Christmas tree falling over has a very distinct sound.

My first reaction (despite the fact that I've been collecting and hording away ornaments for almost 20 years now, like some sort of crazed squirrel) was actually pretty good. "They're just ornaments," I told myself. And then I remembered 2 that weren't just ornaments to me.

My Great Grandmother Black's Baby Doll Ornament- safe!

And the angel ornament I received from my aunt, Nine, on the day I was baptized...er, not safe.

I cried-- only a little.  The countless others that broke, I was okay with, but this one was special. I still have the gift box and card she came with and I read the card every year when I place her on the tree. 

My momma brought me a surprise today. 

I think I'll keep them both.  Thank you, Momma!



Sometimes

Sometimes I'm a good wife and stay up until 2:45 editing papers due early in the morning.

And sometimes he's a good husband and buys me gorgeous flowers as a thanks.

Thank you, Jesse... I love you, too!

Okay, I Haven't Completely Stopped Blogging...

I've just been doing it elsewhere the past couple of weeks.

For the past two years, my church has been involved in Advent Conspiracy.  Both years, we put together a devotional guide to take our congregation through a worshipful Advent season.  This year, I've been posting each day's devotional to a blog.  Some of the devotionals I've written, some of them are by other people in our church and others are quotes out of the Advent Conspiracy book.  All are challenging and encourage you to focus on Jesus during this season that retailers would like to make all about consumerism.  Anyway, if you'd like to follow along over there, that's where most of my time and energy is being spent.  (Well, that and getting ready for Christmas with Jesse's family). But, either way, I hope to see you back here on a more regular basis at the beginning of a New Year!

Love!

Things I'm Thankful for This Year

A smiley girl who keeps us laughing and on our toes!

(Last week, she ran away from my sister at Barnes & Noble.  Elisabeth found her with the trains and told her she couldn't play with them because she ran away from her.  Eliana told Elisabeth: "That okay.  My mommy bring me here tomorrow to play with the trains." Wow.)

 My little boy who is growing up so quickly! (Three weeks today and you've already rolled from your tummy to your back twice... I'm in trouble.)

A sweet boy who's had a hard time adjusting to having his schedule turned upside down by the arrival of his brother.  (But who couldn't love him more... he spends great chunks of time watching his baby.)

This guy... who's not afraid to do diapers or help with getting up in the middle of the night (in spite of the fact that he's going to school and taking a couple of really hard courses this semester).  And who is also well known for his ability to swaddle a kid better than anyone.

Thank you, Jesus, for my sweet family.  Even in the middle of trying or tiring times... they bring such joy!

Our Stay at the Hospital

 Ready to nurse immediately... he had to wait over an hour.  (The downside of a c-section.)

The nurse said: "One day, he'll laugh over this picture and you guys in your blue hair nets." In the mean time, I guess you get to laugh.

Flowers from Momma.

Flowers from Youth for Christ.

Diego loves Cruz.  (He calls him "my Cruz".)

Panera (thankfully) is across the street from Wesley.

Cruz spending time with Diego, Yaya, and Eliana.

Welcome, little boy, we're so glad to finally meet you!