HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY KAMI!

My baby sister turned 21 today! She would tell you that I still think she is eight years old. But that is no longer true. She is becoming an amazing young woman who is learning to love Christ with her whole heart. Honestly, she inspires me! I knew when Kami became a Christian that she would give Him her all. That is how she was created, to put forth her best effort in all that she does. Kami has always been a very thoughtful and generous person. She used to save all the treats and candy she would get in a stash at home and she was more than willing to share her special treats with her big sisters. We didn't even have to beg her! Now Kami is a generous aunt as she showers Reese and Kylee with love and attention. She graciously lets the grand kids take the spot light. I wish I could see her more often and grow in Christ with her side by side. But I know that we can continue to encourage each other from a far. I am so glad that you were born! I love you Kami!

Christmas

Reese woke up and said "Open presents please!" We took her into our room where she opened her stocking.

Then she walked down the stairs and was a little unsure of what to do next. We had to convince her it was okay to open a present. So she did. Then she was done and wanted to watch baby Jesus on TV. We did that for a little while until we told her today was the day she could open all of the presents under the tree. Reese finally decided that would be okay. She slowly opened her presents. She enjoyed her new snow pants...

And her binoculars to watch the "octopus" with Gramps....

Reese opened present after present, enjoying them a little bit at a time, but still out of sorts until....she opened her present from Aunt Kami!! Aunt Kami got Reese a new baby doll. After that Reese was herself again, happy, cheerful and loving ALL her gifts, now that she had a new baby to enjoy them with. Go figure!

I spent the morning trying to make cinnamon rolls from scratch. My friend Erin had made these and they were so yummy. I thought I could make them too.

I started making them a 7:30 and they finally came out of the oven at 11:30! I learned a lot in the process and Matt has even agreed to let me attempt them again.

After a late breakfast and nap time quickly approaching we headed over to Canterwood for a family walk in the sunshine. Reese brought "cute baby" with her of course.


We enjoyed our walk together and thought we were coming home for some peace and quite....but Reese decided not to nap. Here is a tired two year old at 5:45pm on a no nap day...


We still enjoyed a tasty turkey dinner together, gave Reese an extra long bath and put her to bed early. Then Matt and I got that peace and quite we were looking for and enjoyed a movie together! Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Today we made scones for breakfast and we went for a family walk on the new trail in the Harbor. It was very hilly but had great views of the Harbor and Sound. And it was nice and wide! Then we checked out Grammie and Gramps beach, swung on the rope swing and watched a huge seal eat a huge salmon! Back home for lunch and naps, spaghetti dinner then off to the Christmas Eve service. We sang Reese's two favorite songs, "Away in a Manger" and "Little Town of Bethlehem" among others. Next it was home to open one present.


Reese got a cookie dough set for her oven, Daddy got a "gorilla pod" for his camera and Mommy got cozy slippers. I asked Reese "Did you help Daddy wrap these slippers for Mommy?" Her response was "YES! And a jacket too!" Can't wait to see what my jacket looks like tomorrow! :) Merry Christmas!

Put your dishes away...

I asked Reese to put her cereal bowl on the counter so I could wash it. Apparently she thought this penguin was a little dirty too! Such a helpful two year old!!

Happy Anniversary!!

Eight whole years living and loving together! I love how we enjoy time together and how that has changed over the years...runs together (okay, that didn't last long) walks with the dog, dogs, stroller and dog, Ace dates, Sunday afternoon naps, El Pueblito, connect four, "house hunting", and house cleaning (okay only you enjoy that one). We "get" each others humor and inside jokes. "YES! YES! YES!" From phone calls to emails to plane trips to a ring, a wedding, three houses, and one child I have loved all that we have done together. I am grateful for your faithfulness and steadfastness. Thank you for preserving to provide for our family. You are the king of my heart and I love you very much!

New friends....

At our church we have "home groups" that people join based on topic, age, time of day......those kind of things. It is a chance to get to know others better and learn more about Jesus. One of the mature home groups hosted a dinner for "our" home group. They made us a yummy dinner and even dressed up as Santa and Mrs. Claus for pictures! It was a wonderful night of making new friends!

My helpful girl and husband

I woke up this morning to a horrible sound so I raced down the stairs to scold Matt to be quite. Reese was still sleeping! He had the fridge pulled out and was on the phone. That top part of the fridge MELTED away and was dripping plastic! Our food was HOT to the touch and it all smelled terrible. We are SO fortunate it did not start a fire over night! Matt jumped right on getting the company to come out as soon as possible. When Reese did wake up, which was an hour or so later, I warned her that there was a mess downstairs and she said "Mommy I help you clean it up! Teamwork mommy!" Tonight Matt cleaned the empty fridge inside, outside and behind. So we now have THE cleanest broken fridge ever! I love how helpful Reese and Matt both are when things come up unexpectedly. I am learning to follow their lead by acting more and reacting less.

Such love!

I love the looks on their faces! Okay so you can only see Matt's eye but it is a smiling eye! Matt and Reese get so much joy out of playing together. They both come alive! Reese's name means enthusiastic and she sure is, especially when playing with Daddy! Oh sure, at times they play too rough, get their feelings hurt, have a time out or two or three....but they work through it and that is all a part of love too, the boundaries and the pure joy.

Thankful for talented friends!

I myself have very little photography talent, as noted by the above picture. I really just spin the setting dial around and choose one I have not used in a while to take a picture! I clearly know nothing about lighting! BUT there are some real talented friends that do!

Maleah has a gift for sure! I am pretty sure she has read every book on photography and would ace any test on the subject! She is a perfectionist. She has an amazing way of capturing the perfect lighting and mood. Check out Maleah's website, her work speaks for itself! http://www.maleahahrensphotography.com

Linnea always gets wonderfully expressive pictures and captures moments from angles that I would never dream of! Check out Linnea's site to see what I am talking about! http://www.libphotography.com

Judy is a friend from way back in elementary school and we found Jesus at about the same time. She and her husband Dan took family pictures for us when we were in CA for Thanksgiving. Check out her hubby's site: http://photosbydanny.com

Here are a few of my favorite pictures that she took:

Graham Cracker House

We had fun together making her first "graham cracker house"! I love that she is old enough to enjoy these "crafts" now!

Sunny days.....

We have been having some COLD days with BRIGHT sunshine. It has been 16 in the morning, warming up to 30! So Daddy and Reese bundled up, got out her sun glasses, which we usually never need in December, and headed downtown for a walk! Now the weather is changing again, as the clouds roll in I am hoping it will stay cold enough for snow!

This is our third Christmas little girl!

Our very first Christmas! Reese loved the lights on the tree! In fact it was one of the only ways we could stop her crying at night! I even slept on the couch by the tree one night....it was kind of cozy sleeping there, cuddled with my little girl enjoying the lights of the tree!


Our seconded Christmas with a brand new walker who was just getting the hang of opening the presents and only some what interested as to what was inside.



Our third Christmas....this year so far! She loves to hear the story of baby Jesus and can't wait to open presents on His birthday!

Reading by the light of the tree

"Hey Reese! Can I take your picture by the tree?" "Reesie read Bethlehem book mommy!" "Want to read it by the tree while I take your picture?" "Okay!"



When did my little girl get so big?! She is so much fun and challenges me to be true to my word, follow through with what I say right away and know why it is I do the things I do! All good things right? :0)

Happy Birthday to.....

Grandpa Gee Gee! Thank you for all the new fun things that you teach me to do!

A clown named Nosey

We went to Tide Fest again this year. I don't usually buy anything but rather walk around in amazement of all the talented people there and wonder could I learn to make that? I was surprised that Reese enjoyed looking at all the arts and crafts items. She loved watching the high school kids play music and sing! Reese was very curious about the clown that was there. She watch her all during lunch, giving Matt and I the play by play as to what the clown was doing. Then Reese was brave enough to go and meet Nosey.....as long as she was attached to me!


Here Reese is at her first trip to Tide Fest....she was 3 months old, 2 months adjusted, wrapped in many layers staying close to mommy in the front pack.....I guess she still likes being close to mommy! :)

Christmas tree lighting

We made it down to the Harbor tree lighting about an hour and a half after it all happen. (We have a very late napper!) But it was still a great family time! Reese was in awe of the HUGE tree and very excited to discover baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph there! "Baby Jesus BIG Christmas tree mommy!" She is so in love with baby Jesus and loves just sitting and staring at him where ever we find him.


Matt had fun bring his tripod out and taking double exposed pictures. I think he was having just as much fun as Reese was!

After staring at Santa from afar and saying "Reesie see Santa!" then "Reesie no see Santa!" over and over again, Reese finally found the perfect Santa!


Then, of course our miss independent decided that she would be Santa!


We walked out on the floating dock that was almost flat because the tide was so high and looked at all the boats with lights on them. Reese loved being out on the dock watching a few boats go by....so much so that she wanted to stay there all night! "Reesie sleep here mommy!"


We convinced her that it would be a good idea to go to Cutters Point and get a treat because, well we were cold and wanted a treat! We ended the night walking around Borders looking for a Third Day Christmas album and a Sesame Street Christmas album. We did not find either but Reese found some good books to read with daddy. As Reese would say "Fun day! Fun day!"

Zoolights

We made it to zoo lights for the first time this year. Last year we were all set to go and then it snowed! And snowed and snowed....So I was excited to go this year and finally see what it is all about. We really enjoyed it! Reese liked walking around, seeing all the lights and she loved making sure Matt and I were seeing the lights too! "See it Mommy? See it Daddy? Lights waaaay up there! See it?" So nice that she makes sure we don't miss anything! Although most of the animal exhibits are closed, the aquarium is still open. This really delighted Reese as the fishies are her favorite part of the zoo! There is just something magical about seeing all the lights every where. I think we might make this trip again next year!

Get outside!

After being outside in CA for a week I am eager to be outside here more often....even if it does mean putting on a few more layers!

Lights!

Our helpful two year old helping daddy get the Christmas lights up and "twinkling" as she says.


Her model pose she does now when I ask her to smile!


Daddy climbing way up high. "Reesie climb up high Reesie get bigger!"


I LOVE how Matt is so purposefully about including Reese in anyway he can!


Even if it means that it will take him longer!

Things I wish I could do more often.....

Just be with family, with no real plans, talking, enjoying each other like this:

Continue to do "silly" traditions like making these: "Turkey cookies"

Have more time to just be silly with these two:

Watch these three enjoy these two more often....all together!

Wrapped up

When we returned home from our CA, Reese discovered it was a bit colder here in WA! "Mommy! Wrap Reese up please! Reesie sooo cold!" It was nice to escape to the warm sunshine for a few days. I even got a chance to relax and take a nap in the sunshine one day on our trip! What a treat!

But it was also nice to return home to the crisp cold air. Washington is really, well finally, starting to feel like home.

Family near

My parents were in town for two whole months and we all loved it! They have their own house up here, would have us over for dinner, smores, and walks on the beach. Grammie and Gramps took Reese to "play to learn" on Mondays while I worked at church. We would go garage sailing each Saturday morning. They swam with Reese at the Y while I swam in "the other pool". They took her to McDonald's, but not too often. Grammie and Gramps even did FREE babysitting while we did date night! It is so wonderful to have family near by and just "do life" together. We are looking forward to their return in the summer!