My Favorite Christmas memory~2011

Of all the fun celebrations we had in December...five birthdays, our anniversary, Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas Day dinner...one memory stands out.

Christmas morning~before the gifts were opened~we read the Christmas story just like we always do. However, this year, two of my children read it...instead of me...It was one of the sweetest things to hear. It is a memory I will always cherish.

Our Birthday Boy!

Happy Happy Birthday to our seven year old son~

We love you, "D", and are so proud of you! You are:

• caring
• thoughtful
• almost always smiling
• tender-hearted
• compassionate
• smart
• loving
• giving

Daddy and I and your sisters are so very thankful that God gave you to us seven years ago! You have brought us so much joy and happiness. We look forward to seeing how God uses you in the coming year!

Love,
Daddy and Mommy

~Happy 7th Birthday!~

HAPPY 15TH ANNIVERSARY!

It's been a wonderful 15 years...you are the perfect man for me! Happy Anniversary, Hubbie! I love being your wife and look forward to at least 100 more years together!

Happy 11th Birthday!

To our oldest daughter, "R"~

Today, December 15th, we celebrate your life! We had a party for you with some of your sweetest and best friends. You had lots of fun making jewelry, eating, talking, laughing, and opening gifts, of course!

You will never know how much joy you have brought to Daddy and I...since the day you were born, I have believed that God has great and wonderful plans for you. Our prayer is that you will follow Him and always do what He tells you to do.

The card we gave you today at your party describes you perfectly~

Caring~

Wonderful~

Thoughtful~

Remarkable~

Beautiful~

Fun~

Warmhearted~

Gifted~

and most of all...

Loved~very, very much!

We love you, Sweet Girl! We are so blessed to have you in our family...

Happy 11th Birthday!

Love,
Daddy and Mommy

~a day at American Girl~

~a day at the church fall festival~

~at Montpelier~

~digging for that perfect Lego piece in NYC~

~dinner out with Daddy~

~October, 2011~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

TO MY

HUBBIE!

I LOVE YOU AND HOPE

YOU HAVE HAD A GREAT DAY!

Daybook #46

For Tuesday, December 6, 2011~

Outside my window~

the skies are cloudy and gray

I am hearing~

the fan on the heating system

I am thankful~

we got to see my Mother-in-law last night

I am thinking~

about some baked goodies to make for gifts

I am remembering~

Christmases past--as a child, my dad would read the

Christmas story to us before we opened our gifts.

It is a tradition that my family has now, too...

I am reading~

my Bible and a devotional book

I am hoping~

to remain purposeful in preparing my heart for Christmas

On my mind~

are family members who are ill

From the learning rooms~

"R" is doing well in school and working on a research project

"D" is reading really well

"S" is doing really well with memorizing Bible verses

Noticing that~

the more organized I am, the less stressful things are...why didn't I learn that earlier???

Wondering~

what memories the kids will have of this Christmas?

I am praying~

that my niece has a safe trip on Saturday--

she is flying "home" for the first time in 18 months--

my brother and sis-in-law live in Lithuania

From the kitchen~

beef brisket for dinner  :)

Around the house~

the lights are twinkling and are so relaxing

One of my favorite things~

is going out shopping with my Hubbie

on Black Friday--just the two of us!

A few plans for the rest of the week~

Ladies Bible Study

a trip to see some family

church

decorating our Christmas tree

From my picture journal~

I'll be linking up with Peggy over at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Blessings to you and yours~



HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET GIRL!

DADDY, MOMMY, "R", AND "D"

ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE YOU IN OUR FAMILY!

YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL RAY OF SUNSHINE

AND YOU BRING SO MUCH JOY TO OUR LIVES!

YOU HAVE MATURED SO MUCH IN THE LAST YEAR...YOU NO LONGER HAVE THAT CUTE LITTLE "BABY-FACE". YOU CAN CARRY ON A WONDERFUL CONVERSATION WITH ADULTS AND OTHER CHILDREN. YOU DO SO WELL MEMORIZING BIBLE VERSES, AND WHEN YOU LAY DOWN FOR BED AT NIGHT, WE ALWAYS SING "JESUS LOVES ME" AND "JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN". YOU LOVE TO COLOR AND DRESS UP IN YOUR "CINDELELLA" DRESS!

TODAY, WE CELEBRATE YOU AND YOUR PRECIOUS LIFE! WE ARE

THANKFUL TO GOD FOR GIVING YOU TO US!

WE LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH!

LOVE,

DADDY

MOMMY

"R"

"D"

Our Trip to New England

Well, friends, Happy Thursday! In just two short weeks, it will be Thanksgiving Day! It really doesn't seem possible that we are already into November!

A few weeks ago, our family had the great privilege to travel to the New England area. Can I say "WOW!" Hubbie and I had been to New York before, but never any further north. We had such a great time! The children did so well in the car...but anytime we take a road trip, they are all for it! :)

I'll leave you with some of our memories...

~Tuesday--Minute Man National Park, Concord, Massachusetts~

 ~approximate site of the capture of Paul Revere~

 ~taking the oath to receive their "Junior Ranger" badges~

 ~the famous "North Bridge"~

 ~Wednesday and Friday were spent in Boston~

 ~Thursday--driving through Vermont, New Hampshire and spent the night in Maine!~

 ~now we are in New Hampshire~

This is not all we did or saw, but it is all the time I have for blogging today. :)  I will share more at a later time.

Tomorrow is a special day~our baby turns 3!

A Visit to the Pumpkin Patch

Hello, Blogging Friends!

It's been a while since I wrote a post, but just like everyone else, life sometimes happens...and my blogging ideas get put on hold! It is nice to be back, though...

The first Friday of October, we were able to visit a local pumpkin patch (at a discounted price because it was Friday night) and had such a wonderful time! I'll leave you with loads of pictures, so you can see what fun we had! There were hay rides, bouncy pillow, underground slides, "tractors", pumpkins, smiles, maize maze (actually sourgham), zip lines, pig races...whew!

HAPPY NOVEMBER!!!

~welcome to the farm~

~the market had all kinds of fun things~

~Tigger made an appearance on the farm, too~

~my little rays of sunshine~

~"D's" favorite part of the farm...he rode the tractor over and over and over!~

~"S" had to have a little help~

~"R" really enjoyed the "BIG" size tractors~

~face hand painting~

~entering the maze~

~YEA! We made it through!~

~her smile says it all~

~Dad and kids had fun on the slide~

~my little punkin and I~

~in the fun barn~

Great memories, good weather, and cute smiles!  :)