Turnback Tuesday - Christmas Edition

November 27, 2016

We decorated the Christmas tree and had a little fun trying to take a picture for a Christmas card.

The best attempt at a picture with the boys.

One Year Ago...

We decorated the tree a little later in 2015 (mid-December), but I couldn't resist including this picture.

Move-Back Monday?

November 24, 2016 - Turkey Day!

We did successfully make it back from Michigan and struggled to make it back into regular life again. Thanksgiving came and we pulled out our football gear.

 Isn't this a cute football player?!

Zachy - almost 17 months

 Oh dear! Zach wasn't happy to have his paci taken away for a picture.

Okay. Phew. I can do this.

We spent the afternoon with our friend Lora and her family. We got to see some goats since her neighbors have some. It was a great day. Poor Barry had to work again on Friday & Saturday. Yuck.

Sunday Shenanigans

Hope you had a great, restful day!

Fun times with Family

November 13-14, 2016

We had some fun times hanging out with our Michigan family.

We got in lots of hugs and laughs. It was a great time.

 Zachy & Uncle Tod

 Nathan and Jessica

 Playing with Bentley

Nathan loved playing with Bentley & Aunt Chelle!

Work Anniversary Gift

My work anniversary was October 16. I have been working for ten years at the same job. Amazing isn't it?

They had instituted a new program where at the big years, you get a cool book with comments from co-workers and then you get to pick a gift from a catalog. My co-workers surprised me with an ice cream cake and a break too.

I had a difficult time making a choice and finally decided on a necklace. Then you have to wait for them to send it, so it was toward the end of November before I got it. Nathan especially likes it and asks to wear it.

I think it's a neat reminder of the time I've been there. We'll see how long God has me here.

Wedding Wednesday

So we started to go back and catch up with the couple of months that I missed...

Saturday, November 12, 2016

The ceremony

Nathan did a g-r-e-a-t job as ring bearer. He didn't seem to be fazed by the responsibility and did great walking down the aisle.

After he gave the Bibles to Travis, he came and sat with me. Unfortunately, Zach would not be quiet so Barry had to take him out in the foyer. The ceremony was beautiful and neat to see the unity cross they used.

 Nathan even got to take a few pictures. The Bibles he carried are back on the table behind Travis.

Unfortunately, we didn't get one picture of the four of us. We made it to the reception and ate dinner while Zach enjoyed climbing the stairs in the hall. They had cupcakes for dessert. Yum!

Two for Tuesday

The boys started this morning posing -- but can you really see them?!

Nathan was pretty proud of himself for learning the word camouflage.

Tonight, the boys decided to read books on the couch. I asked Nathan if he was going to read it, but he said he didn't know the story. For someone with such a vivid imagination, I was surprised he didn't try and tell Zachy something.

In case you've been worried, Hans is doing much better. On Friday, Nathan said he had died. I told him I was sad and asked him if he cried. He said no, but he thought Hans would get better soon. Today, he said Hans was much better and he thought Hans would be working again. What an imagination!

Family Picture

We have had a hard time to get a family picture without someone around to get the boys to look. But surprisingly enough, they did great today and we got a family picture.

The weather has been so unseasonably warm and we've hardly been wearing coats. A year ago, look at what we saw....

Election History

I can't say that I remember watching another inauguration although I'm sure that I have. My office allowed us to watch the ceremony during the day and I snapped this picture while President Trump was sworn in. We'll continue to pray for him as he leads his country just as we have for those before him.

Friday Fun

It was bear day today in Nathan's class. He was supposed to bring a bear and tell one fact about bears. He wanted to say bears eat bees. But, we encouraged him to say bears eat honey and fish.

 Zachy was "getting" Daddy. He thinks it's funny.

 Zachy doesn't usually get up in the morning until the last possible moment. Most of the days this week he was woken by Nathan and then would try to eat breakfast and gradually wake up. So, tonight, he was so out of sorts that I ended putting him to bed about 6:15. He was exhausted.

"Are you sure you don't want Woody instead?"

(In other words, "I want the bear!")

Throwback Thursday

November 10-11-12, 2016

BEFORE the WEDDING

We got up extra early Thursday morning for our lo-o-o-o-ong trip to Michigan. Poor Zachy had a tough time and the last hour was pretty bad. We were very glad to make it to Uncle Tod & Aunt Michelle's.

We were glad to relax Friday morning and go get Nathan's suit fixed up as it was a tad big and the tailor tried her best to get it hemmed and ready to go. Then we hung out at the house before it was time for the rehearsal.

 We had some time to play before the rehearsal in the little courtyard.

Then, it was time to practice...

The sanctuary has changed quite a bit from our wedding almost 13 years ago.

 Zachy found the steps and I couldn't keep him away.

Saturday came and we had to get handsome.

"Are you sure you don't want to hold me?" 

 Mr. Studmuffin, at your service! 

Nathan was super handsome in his suit and had so many questions about what was going on. He was going to carry their childhood Bibles that had been stacked together and tied with ribbon.

Trains for Tuesday

 TODAY - Playing with the train set

The first pieces of the train and tracks came from Uncle Tod & Aunt Michelle when they came at Christmas two years ago. We added additional pieces earlier in the year, but found this awesome set at Target that came in a cool plastic box as Nathan's big gift. I think it's safe to say that almost a month has past from Christmas and Nathan has played with it almost every day.

Here they are playing on Christmas Day (yes, it was so warm that we wore short-sleeves to church -- no coats).

The mountain piece over on the right corner was the top to the plastic tote and the tracks attach to it. Pretty awesome!

Beginning the Countdown

 Since Jesus' birthday, Nathan has been asking when his birthday was (actually, he's been asking for much longer than that... 😊) I decided to do a countdown so that we can help him. He took down the 16 today.

Can you believe that we kept the dinosaur poster up the whole year? It just sort of happened. After the first couple months it just became part of the room. He's asking for a horsey this time, but I'm not sure about that. I'll have to work on my drawing skills.

We're back?!

So it's been 2 months since a post... Two months. How pathetic.

We've been to Michigan and back, celebrated a couple holidays, and seen our first snow of the season. Unfortunately, you didn't get to see that with us. I'll try and catch up but I think that was what was so daunting and kept me from getting back. We'll see what happens.

Nathan wanted a picture after we ate lunch. He was pretty excited about the parrot and lion on this bench. Zachy was nonplussed.

Ready? Hopefully I'll stay on top of this and keep you informed.