"Pre Birthday" Festivities

While Marc was gone on his one day retreat with the guys from church, I got to spend Saturday with both kiddos. This was especially meaningful to me, as it was Joe's last day as a "baby". We had fun, the three of us, goofing around, reading lots of stories, and playing make believe (well at least Lydia and I did that..). Then when the kids went down for their afternoon nap, and thank goodness Lydia took one today!, I went to work on Joe's birthday cake. I have been looking forward to this for long time. I took a Wilton cake decorating class a few months after Lydia was born, and I haven't used my cake decorating supplies or "skills" for much of anything yet. I had ordered a cake pan a couple of weeks ago, and had all of the other supplies I needed. I had a lot of fun decorating it, but it took me a couple of hours and my hand hurt near the end. Joe is of course worth it! I thought it would be fun to take a few step by step pictures so here they are.

The cake baked and ready to be decorated! It was originally a bear so I had to cut them off and put them lower on the head.




Outline of facial features.



Facial features filled in.





Final product. Tada!



Then since I had put so much focus into the cake(and not dinner!), and since it's Joe's birthday tomorrow, we had dinner at Red Robin!





I can't believe it has been a year. We love our little JoJo and can not imagine our family withouth him. Hopefully I'll post more after our little birthday celebration tomorrow.

BATHTIME!

Bathtime is a favorite time for both of our kids. And now we have photos for their wedding slideshows! :) :) :)

Hint o' spring!

It wasn't super warm outside today, but it did feel good to get outside and the sun was shining! It is much more fun running errands now that Joe can sit in the cart AND it's not freezing outside. Here some pics from our "adventures" today. They are all from my phone, which is why they're so small.


Lydia in the cart at Dominicks (we have never used this type of cart, but a man with 2 young children was putting it in the cart corral as I got there, and pretty much forced the cart on me, insisting that it would be better than the "normal" cart. She had fun beeping the horn and turning the wheel as we shopped!


Lydia at the top of the slide. She wouldn't come down on her own. Apparently we need to re-introduce her to the park. Hopefully in a few weeks, she'll be loving it like she was in the fall!


Lydia "pushing" the wagon as we walked home from the park.


Joey enjoying the ride!

BLIZZARD 2011

You might not be surprised to know that when I hear the word "blizzard" this is what pops into my brain:





Today however I have some different images:

Lydia crawling on top of two feet of snow.


All my snowbirds.

I am learning how to post slideshows, so please forgive any little hiccups. I compiled a few pictures from our past week, including our little family Christmas (the four of us), Christmas with Marc's dad's family, and my birthday. I am terrible about taking pictures, especially when there is a lot going on, which is why there aren't any pictures from Marc's mom's house, or my parent's house, oops! It was a good week, full of activity, and a bit of relaxing. Click to enjoy the photos!

Highlights from the past month

A whole month flew by with no blog entries entered by me! Between preparing for Christmas, celebrating Thanksgiving, and being out of commission for the better part of a week, I have been forgetting to blog! We had a great Thanksgiving celebrating with lots of family! We've been enjoying preparing for Christmas especially now as a family of four. Marc and I had a chance to go to a beautiful concert at Wheaton college with some friends. And we also went downtown to celebrate 5 years of marriage. We ate at The Cheesecake Factory - YUM! Now Marc has two weeks of vacation, after having been super busy at work. It's so nice to have him home and we're looking forward to some extended quality time as a family. Here are some highlights of the past month along with some pictures of other random things. I don't actually take many pictures, so the ones I do take usually get posted here!


Grandma L. getting great joy from feeding Joey his bottle.



Lydia really loves Grandpa L. It's very cute!


Grandpa L. feeding Joey his bottle


Just a cute one of Joe


Happy Birthday Papa! Eating dinner with Papa W. at Jason's Deli.


Shopping Trip.... Costco! Love those double seated carts!


Last but not least, M&K's 5th anniversary. This is us in front of the tree in front of Cheesecake Factory. It was SO cold!


AND.....Mr. Giggles


I doubt I'll post anything else before Christmas, so Merry Christmas! Love came down that first Christmas...Immanuel, God with us!

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Here's a Christmas prayer (I found it in on the internet)that I hope will bless those who read it.

NOT ONLY CHRISTMAS DAY

Lord, this is my prayer
Not only on Christmas Day
But until I see You face to face
May I live my life this way:

Just like the baby Jesus
I ever hope to be,
Resting in Your loving arms
Trusting in Your sovereignty.

And like the growing Christ child
In wisdom daily learning,
May I ever seek to know You
With my mind and spirit yearning.

Like the Son so faithful
Let me follow in Your light,
Meek and bold, humble and strong
Not afraid to face the night.

Nor cowardly to suffer
And stand for truth alone,
Knowing that Your kingdom
Awaits my going home.

Not afraid to sacrifice
Though great may be the cost,
Mindful how You rescued me
From broken-hearted loss.

Like my risen Savior
The babe, the child, the Son,
May my life forever speak
Of who You are and all You've done.

So while this world rejoices
And celebrates Your birth,
I treasure You, the greatest gift
Unequaled in Your worth.

I long to hear the same words
That welcomed home Your Son,
"Come, good and faithful servant,"
Your Master says, "Well done."

And may heaven welcome others
Who will join with me in praise
Because I lived for Jesus Christ
Not only Christmas Day

November

Yesterday was Nov. 17 which makes Joey 7 months! Also, last Friday was Nov. 12 which makes Lydia officially 2 1/2 years!

Joey is getting even bigger and stronger. He is standing a lot these days (when held of course - not on his own quite yet!) and loves the telephone. I have a feeling he is going to be a gadget lover, similar to someone else in this family. :) He loves to eat eat eat, and there never seems to be enough food! We are enjoying him very much and loving the way him and Lydia interact. Here are some pics of Joey:

In his Chicago Bears jersey



With Daddy ( I love these!)




Lydia is starting to talk in sentences and asking more questions. This age is so fun! She loves Elmo and still loves music as much as before. And she loves all of her stuffed animals, so much in fact, that at times she will drag about 5 at a time around the house!

Here is pic of Lydia loading up her shoebox for Operation Christmas Child. (We want to instill the importance of giving to those in need)



We are gearing up for the holidays, and looking forward to starting some new traditions as a family. One tradition we're starting this year for Thanksgiving is reading a book called Thanksgiving: A Time to Remember. It is about the pilgrims and their journey here to America, and the history of Thanksgiving. We'll read a little bit each day before Thanksgiving.

Since I probably won't blog again before Thanksgiving day, Happy Thanksgiving!

1 Chronicles 16:34 "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever."