All Those Joys!

Happy New Year...2010 ...can it be possible! 2009 was a year full of blessings. I am so thankful for the love, joys and opportunities that our Loving God....Blesses us with each day! The girls have grown and changed so much over the past year! Kevin and I are so thankful for our continued years of a joyous marriage, 6 years ago in November we said "I Do" and I do know that we grow each day as a couple. We learn new things about each other, parenting and how to enjoy the love of one another. Live gives us joys and challenges....and as our wedding ceremony said, we can face it all if we are pointed in the same direction, holding on to one another....SO TRUE! I love my Man unconditionally and more each day! Just the thought of him brings me an instant smile! He is such a good man, husband, and Daddy! Tessa is so fun and funny! She is a fashion designer before her time. She takes such time in choosing her outfits and has so much fun doing so! Her imagination is amazing and she always keeps us guessing what she will come up with next! While she loves being on the go, she loves to calm down and get held and cuddle! Ella is her "best friend" among her many friends (both real and imaginary...Ada) and she is such a great big sister. Her mind is a sponge and she is learning so much each day! Ella is one!, walking and exploring the world around her...one step at a time! She adores, Tess, tries to keep up with her and loves to play! Her giggle can be heard around the World! She is a good eater and thinks she requires little sleep! Her pats as you hug her are so sweet and her smile melts our hearts! She enjoys chasing Zion around and Zion keeps wondering if there are going to be any more of these "little people" joining the household, she just wants to rest! We can't imagine life any other way!

Check-Ups

As a parent well-baby checkups are always a bittersweet experience....You have the opportunity to hopefully hear wonderful things about your baby and then you are able to see how much they have grown. I am always prayerful going into the appointment that all will be well.

We have been blessed with continued health of our girls.

Ella had her one year checkup and she is gr owning so quickly. 22lbs. and 31 1/3 inches long. The usual questions went well....she is eating well, walking, babbling.... We have a wonderful doctor who is medically knowledgeable and a mother of little ones, a winning situation in my mind. She also never minds my many questions! We did have to wait this time....I find myself coming up with some unique ways to entertain a one year old, I even found myself dancing around the doctors room while waiting, thank goodness for the mirror in the room...peek-a-boo is always a winner!

Ella was a giggling one year old, then came the shots....My LEAST favorite part, they know when the nurses come in, Ella looked at me like, They are here???? Interesting both nurses attend our church, at least the girls will have some positive thoughts of them as well. There is the initial quiet stare at me, then the tears, it breaks your heart, I always tell the girls....it is to keep you well, they don't care at that point, it jsut hurts! Tess loved her sister's band-aid when we got home....bright pink. She took them off Ella in the tub and no tears....great job big sister! Most important, Ella is well!!

Enjoying Indy!

Tess was all ready to travel to see Pops and Gamma!

She picked out the outfit, imagine that!

Christmas joys continued as we traveled to visit my family in Indianapolis! We had our Christmas dinner and celebration and really enjoyed the time together. Kevin received Colts / Jets Tickets for Christmas! We had a K&K night out on the town, we had a great time! And....The Jets won! Kevin was thrilled! He was one of the only 10 people in the stadium in green, of course I was sporting my blue!

Dad loves his retirement job (he especially likes seeing all the games!)

I made surprise reservations at the Conrad,(We highly recommend it!) and had dinner after the game at St. Elmos...Kevin has always wanted to go there and have dinner. It is NOT overrated as one may think, the food was amazing and the service was exceptional. The best part was the dinner was very reasonably priced.

The entire evening was special! Although the walks downtown were cold, it was snowing and this made it just feel like Christmas! The girls missed us and we missed them! They loved the Grandma and Pop-pop time and it was a special time for the two of us. It felt great!, to sleep in and not get up in the middle of the night, while it was good for us, it felt strange! We are officially parents and while the night away was a fabulous gift, we were very pleased to see our brown eyed girls the next day!

Tis' the Season!

We had a very enjoyable, relaxing Christmas! We were so blessed to feel the true reason for the season! Tess was very pleased about "Jesus' Birthday! She asked "How old is Jesus Mommy?"ahhh.. Little minds, always at work!

Christmas Eve I felt like a child again, Kevin was laughing at how giddy I was. After church, we put out the cookies, Tess had to sample them to make sure they were good enough for Santa! We had the Annual reading of "The Night Before Christmas", the girls fell asleep!

Christmas morning was WONDERFUL! The girls both slept in past 8:00, we watched Franklin the cartoon together "As a Family" (we love how she says this) in our bed, then about 8:45 she said, "Hey, do you think Santa came to our house?" "Well, lets go and see, her eyes twinkled like a Christmas Tree, she was so pleased to see only crumbs on the plate!

Tess had fun "organizing" some of the toys!

We enjoyed the day with Family and Kevin was on toy assembly duty! We had a delicious dinner with the family and most of all felt very thankful for one another. We hope all our family and friends had blessings to enjoy!

Wrap it up....

Note to self.... Wrapping gifts with a three year old and one year old is not the easiest idea. But it sure is entertaining! The "Girls" and I finished up some last minute wrapping! They had so much fun, wrapping themselves, wrapping random things and wasting just a "few yards" of paper. But one thing is for sure they felt involved!

I told Tess this morning that it was Christmas Eve, she asked "what does that mean", I explained that tomorrow is Christmas, Jesus' Birthday and that Santa will come and visit tonight. "The day after this day is Christmas, I did not know that it was here already, that is good news Mommy!"

This will be a Christmas of innocence magic, discovery, and JOYS!

Tess Wrote a great Letter to Santa and when we went to visit him she put it in here purse to take with her. Once we were there she told him the she "would put the letter in the mail", she was VERY excited to see him. Ella stared, they snapped the photo then TEARS! Tessa told her that it was fine, it was just Santa and he is nice!

Merry Christmas to All!

A Top Ten List ....College Roommates...

Over break I had the joy of having lunch with my 3 college roommates....better know as some dear friends! I was going to take a photo, we got to busy talking that I forgot, no surprise there!

It was a wonderful visit.....I will sum up our friendship in a top ten list....

Top Ten Reasons Why I adore our C-18 friendship....

10. Who else could live together in college and not have one disagreement...it is true

9. We are all individually unique, yet a great team of friends

8. We have great husbands....great choices girls!

7. Cute kiddos...We have that covered....10 to be certain but 11 is one the way....(not from me...)

6. College Memories aplenty

5. We will be friends forever...we know to much about one another

4. Support...I can always count on them....always

3. Laugh....We can laugh....until we cry

2. Young....we may not be, but we feel like it when we are together

And the #1 Reason....

1. No matter how long between our visits, we pick up right where we left off...Priceless....

"Grown Up Time"

This past Thursday...Kevin and I had a fabulous night out with our dear friends Matt & Jamie! We were able to enjoy dinner out, just the "grown ups", it was a long overdue night out! We were truly enjoyed ourselves and the uninterrupted time together. Although, we love the time when our families are together, it was a great diversion! We are so thankful for the time together and we are certain that it should not be as long between times like these! Great friends and great times!

Winter Break....Yeah!

Hip-Hip Hooray, I am so excited that Winter Break is here!!! I love teaching but having two weeks of pure family time....Good Stuff! Now, I am offically in the holiday spirit! I had a great day Friday with my students! I am so glad that the time for break has come!! Yeah, schools out...for two weeks, I feel like a kid again!

Birthday Girl!

It was a fun celebration! Our Little Ella Bella did such a great job at the party! There was such innocence in Ella not truly knowing that we were celebrating her special day, she was just glad to see everyone and to eat her first cupcake, she sure liked the icing!

We are so thankful for our friends and family sharing the evening with us. I have to admit there was some sentimental moments through the day, thinking of where we were one year ago, part of motherhood!

Happy 1st Birthday Dear Ella, it has been a wonderful year of joy!

"Boy, that was a fun day, but I am Tired!, I can hardly wait until next year!"

Saying Please...

Tess always brings the smiles....She is very good at saying please and thank you. Even at a younger age when it was "Peeze and Tank You" (seems like yesterday)...But literally yesterday she had a great come back:

Recent quotes:

"thank you for dinner Mommy it was so good", "Can I have some more please, Thank you", "Mommy can I please unbuckle my seat belt since we are home"....Etc.

Yesterday it went something like this:

Tess-"I want some milk"

Kevin-"What is the magic word?"

Tess- (Without skipping a beat) "Hokus Pokus!" -Big smirk (like someone else I know K_VI_)

Kevin and I had to giggle, then she started giggling and we were all laughing, then with a bigger smile, "Please Daddy"

I truly enjoy those fun simple, family giggle moments!

One year ago...

I just rocked Ella to sleep...One year ago tonight we went to the hospital. How time goes so quick! Her eyes are as sweet and angelic as the moment we laid eyes on her, while sleeping, otherwise she is on the move! I have said it since the day Tess was born, it takes becoming a mother to understand the true meaning of a "Mother's Love", it is unexplainable, like nothing else and most of all a true blessing. Tomorrow, Ella will wake up a one year old and while she won't remember the day, her Daddy and I will! Tess is very excited for Ella's Birthday, she said to me today, "Ella is so adorable Mom!"...One once said it so well, This is the good stuff!

Photo Session????

I feel like most times I have great intentions....Like for example taking getting a Christmas card photo of the girls...easy, NO!...chaotic, cute, funny, and memorable...YES! One of the best parts was the fact that there 4 adults working on the task, we all ended up laughing hysterically! ....The following is why...

Sister,Sister! Tess encouraging Ella to stay focused?!?!?

Doing their own thing!

"Uh Mommy, why is this snowman staring at me," maybe props were a bad idea!

XOXOXOX!

"Cheese!"

We've had about enough...

One down, One to go!

Officially, DONE!

And, we did end up with a photo, It will be in the mail soon!

PRICELESS MOMENTS! We LOVE Our Girls!

"Tree"ditions....

Family traditions can span throughout the year, but it seems to me that the Holiday season is certainly a time to both enjoy and establish family traditions!

One family traditions from Kevin's side of the family that I have enjoyed since the first time I experienced it was the "Christmas tree cutting outing"! I find it to be "All-American" and while some years, quite cold, a simple joy of the holiday season.

Since I was nine month pregnant with Ella-Bear last year, we went the artificial tree route, and I missed the "real tree in the house"!...the smell, the natural look, oh! and the needles in your toes...all part of the experience!

This year....Out we went! Tess was quite excited going into the day...."When are we going to get there, where is it at, will there be animals at the tree farm?" We walked through the fields of trees, and looked, and looked, then actually settled for one of the pre-cut trees, but enjoyed the "experience" of it all!

One of the highlights was Tess getting a candy cane from the greeter, Santa Hat and all! She was enjoying it..."I will brush my teeth two times Mommy, because Dr. Yoder (our dentist) said to brush after candy....She listened! Look at that smile....

"Tree hunting made this little one tired!"

We brought the tree home, decorated and now we have the enjoyment of it...

Christmas Time is now officially here!

Harmonica....

Ella discovered the harmonica....

Ella decided what to do with the harmonica.....

Ella thought it was REALLY Funny what she could do....make her sister clap for her!

Then, The Girls called for Daddy to show him the trick!

Simple, Precious Moments!

6 Years Ago.....

Six Years ago this past Sunday ....November 22nd.... Kevin and I were married in Kauai...It was a beautiful day. Kevin went golfing I enjoyed the beach and we had a sunset ceremony. No stress, just joy of the journey that was beginning!

Here are some photos of our wedding video....On the TV as we snuggled!

It doesn't seem possible it has been six years....Time has brought us many joys, experiences, and new adventures...!

I told Kevin on our anniversary that I still get excited when the door opens and he is home from work! He is handsome, fun and caring! I thank God every day for the blessing of Kevin, an amazing husband and friend! I love him more with each experience we go through. He is a strong husband, and wonderful Daddy to our girls.

As the years pass by, as quick as they do, it is important to reflect on the joys of the journey. As the minister said at our wedding.... It is about the journey! We wrote our vows and instead of "until death do us part"...We said,"As we journey through life together" It is a journey of ups, downs, joys and struggles, but at the end of the day, what really matters is that you are with the one that you love!

How did we celebrate??? Earlier in the week we had a K&K dinner out and bought a new mattress...(Yes, there is some humor here) Then on Sunday, We made dinner, an watched out wedding video, which is a tradition. We snuggled up with the girls on the couch and enjoyed the video....Tess of course had some comments:

"Wow, Mommy you look Pretty"

"Will you take me there some time?"

"Mommy, what id your shoes look like, (No surprise on this question!)

"Lets all snuggle, Dis is our Family"...

It was a wonderful way to celebrate!

Happy Anniversary Kevin! I Love You....EVERYDAY!