Baby Brown Eyes

Sometimes looking into these sweet little eyes just makes my whole day.

J’s Valentine’s Day Party

J decided that she wanted to make a Valentine’s Day party for all of us.  I helped her with some things, but most of it she did on her own. 

She made paper boats and masts with sails for the place names. 

She made a “Happy Valentine’s Day” sign and I helped her hang it.

She hung paper hearts from the chandelier. 

She baked brownies and Ruby Tea Biscuits (from the Anne of Green Gables cookbook). 

Then she and her friend, N, cut the biscuits with heart-shaped cookie cutters.

J set and decorated the table so beautifully.  She really went all out for this party.  We had brownies, the tea biscuits, Aussie Bites (we get them from Costco) and hot tea with sugar and cream. 

We all had such a good time eating the tasty goodies.  I’m so proud of her!  She was exhausted by the time it was finished.  But look at that satisfied smile! 

Ready to Dance

A few weeks ago, K and her friends A and C, were getting ready to go to the Sadie Hawkin’s Dance.  None of them asked any guys out, so they all just went together.  The dance was animal themed.  K went as a cat, A as a butterfly, and C was a snake.  It was great hanging out with them and getting to be a part of this time in their lives.  Such beautiful girls!

Our Little Joy

This little girl has sure stolen our hearts.  Now we can’t imagine what life was like before she came along.  She is such a happy baby.  She makes me laugh when I’m feeling down and want to cry.  She is tenderhearted.  She “cries” right along with you if you are sad…she comforts you.  It’s so sweet. 

She is now beginning to say more words.  For the longest time every adult was “dada”.  Then, when she really could say “mama” she would only say it sparingly and after much coaxing.  After that she learned “papa” (what we call our grandpa), and every man was “dada, papa”.  Now, when I walk in the door after running errands, she will run to me squealing, wave her little hand at me and say, “Ha mom!”  Melts me to the core, I tell ya!

It was two Christmases ago that we found out she was on the way.  Oh, that was a tough time for us.  We were in a really hard place and here we were having a little surprise!  But God knew.  He knew we needed her.  He knew we needed her laughter, her comfort, her joy, her sing-songy voice, her bright brown eyes and wispy curls. 

I also forgot just how much fun age 1 is.  The discovering, the newness of everything, the light in her eyes, the bounce in her step.  Everything is so new and exciting.  It gives me a new perspective as well, teaches me to look at life, circumstances, in a different light. 

Thank you Lord for little Z.  She is such a blessing!

Celebrating Our Newest Little One

We celebrated Baby Z this month.  This little one joined our family one year ago now.  I can hardly believe just how fast the time has flown by!  It doesn’t seem at all possible!  She is such a joy!  Always laughing and smiling…just being her cute little self…and making the rest of us laugh in spite of ourselves.  She is in love with her big sisters…and I must say, so are they with her.  How did we ever do life before her?  Seems so strange now to think of our family before she joined us.

Happy first birthday, Baby Z!  We sure do love you and are so happy that God saw how much we needed you in our family!

Hello Again

Hello again out there my readers! 

Yes, it’s been a very long time since I last posted. 

I have to say, this past couple of years has been very interesting here in our world. 

We moved, yet again, had a new little addition to our family (Baby Z pictured above with me), just to name a couple things. 

It has been a time of ups and downs, and many  twists and turns…stretching and growing in many ways. 

I am looking forward to blogging on a regular basis again. 

This week I will be sharing some photos, thoughts, and fun from our summer this year.  I hope you enjoy it!

High Time

Hello to all my faithful readers!  I have seen you popping up on my blog here and there looking for more to read.  I’m so sorry I have been so lax lately about posting.  I have been in the trenches, so to speak, learning a new program.  I recently got Lightroom, a wonderful photo editing program and have been trying to learn that in whatever free time I can grab a hold of.  So I have some treats for you!  Here are some of the photos I worked on today.  I found this little girl fast asleep on my couch today. 

She had been sitting there, all wrapped up in a blanket with a book.

And the next thing I knew she was out like a light.  I was so surprised!  She never takes naps anymore.  Must have really needed some extra sleep.

I love watching my kids sleep.  They are so peaceful and beautiful.    

Our 8th Anniversary

It’s been 8 years!  I just can’t believe it’s been that long!  Since my man and I said, “I do.”  This last year has been one of the hardest for us, facing circumstances and trials that have pushed us to new depths with each other and with God, thus making this one of our best years too.  We have grown stronger together more in this year than any other year since we’ve been married. 

We were blessed by some friends of ours who gave us a night at the Silverwolf Log Chalets just outside of Coram, MT.  What a fabulous place! 

The cabin was so cozy!  Just what we needed to get away and be refreshed! 

Once we checked in and had a little snack, it was off to Glacier National Park!  It’s been several years since we’ve been able to get up to the Park, so it was such a treat!

I love this time of year in the Park.  The busy tourist season is over.  The stores are all closed up for the winter.  There are very few people.  And the colors of fall are setting in. 

We drove along Lake McDonald on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.  The evening light was gorgeous!  The breeze was picking up.  Just enough to make the trees begin to dance in a nice soft sway.           We stopped at the falls.  The water was very low, but the sound of rushing water was so sweet.

Mmm…who’s this man!  I’ve got to go check him out!  Even after 8 years, my heart skips a beat whenever I see him!

We went up to Avalanche Lake trail head, by the Cedar Trail.  That is as far as you can go in the highway this time of year.  They were also doing some repairs on a bridge on the Cedar Trail, so we were only able to walk part of the way.  The forest was enchanted!  It was magical!  The green was so green.  The mist was beginning to fall.  It was quite warm.  And we were together!

It was so wonderful to get away together.  It was too short, as it always is.  But we’ve made some more memories, and they will be with us forever.