December Recap

Well, the third trimester got the best of me, and I stopped blogging. Gonna fill in with some month-end recaps so that I don't lose these memories...

In December:

Josh and I took and early and abbreviated 10th anniversary trip to Estes Park. Our long-time plan had been to escape for a week on the beach sometime in the spring (our actual anniversary is January 3, 2014), but this impending baby changed those plans.

We decided to take a shorter, closer trip before I got miserably large, so we booked two nights at the Della Terra Mountain Chateau in Estes Park at the beginning of December. Unfortunately, I was pretty uncomfortable already, but it was a nice getaway nonetheless. (Except for the wind. The wind was insane!)

The trip included yummy food, no schedule to follow, our first ever couples' massage, and a lot of relaxing and enjoying each other's company.

When we got to the Della Terra, we were greeted by these guys. 

Happy Thanksgiving 2013!

Better Late than Never - Josiah's 2nd Birthday Party

John Deere Gator cake

Lorien's 4th Birthday

Lorien turned four on July 19th. That day we spent the evening in Denver with FLI students and friends—hurt ourselves eating at the Cheesecake Factory and watched the Cubs beat the Rockies at Coors Field. It was a fun last outing with Institute students. 

Later in the weekend, we celebrated with a family birthday party: burgers, barbeque chicken, salmon, sweet corn, cheesy potatoes and—oh my!—this cake. 

Memorial Day Weekend In Estes Park

A high school classmate of mine recently said, "Traveling with a two-year-old might be a trip, but it is not a vacation."

How true we've found these words over the past 3+ years, when vacationing basically means helping the kids do all the same things you help them do at home, only in a different environment and without the benefits of your own space and your own stuff. I don't mean to gripe. I'm just saying that it's hard to really get away with small children. 

Mother's Day

Thankful...

For these precious little people who made me a mommy. 

For Sunday lunch to share with family

Life after Death

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Every year on the Sunday after Easter, our church celebrates Life After Death Sunday.

In Vain

Easter thoughts:

My mindset this weekend very much followed the arc of the Easter story. Friday and Saturday were heavy with the weight of the dark things in this world. And weird, scary stuff happened too, such as Josh getting into an icy highway accident while towing two Jeeps back from Moab, Utah, in our pickup. (Thankfully, it was a very low speed accident, and he's fine, though the truck is not fine yet.)

I was hungry for a real taste of Easter today, and I got one.

Christmas in Ohio

The day after Christmas, we threw the kids in the truck at 7 a.m. and headed for the Denver airport. We arrived in Ohio on my mom's birthday and extended our Christmas celebration until New Year's day, when we flew back home. 

I love this picture of my mom. 

Mountain Man Mike

Josiah has such a wonderful mad face. I really can't help making fun of it. 

Josiah and his new Notre Dame hat, courtesy of Aunt Mandi, who joins Josh in rooting for the Irish. 

Ty Ty. How did my nephew get to be as big as me?

Annual Christmas cookie making: Grandpa and his girls. 

Irish fans nothwithstanding, Ty makes Brutus the Buckeye out of cookie dough.  Cousin Dan Driscoll is the one who started all this cookie creativity. I think he would be proud. 

Kinsey

Josiah's job was taste-testing the sprinkles

Christmas 2012

We had the loveliest of Christmas mornings with just our family of four. Thinking of it makes me sigh happy sighs. 

These two are just the perfect ages to enjoy Christmas with!

The morning started with Lorien completing her advent painting, and Josh reading the Christmas story from Luke.

Then we opened stockings

Josiah was not really interested in anything in his stocking...

...only in the Larry the Cucumber ornament from Lorien's stocking. 

Awwwww.

Gummy suckers were pretty much the longest-lasting hit of Christmas. I had purchased a whole package to use for gift tags and the kids couldn't get enough of them. 

Opening presents

I try to get them a dated ornament each year. Sometimes I fail and my mom covers for me (like last year).  

I have heard such good things about this kids' Bible. Excited to read it with Lorien. 

Veggie Tales bath toy from Grandma and Grandpa Beam

Stacking toy for Josiah.

We didn't put too much under the tree, because we bought one big gift that we hope they'll actively use for several years, but it didn't fit under the tree. (Nor did Daddy want to carry it up from the basement where it was hiding. That box was HEAVY.)

So then, yes, we did build the trampoline in the living room. It was totally worth it. And Mimi and Papa came over to watch the hilarity and share leftovers for dinner.

Lovely Christmas.

We tried...

The little blondie cousins were looking super cute in their Christmas outfits, but picture perfect was not to be had this year. :) 

Seriously, though, we had a good visit with the Randalls who visited from Michigan the week before Christmas. I wasn't quite ready for vacation when they got here and put in some pretty late nights trying to get my work done so I could really take some time off. We had some lovely dinner times together with the whole Keffer family and I really enjoyed some heart-to-heart talks with Christy, who is a wonderful listener. And some shopping—just us girls, alone! By next Christmas, we will add a fourth cousin to this set, whom we assume will also be blond. 

Decorating for Christmas

As our kids get big enough to make memories, we've been thinking about the kinds of Christmas traditions we want to create. Decorating the tree is something we want to make into a memorable family time.

Homemade hot cocoa is a favorite for everyone. Three mugs means we don't trust Josiah with one of these quite yet. 

The real tree is one of Josh's contributions from his childhood to our family's traditions.  (Josiah is "helping" with the lights.)

Who, me?

Yummy hot cocoa. Lorien mostly likes the marshmallows. 

So serious. 

Not very serious. :) 

Lorien and Daddy put the start on the tree. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is the first time I've ever hosted Thanksgiving. We went simple, and Josh's parents brought several dishes, including a veggie tray in the shape of a turkey, so it wasn't too stressful. We agreed afterward it's the best feast we've pulled off in some time!

Ready for the feast. 

The bird. Brined and roasted per The Pioneer Woman. Her instructions are right on and the turkey came out beautiful and delicious without too much fuss, even if Josh says the turkey brine looks like pond water.

Cheers!

Hungry boy is way into drumsticks of any kind right now.  

Pretty girl! (It was a beautiful day, so we had to take some pics outside.)

With Mimi and Papa

Happy Thanksgiving!