Siblings.

Don't tease!

Little bird...you give me so much hope...we're so ready for spring!

So very blessed.

Two years ago in January 2007, I only blogged once, and it was kind of a year in review of 2006. In that entry, I was trying to process and accept that we were a family of three, and that maybe that was what God had planned for us. It's amazing to look back on that, and how very desperate I was for another child. All through our pregnancy, I was desperate for our baby to get through it safely, and now, here we are...with a 9 month old very healthy, sweet, amazing boy. I am so sorry, Lord, that I have taken this amazing blessing for granted. YOU did this...YOU made him...for us. You gave us your only son, and you gave us a son AND a daughter. Tonight I am just overwhelmed with how very blessed we are. There are four of us. Four...it's amazing.

Scrabble!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5753249

How clever are these? I want some...these are too stinking cute. They are made from a scrabble tile, a paper image, and diamond glaze...why can't I think of these adorable things? I have been really having the urge to be crafty lately. I think it's because it's so cold outside. I just am not motivated to get all of my paper crafting stuff out, because I don't want to put it all up when I'm finished. I'm thinking Katie and I might try and stay up late and scrapbook tonight...maybe. I've been missing that daughter of mine. Asher has been a little under the weather, so he has taken up almost all of my time. I miss just talking to her.

Siblings.

I was looking through photos, and wanted to share these. Katie was holding Asher in the recliner, and they were just having a "moment" that I wanted to capture. They love each other so much. No one else gets the smiles that Asher gives to Katie, and she is smitten with him. I hope they can always love each other this much!

Kit.

Katie loves Kit...that's all there is to it...and mom does too...just a little bit :o) We've been having so much fun talking about Kit, watching her movie, sewing for her, we even went to a little play-date to Elizabeth's house to meet Kirsten, Molly, Kaya, Samantha and Felicity!

Christmas favorites...

We really enjoyed Christmas this year. We were able to spend Christmas Eve with Kris's family, and tonight we spent the evening with my family. I am so thankful that Katie and Asher have the grandparents and Aunts and Uncles that they do. Katie's Christmas was all about Kit Kittredge and Karate this year...she got her very first ever "real" American Girl doll, and she has not let Kit leave her side since the moment these pictures were taken Christmas morning. It's like having another daughter (except Kit is very quiet!) I absolutely love seeing her love a doll so much...it brings back very fond memories of the dolls that Crystal and I got for Christmas every year. Our dolls were so tattered and crazy-haired by the time we grew up...we loved each one of them and played with them all of the time! Mom always made clothes for them, or a diaper bag. One year dad made doll beds, and they were so beautiful...I really wish I had one of them for Katie to use for Kit. Well, I better get some sleep. Merry Christmas!

Our weekend (and another Happy Birthday!)

My mom and dad stopped by to see us today. It was Mom's birthday, so Dad took us all out to lunch. Katie just loves seeing them...she doesn't get further than 1 centimeter away from Grandma anytime she's around!

We have been busy getting ready for Christmas. Katie had her school program and had 14 speaking lines--she did a great job--she was so animated and funny! Last weekend was her program at church-she looked so beautiful up there singing. Last week was her karate Christmas party, her school party, and her Caravan party---it was a party week, I tell ya! We are counting down the days until Christmas now...only 4 days to go! I've been trying to think about the real meaning of Christmas, but it's hard not to use this beautiful day as a great excuse to go crazy and spoil my children like crazy! I can't wait to see Katie's reaction to her "big" gift this year! I saw the statue above today, and it's on MY wish list...for someday...Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday, and Thank you Lord!

Just a quick post to say, "Merry Christmas!" and Happy Birthday to our sweet boy, Bryce! Also, we want to thank God for his amazing works. Kris's dad had some heart problems last night, and the Lord carried him through...we are so thankful and feel so blessed that he always has us in his hands.

Christmas Goodies!

Oreo Truffles

1 bag of Oreos, crushed 1 package of cream cheese at room temperature
1 package of almond bark or your favorite melting chocolate
Blend crushed Oreos (-1/2 cup) and cream cheese, shape into 1 inch balls, refrigerate or freeze for 1 hour. Melt chocolate, dip balls in chocolate and cool on wax paper. Reserve ½ cup of finely crushed Oreos to sprinkle on top of balls if desired.

Peanut Butter Snow Balls

2 Cups Peanut Butter
2 Cups Rice Crispy cereal
2 Cups Powdered Sugar
2 T. butter, softened
1 package of almond bark or your favorite melting chocolate

Blend peanut butter, butter, and powdered sugar. Add cereal; mix well. Shape into 1 inch balls and place in freezer for 1 hour. Melt chocolate, dip balls in chocolate and cool on wax paper.

Ritz Truffles

2 sleeves of Ritz crackers, crushed
1 cup peanut butter
½ package of almond bark (white)

Mix crackers and peanut butter, shape into 1 inch balls, refrigerate or freeze for 1 hour. Melt bark, dip balls in bark and cool on wax paper. Drizzle with melted almond bark colored with red or green food coloring if desired.

Little man

Oh my goodness, Little man, your mama is smitten with you. I love my children so much. I am so very blessed to have both of them. Goodness.

Breakfast Casserole

My friend Melissa taught me how to make this yummy breakfast casserole last year on Christmas morning! I will miss her this year... :o(

Melissa's Breakfast Casserole

1 can Cresent rolls

1 pound regular sausage

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

8 eggs

smidge of milk

salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Spray bottom of 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Line bottom of dish with unrolled cresent rolls. Cook and crumble sausage in a separate skillet, drain and layer onto cresent rolls. Then layer on the cheese. Wisk eggs with smidge of milk and salt/pepper and pour over the layers. Bake in 375 oven until no longer jiggly-about 40 minutes.

We like ours with salsa and sour cream!

7 months!

Asher turned 7 months old on the 17th...it just seems like the months keep flying by! We are keeping busy. Katie has karate two nights a week and we have church activities two nights a week, so there is always something going on. I love and look forward to the evenings when we are able to all just stay at home together. Asher is growing and changing so much. He is such a happy baby. He smiles and laughs, and has 6 teeth now-4 on top and two on bottom! Kris and I feel so incredibly blessed to have our two beautiful children...they are truly wonderful.

Our boy in his hat!

Katie's Presidential Prayer

Dear Lord,
Please help Obama to come to know you, and help McCain to win.
In Jesus' name we pray,
Amen.

Bless her little pea picking heart.
:o)

Playing in the Leaves...

The trees in our yard are beautiful this year! Katie had so much fun raking the leaves up, jumping in them, and burying her little brother in them! She's bugging him like only a big sister can already, and he loves every minute of it!

Happy Pumpkin!

No pumpkin mo-jo here...

We visited the pumpkin patch this weekend, and I was telling my sister that I was having trouble getting pumpkin mo-jo...I just wasn't "feeling it" this year at Jones farm. I don't think Asher was "feeling it" either...bless his heart! I will add some happier pics soon!

Happy Half Birthday, little Asher!

Asher turned 6 months old on Friday! Where has the time gone? Our sweet new baby has now been with us one half of a year, and it just doesn't seem possible. Kris and I agree that it has been the most blessed 6 months of our lives! Katie was a huge blessing, but having two children is just amazing and wonderful. We are so happy that God gave us you, little man. We love you so very much! We had cake and candles to celebrate, and even though Ash only had a tiny bite of cake, he LOVED putting his fingers in the icing!

Woolaroc

We visited Woolaroc http://www.woolaroc.org/ today, and it was just a perfect day for it! The weather was beautiful, the kiddos were in good moods...it was a great day! I remember going there a lot when we were little. It was mostly the same, except for the theater presentation with the Indian woman who did the sign language...she's gone :o( I think Katie enjoyed it. Our favorite part was sitting on the front porch of the lodge looking out over the lake...it was so beautiful.