Nerd Alert!

FACT: I love to read so much that Dave has nicknamed me “Belle”. You know, from Beauty and the Beast? Always has her nose in a book?

I didn’t really like to admit it when I was in middle school, because reading was SO NOT COOL, but I have no shame in admitting it now. There are few things I love more than getting completely immersed in a really great book.

Lately, most of what I read is non-fiction stuff – parenting, marriage, etc. but back a few months ago several of my friends had recommended a series of books to me so often that I decided to check them out.

Oh, yes. I jumped on that bandwagon.

Honestly, when I first heard the premise I was a little horrified. A bunch of kids get thrown into an arena in a kind of “fight to the death” version of Survivor? It did not AT ALL sound like the kind of book I would be interested in.

So I just downloaded a sample of the first couple of chapters onto my Nook and once I read them I was completely totally hooked. I read all three books within a week’s time. Yes, I am a pretty fast reader

Source: bookfessions.tumblr.com via Megan on Pinterest

 

So very true.

Luckily, the movie comes out in only 11 days. Or something. It’s not like I’m counting or anything.

There really are so very few movies that I feel like are worth seeing in the theater anymore, and it can be tricky to make a movie that’s as good as a book so hopefully this one won’t disappoint!

So…anyone have any recommendations for what I should read next?

In Which I Go On a Rant…

I’m not sure if I’ve ever mentioned this on here before or not, but I hate Halloween.

I mean, the cute kids in costumes and the candy – that I can handle.

But everything else?

Hate.

I hate the inappropriately gory decorations…like a bloody hand and a foot hanging out the back of someone’s trunk…or a “corpse” hanging from someone’s tree…I mean, seriously. Any other time it would be disturbing, but in October? Somehow it’s funny. Blech.

I’m really not even a fan of the less disgusting decorations, though they don’t bother me as much. Spider webs and gaudy purple and orange lights and mice and ghosts and skulls. Ugh. Sorry, I just don’t get it.

I hate that every movie producer feels the need to put out a new horror film right around the 31st. I mean, honestly…am I the only one that is creeped out by the fact that there are human beings out there who are actually thinking up these twisted, disturbing plots and, rather than being committed to some sort of mental institution because SERIOUSLY WHAT SANE PERSON TAKES PLEASURE IN THINKING THESE THINGS…they make money off of them? It seems to me that the crazy psychopaths in the world do a pretty good job all on their own, do we really need to feed their depraved minds and provide them with new material?

And the “adult” costumes…DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED. Ladies, you might as well just save yourself some time and go dressed as a prostitute because you aren’t fooling anybody with your “nurse” and “kitty” costumes. How old are we again? Show some self respect – you’re better than that! (And by the way…if you don’t want to be treated like a piece of meat…don’t dress like one!)

See? I told you not to get me started

Halloween just puts a big old ugly mark on what is an otherwise pleasant season. Pumpkins and coffee and hoodies and leaves and apples and football and chili? Yes, please!

Blood and guts and gore and skanky costumes? No thank you. Yes, I’m aware that evil exists and I know we can’t hide from it…but that doesn’t mean we need to celebrate it.

Aaaannnd…stepping off my soapbox

{image source}

These Boots Were Made For Walking

I am not what I would consider a trendy person. I have shirts hanging in my closet from when I was a sophomore. In high-school. Ten years ago. (Not that they still fit me, but that’s a whole different blog post.)

I am, in fact, initially resistant to just about every new clothing trend that comes along. I go through phases:

Phase 1

That is the ugliest thing I have ever seen. I will never in a million years be caught dead wearing something like that.

Phase 2

Well, I guess it’s not so bad. On someone else though. I could never pull that off.

Phase 3

That. is. adorable. I would like to buy one in every color and style imaginable.

Sadly, by the time I’ve reached Phase 3, the trend is usually old news or on it’s way out. It’s happened with nearly every style of apparel you can think of in the past 27 years of my existence. Capri pants, 3/4 length sleeves, leggings, skinny jeans, jeggings, and now…boots.

I love boots. 

I am obsessed with boots.

If I wasn’t already married I might ask them to marry me.

Well, ok…maybe not. But you get my point.

Everywhere I go I see cute boots! Tall boots! Short boots! Gray boots! Brown boots! Flat boots! Boots with heels! Boots with wedge heels!

And I stare and I drool but I almost never buy them because….

*sigh*

…boots are expensive. At least to this thrifty mama they are.

And by the time they’ve gotten to a price I think I can afford, they are out of my size…or just out completely.

So I thought I would share with you some of the boots I loved but never got. Major “non-buyer’s remorse” here.

1. Elle Riva Wedge Knee-High Boots

Oh my lands, if these are not the most adorable boots I have ever seen. The ruffle! And the wedge heel! I walked by these practically every time I went to Kohls just to see if they’d gone on sale. Because, if you click on that link, you’ll see that the original price was $99.99. Sooo not happening on a stay-at-home mama salary. Then they went on sale for $29.99! I could totally do that! But -- “Sorry this item is no longer available”

*Sad face*

2. Rialto Soul Search Tall Boots

Also at Kohls. In black or brown. I loved them both.

Gone.

Sayonara, cute boots.

3. Target Merona Zanta Plaid with Roll Over Cuff Rain Boots

These ones absolutely kill me. Because they were on clearance in the store for $16.00 the other day! And they had every single size BUT mine! So I checked online…full price. What in the world? You’re killing me, Target.

Oh, well. One of these days there will be the perfect storm of cute boots, a killer price, and the perfect size. Until then I think I shall be revisiting these verses:

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
I Timothy 6:6-10

Here With Us

December, 2008.

I gaze down at the soft pink bundle asleep in my arms. Tiny eyelashes feathered against smooth skin. Fists curled tightly, breaths even, the rise and fall of her chest so slight you can barely tell if she’s breathing.

But she is. Sleeping peacefully. My newborn baby girl.

To my left, white lights twinkle on the branches of a pine tree, their soft glow illuminating the ornaments hung with care. It is almost Christmas. The twenty-fourth Christmas I will have been alive to celebrate, and yet, in so many ways it feels like the very first.

How many times have I heard the story? Joseph and a very pregnant Mary. A donkey ride to Bethlehem. No room. A stable. And Jesus, born as a baby.

A baby.

Like the one in my arms. How could I have known the story all these years and yet not grasp the significance of that? God as man, but not just man.

God as a baby.

For just a moment, I close my eyes and imagine that I am Mary. That the baby in my arms is not my firstborn daughter, but instead Jesus. It’s almost more than I can fathom.

Jesus, needing someone to feed him?

Jesus, needing someone to change his diaper?

Jesus, the one who created the world so utterly dependent on the very beings He created?

What kind of love could motivate Someone with such infinite power to lower Himself to such a humble position? Of course, I know the answer. The same kind of love that would motivate Him to die for the very ones who killed Him.

I’ve known it for years and yet, somehow, this Christmas it resonates with me more deeply. God, as a baby, like my baby.

Emmanuel.

God with us.

I Feel Stupid…

I learned a few things the past couple of weeks. The kind of things that make you slap yourself on the forehead and say, “Duh!”

And I wanted to share them with you in case maybe I wasn’t the only one who missed the memo on these.

You are welcome.

1. The man that mama is kissing in “I Saw Mama Kissing Santa Claus” is DADDY…not Santa Claus. To quote a friend of mine, “All these years I thought Mama was just a floozy.”
   
   
2. Egg nog is made with raw eggs.
   
   I know.
   
   DUH.
   
   I just never really thought about that before. It sort of ruined egg nog for me. I mean, really – it can’t possibly be safer to drink raw eggs than it is to eat them in cookie dough, no matter how much nutmeg and cream you add to them.
   
   BLECH.
   
3. You can buy Girl Scout cookies at the grocery store all year long.
   
   I mean, not the actual Girl Scout cookies, but the same exact types of cookies that the Girl Scouts sell. Keebler sells a version of almost every single one of them.
   
   Like Thin Mints?
   
   Get Grasshoppers
   
   Like Tagalongs?
   
   Get Peanut Butter Filled
   
   Like Samoas?
   
   Get Coconut Dreams.

This is a revelation. One that’s probably not good for my waist line.

Please tell me I’m not the only one who didn’t know these things. Or at least pretend you didn’t to make me feel better :)

Obsessions

Some things I’m loving right now:

Cantaloupe {or muskmelon…whatever you call it}

This bowl was filled to the brim a couple of days ago…and would you believe I’m the only one in our house who likes it? So I was forced to eat it all my by myself. What a shame ;)

And I may or may not have bought another one at the store this weekend…

Little Glass Jars

I’ve never really been one to collect anything but I just can’t get enough clear containers for our pantry – or wherever. I love them! These were only .99 cents at Goodwill. Aren’t they cute? I don’t even know what I’m going to put in them, right now I just like how they look sitting on my kitchen counter.

Ice Cream

This is what I’m currently enjoying…vanilla ice cream with a generous helping of that hard candy Reese’s syrup on top. Mmm…

And the funny thing is, I don’t really even usually like ice cream – but I’ve craved it with both pregnancies.

Trying New Recipes

On the menu this week:

*Sesame Pepper Flank Steak with Monterey Ranch Bread and Grilled Squash

*Bbq Pork Sandwiches and Baked Beans

*Chicken, Apple, and Smoked Gouda Salad

*Cheesecake Brownies

All recipes I’ve never tried before – I might even share them with you if they turn out well :)

And last week we tried these:

Zesty Chicken Burritos with Cilantro Sour Cream

along with that blueberry pie pictured above – both super yummy.

So…what are your latest obsessions?

Things I Love That Other People Don’t Get

My friend Kaley did a blog post the other day that I thought was kind of fun so I’m stealing it from her. Thanks Kaley :)

Things I Love That Other People Don’t Get

1. Grape Nuts
2. The Bachelor/Bachelorette
3. Cleaning my house
4. Organizing
5. Regis and Kelly
6. Country music
7. Vacuuming
8. Clipping coupons
9. Ice water with lemon
10. Mini vans {Yup. I’m a convert}
11. Blogging
12. Shopping at thrift stores
13. Talk radio
14. Secretarial “stuff” {typing, filing, answering phones, spreadsheets}
15. Amish fiction
16. Babywise
17. Vanilla Coke
18. Making lists
19. Going to bed early
20. Sharp cheddar

***********************

And then just for fun, here’s the reverse:

**Disclaimer: I’m not saying these things are bad or wrong – in fact, some of these I wish I liked more –they’re just things I’m not particularly into**

Things Other People Love That I Don’t Get

1. Sushi
2. Twitter
3. Texting
4. Running
5. {Most} Modern Art
6. The Real Housewives of __________ {fill in the blank}
7. Lady GaGa {Lady GAG-ga}
8. Crocs
9. The Twilight series
10. Mushrooms
11. Talking on the phone
12. Scary movies
13. Black coffee
14. Detailed skin care regimens
15. Rompers {on anyone over the age of 5}
16. Gladiator sandals
17. Home births
18. CSI: Miami
19. Picking out paint colors
20. Expensive makeup

Rockin’ the Mini Van

A couple of weeks ago Sarah posted this video on her blog and it about made me bust a gut watching it.

It’s even funnier to me now because as of yesterday, we officially bought a Swagger Wagon of our own.

Yup. We are now the proud owners of a mini van – a Kia Sedona, to be precise.

Things I Like About Owning a Mini Van

1. No more huffing and puffing as I hoist my pregnant self out of the driver’s seat.
   
2. Not having to do the bend and twist to get Lily in and out of her car seat.
   
3. Feeling like I’m riding high enough to run over all those lowly sedans and compact cars out there ;)
   
4. Stow N’ Go
   
5. The space! So much space!
   
6. The “cool” factor

Ok…so maybe not that last one :) But to be perfectly honest with you, I don’t really mind the whole Soccer Mom stereotype. I mean, what does driving a mini van say about me? That I’m a mom with more than one kid? Well…I am. It’d be kind of silly to be driving around in a sports car :)

Oh, and did I mention? It came with an automatic starter. Suh-wheet!

Of course, I’ll admit, if we had a leetle more money, I would love to be driving one of these:

*Sigh*

A girl can dream, right?

But the fact that we were able to pay cash for our van and don’t have a car payment hanging over our heads makes it all worth it. Better to be dorky and debt free than in living a lifestyle we can’t afford, right?

RIGHT??

So…anyone else out there rockin’ the Swagger Wagon?

I Told You I Was Scatterbrained…

One of these things is not like the others…

Oh pregnant brain…how I’ve missed blaming my stupidity on you!

This Is Why Klutzy People Shouldn’t Decorate…

It may look like an innocent curtain rod, but in my hands…it’s practically a lethal weapon.

Our Bedroom Wall

 Our {Brand New} Dresser
{that’s a nice big chip in case you can’t tell through the blur}

I know what you’re thinking…

“You just need to be more careful!”

The sad thing is…that WAS me being careful.

The good news? We’re almost done with the master bedroom! All that’s left is paint. And if you ask me real nice, I might even show you pictures ;)

Because I’m a List Maker…

I’ll be honest with you, there are about a gazillion and one things I could be writing about right now, but I can’t seem to wrap my brain around anything other than the massive list forming in my head that goes by the title:

STUFF TO DO BEFORE THE BABY COMES

I don’t know about anyone else, but I start nesting practically the second the stick turns blue, and having all these random “must-do’s” floating around in my head is driving me nutso.

So, whether you really care or not, I’m getting it out on paper. Er, computer screen. Whatever. 

• paint baby room
• paint/redecorate Lily’s room
• buy toddler bed
• move Lily to toddler bed
• finish fireplace in living room
• paint living/dining room and kitchen
• paint master bedroom
• find lamp for nightstand
• move guest room furniture from “baby” room to the new spare room in the basement
• move office “stuff” into family room
• rearrange furniture in basement to accommodate “family room”, “office” and “play area” in one (!!!!)
• sand and repaint desk for “office”
• deep clean the house…ALL of it
• re-read Babywise
• do a Freezer Cooking Day to stock up on meals for post-baby
• make Lily’s Halloween costume

Oh, and did I mention, I’d like to do all of these things before the third trimester comes and I get all huge and uncomfortable and start having trouble bending over?

I know. Maybe a little unrealistic. I mean, thinking about making a Halloween costume? In April? Really, Amy? REALLY?

Oh, well. Maybe I won’t get it all done, but at least now I’ve got it out of my head. And if anybody wants to come help me check some of these off, well…I probably wouldn’t say no :)

My House, Also Known As “The Place With All the Unfinished Projects”

I don’t know if I’m the only one whose like this but I have a tendency to look at my house and see only the “imperfections” or things I want to change.

We have a nice house and it’s fine – really, fine – just the way it is. It’s beautiful…but I don’t quite feel like it reflects us just yet.

I think there’s at least one thing in every room that I’m not quite crazy about. At least one thing in every room that, given the time, creativity, and money, I hope to change. And sometimes when I look at our house that’s all I see!

It’s not the living room, it’s “the room with the unfinished fireplace” {although we are sooo close to being done with it!}

It’s not the family room, it’s “the room with all the mismatched furniture” or “the room where all the toys exploded”

It’s not the dining room, it’s “the room with the giant brass chandelier”

I like to decorate. I like the satisfaction of doing things myself. I get almost giddy when I’m able to save money AND pull together the look I’m going for all at the same time.

And it’s a good thing, too, because the truth is, this is the way we have to do it. We don’t have the kind of budget that will allow us to make all the changes, all at one time.

And I’m ok with that, I really am. It’s just…I’m so impatient!

I’ve told Dave numerous times since we moved in, “I wish I could just wave my magic wand and make everything the way I want it to be.”

But I can’t, and truthfully, I know that in the long run, it’s good for me. This isn’t the only area of my life where I struggle with being patient and I think God can teach me valuable lessons even in something as insignificant as decorating my home.

So. If you’ll just excuse me now, I need to go do some cleaning in “the room with the ugly shower door” {also known as, our bathroom} :)

I’m Not the Only One!

The weather has been gorgeous this week {and by gorgeous I mean “not snowing” and 30-ish degrees} and Lily and I have been taking full advantage of it by GETTING OUT OF THE HOUSE!

Today we went to a friend’s house for a little playdate, and I realized again that it often does ME as much good as it does Lily to spend time with some “big people” during the day.

I realized that I’m not the only one….

…who struggles to think of things to do with my busy little toddler now that she’s no longer taking a morning nap….

…who sometimes feels BORED trying to entertain a busy little toddler who’s no longer taking a morning nap…

…who sometimes doesn’t get to take a shower until afternoon-thirty because a busy little toddler no longer takes a morning nap {and refuses to play with her toys on the bathroom floor while I hop in the shower but instead unwraps all of mommy’s tampons and tries to flush them down the toilet :-/}

…who feels GUILTY for missing that darn morning nap so much :)…

…who sometimes dreads mealtime and the inevitable conflict it creates…

…whose child sometimes starts pitchin’ a crying hissy for no apparent reason at all…

…who feels like they work-work-work all day long yet have nothing to show for it…

I think sometimes it’s easy for us mommies to just heap big old piles of guilt on ourselves for the struggles we face every day.

We feel scared that we’re doing something wrong.

We feel afraid that we’re making mistakes {and possibly screwing up our kids in the process!}

We feel inadequate.

But the truth is, most of us are just normal. And sometimes it’s just good to be reminded…

I’m not the only one!

I’m Dreaming…

…of a non-white vacation…

Just like the ones I used to know…

We haven’t traveled a ton since we got married, but we’ve tried to take at least one vacation a year.

We honeymooned in Myrtle Beach {that’s where the above picture was taken}. We spent lazy days at the beach laying in the sand and boogie boarding {lets please not discuss the lack of fat I had on my body at that point in time, I try not to think about it}

Hit some outlet malls one day, took in the sights at an aquarium another:

And then we’d hit the town in search of some fresh seafood at night Look at us, all tan and relaxed…I miss that.

We’ve taken some other trips, too – a long weekend in Kansas City for our anniversary:

And twice we’ve gone to Minnesota and stayed in a cabin for a week:

   

Dave’s got a boatload of vacation days to use this year, and we’re trying to decide where we should go. This will be our first family vacation since Lily was born.

Maybe back to Minnesota? We’ve got some great friends there that we’d love to visit

Or we’ve thought about going somewhere totally new – maybe California or Florida.

Wherever it is, I just have three requirements:

1. Fun
2. Sun
3. R-E-L-A-X-A-T-I-O-N

Where’s your favorite vacation spot?

{Ouch}

Pride.

It’s such a tiny little word that describes a very large, very ugly struggle of mine.

People who know me in real life might be a little surprised to hear me say that. Because, you see, pride doesn’t show up in my life in what might seem to be the “typical” manner.

I’m not the “cocky, over confident, smug” type of person with that “look at me” kind of swagger.

I don’t talk myself up {rather, I’m more likely to talk myself down}

But guess what?

I’m proud.

Pride is sneaky. And it manifests itself in my life in a hundred different ways. Last week in our Sunday School class, we were given a handout with two columns: one detailed characteristics of a proud person, the other characteristics of a humble person. Guess which one I identified with?

Proud people…

…have to prove they are right…

**OUCH**

…keep others at arms’ length…

**OUCH**

…find it difficult to share their spiritual needs with others…

**OUCH**

…tend to deal in generalities when confessing sin…

…are self-conscious…

…have an independent, self-sufficient spirit…

**OUCH, OUCH, OUCH**

C.J. Mahaney, in his book “Humility: True Greatness”  says that pride is “to rob God of legitimate glory and to pursue self-glorification”

As our Sunday School teacher said, “Doesn’t that sound horrible?”

That’s because it is.

Pride is at the root of so many of the sins in my life. It is not something I can just look at and then passively go on with my daily life. It needs to be uprooted and tossed out, like weeds in a garden – so there can be room for real fruit to grow.

How do I do this?

It’s only possible when I have the right view of myself – the view from the foot of the cross. That’s where I see myself for what I truly am – a sinner desperately in need of a Savior – and where God is revealed for what He truly is – the only One who deserves any glory or praise, the perfectly just judge whose mercy and compassion reached down to rescue me.

“How can anyone be arrogant when he stands beside the cross?”
--Carl Henry--

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
   "God opposes the proud
      but gives grace to the humble."
--James 4:6--

How ‘Bout Some New Year’s Resolutions?

Yes, I know it’s January 19th. And yes I know everyone else posted their New Year’s Resolutions, like, at the beginning of the New Year. I just am a lazy procrastinator like to be fashionably late.

Quite honestly, I know you probably don’t care all that much about my goals for the year. But I’m not posting them for you as much as I’m posting them for me. To keep me accountable.

So without further ado, here are some of my goals for 2010:

FINANCIALLY

1. As a couple: save enough money to pay cash for our next vehicle.
   
   It’s very likely that sometime in the next couple of years we are going to need a bigger car. Dare I say it? Maybe even a mini-van. *Shudder*
   
   
2. Personally: Take weekly grocery budget from $80.00 to $50.00. I’ve actually already got a great start on this thanks to Crystal’s site, but I’ve still got a ways to go.
   
   My plan of action:
   -- use the “envelope system” and only pay cash for groceries
   -- deposit any leftover money into our “new vehicle” savings account

SPIRITUALLY

1. Be more consistent with my quiet time. In the past, my devotions have been at whatever point in the day I could squeeze them in. This does not work well for me. I need a routine.
   
   My plan of action:
   -- wake up early. Ideal time is 5:30. So far real time has been more like 6:30. Baby steps.
   
   
2. Prayer. Would it be right to say I’m not “good” at prayer? I don’t mean the actual act of praying – I know it doesn’t matter how eloquent you are {or aren’t}.
   
   I mean that I’m not “good” at the discipline aspect. At actually setting aside the time to do it and then keeping my mind from wandering to my “to do” list or whatever else is fighting for my attention.
   
   My friend Mandi put this quote on her blog and I think it pretty adequately describes me:
   
   "It's fun to talk about prayer and easy to think about prayer. But to actually put your feet - and heart - on the pathway to prayer, to make your desire to pray a reality, requires discipline." Elizabeth George
   
   I’m starting a new book that I’m really excited about which I hope will help:
   
   
   

PHYSICALLY

1. Exercise at least 5 days a week. I’m doing surprisingly well with this one – I’ve only missed a total of 3 days since December 28th.
   
   My plan of action:
   --Let Jillian boss me around every weekday {except Wednesday}
   --On Wednesdays, focus on my abs with this DVD:
2. Drink more water and less pop. Pretty self explanatory. Limiting myself to drinking pop only once a week.
   
3. Try at least one new healthy recipe a month.
   This cookbook will help me out with that:
   
   This one will NOT:
   
4. Find and make a good recipe for whole wheat bread. I’m bound and determined to conquer my fear of yeast. Yeah, I said it. I am afraid of yeast. But that’s a whole different post.

I’ve got a list as long as my arm of other things I want to do, but this post is long enough – I’ll save those for another day. Aren’t you excited? :)

So what are some of your New Year’s Resolutions?

Christmas in New York

I’m not even sure where to start with my recap of Christmas. How ‘bout some pictures?

Grandma’s favorite Christmas present

Lily was utterly spoiled all week – being the only grandbaby in the family she was the center of attention and was doted on by her aunts, uncles, and of course – Grandma and Grandpa.

“Whatcha’ gonna do with that pumpkin pie Unca’ Trey? Can I have some? Pretty please?”

I got utterly spoiled too – with everyone so eager to be with Lily I hardly had to lift a finger to change diapers and feed meals and all the other things I normally do in a day!

Not only that but we had a live-in babysitter all week, which freed us up to go catch a Syracuse game at the Carrier Dome. Lily stayed behind and watched the game on TV with Grandma.

{I’m just kidding. She didn’t watch the game on TV.}

{But she does apparently like to watch basketball. Daddy is so proud.}

{And no, we don’t normally let her stand this close. Just long enough to get a picture.}

Darius James shooting a three pointer.

{I’m just kidding. I have no idea who this is. That’s Dave’s area of expertise} 

 Dave and I {lovingly} mock each other’s favorite team colors. He says K-State’s colors {purple and white} are “girly”.

I call Syracuse’s main color “construction worker orange”. I look like I should be wearing a hard hat. Or toting a rifle and climbing up a deer stand. I’m just kidding – I tease in love :)

Dave’s dad and sister Elisabeth 

Lily’s new puffer vest and tights were as adorable as I knew they’d be on her. Don’t you just want to pick her up and squeeze her? 

 

Christmas morning 

There’s that cheesy grin I know and love

“What do you MEAN we’re not opening presents yet?” 

Dave’s dad set up the electric train set and bought an engineer’s hat and a train whistle -- “for Lily” – but I think he had just as much fun with it as she did :)

Dave’s brother Trey, his wife Janae, and their “baby” Chloe – the sweetest little golden retriever that you ever did see.

She loved the wrapping paper – and pretty much anything else she could get her teeth on :) 

I tried so hard to get a decent picture of Lily in her Christmas outfit but she didn’t want to sit still– it was the sweetest little pair of black leggings and this red babydoll shirt. I love dressing her in all of the trends that I know I’ll never be able to pull off :)

Chillin’ with Uncle Trey   

Family picture, take one…

…and two…everybody looking except DAVE!

We had a great time and I was reminded how blessed we are in every way – materially, spiritually, and physically!

And the holidays aren’t over yet – would you believe me if I told you we’ve still got three more Christmases? I really don’t think my pants can stretch any tighter…

Alrighty, I’ve got to go upstairs to deal with a certain little one year old that has decided not to take a nap. Oh the joys of getting back into a routine! :)

Have a great Wednesday!