Holiday Family Time

With Daddy home for 2 weeks and the snow and holiday spirit in the air...we have been having a lot of fun family time. These are just a few random pics from the last few weeks... Oak playing in the snow after our days of several feet of snow...you can see it goes up to his shoulders almost:)

Early morning bed-head and play-time with mommy and daddy
Making sweet-treats for our friends...Oak always wants to help and has to be dressed festively while doing it:)

Santa's Helper hamming it up for the camera

We tried to take a good family photo for Christmas...but it really didn't work out...here is one of the "cheesy" ones:)

Visit to Great-Grammy's House

This is the highchair that my brothers and I used to eat at when we would visit my Grandma's house...so it was quite "momentous" to have Oak eat at it...and cute!

My mom, Oak, and I went to Ft. Myers Beach, Florida for a long weekend before Christmas to visit my Grandma...she was anxious to see Oak since the last she had seen of him was a few moments after he was born. We enjoyed the sunny, warm weather (while at home Alan and Dad were weathering one of the worst winter storms Michigan has ever seen, several feet of snow in a couple of days:), played in the sand and ocean (Oak's first time in salt water...), and Grandma's pool, and met lots of Grandma's "family" that are wonderful people. Thanks Great-Grammy for having us...we love you!

The Holidays and SNOW, SNOW, SNOW

We are sorry for not posting in so long...it has been a fun-filled, busy, and exciting last month. We have had snow almost every day for a couple of weeks now...

light, fluffy stuff, then wet, heavy stuff, then cold temps in the teens so much so that we have about a foot on the ground today...a beautiful, sunny day!

Oak is not sure what to think of it...I keep bundling him up and trying to take him out...but after a few minutes his hands get too cold and he begins to cry. So, we have been tearing apart the house having lots of indoor play time.

Alan's parents visited for Thanksgiving again this year...a great time of hanging out and catching up and announcing to the Carter's and Anders' at the same time that Oak is going to be a big brother (can you read the shirt? I couldn't get a good picture:)...

Yes, you read that right, we are pregnant again and due sometime in late July. We were as shocked as you are, since our motto has been "one and done" since we had Oak. But, God in His incredible ways and humor decided we weren't done...so, after a couple of minutes (for Alan) and a couple of days (for me) of working through the unexpectedness of it all...Alan's motto has been "awesome and unexpected!" And, I am with him...we now are expecting another little munchkin who will be just under two years younger than Oak...I know, we will have our hands full!! We are excited, blessed, and thankful...and of course battling through the first trimester, with my nauseau and exhaustion. It sure is different this time, though, trying to keep up with Oak while feeling this way!

We now are into the furry of Christmas with parties, baking, making things, decorating, and shoveling, shoveling, shoveling the snow (every morning, at dark, 6:30 am, Alan and I are out there shoveling away...really beautiful, really refreshing, we love it)!

We hope you are enjoying the beginning to this Christmastime and rejoicing in all of the blessings in your life!

A Daddy who's in the mix...

I knew that Alan would be a good dad long before we had children...I fell in love with my husband for so many reasons, but one of them is his love for life and playing...so this works well with kids...this is also why Alan is such a great teacher...he relates so well to youth! But, I want to take a cue from a friend and take a minute to praise my great hubby for not only being my best friend, and a wonderful husband, but also for being a GREAT dad...He loves playing with Oak every minute he has with him, but he also loves to read to him and gets giddy over books that he finds to read with Oak. He will not leave him in the morning without family prayer and hug-time, and will not put him to bed at night without a Bible story, prayer and a kiss. He writes to him the history of our family and about his passions, dreams, and hopes for life and for Oak's life. He praises me for taking care of him and trying to teach him good things during the day. He teaches Oak and tries to guide him to be a kind little boy. He prays for him daily (if not more) and all that God is doing and will do in his life....I guess I could go on and on...but, more than anything, I thank God each day for the man He blessed me with, as a partner on this journey of life...I could not have dreamed of or asked for anything more! Alan, I love you with all of my heart...you are THE BEST!
A look at Alan, as a dad, over the last year...

Running for Office

During these tense political times...our neighbors decided to lighten the tone and nominate some candidates of their own for office this year...

Carter for City Sewage Supervisor

The Choice is Clear Vote for Mier (another neighbor)

Change Just DeWitt (another neighbor)

I awoke to these signs in our neighbor's yard early Wednesday morning and just laughed out loud...while the election is a serious time in our country, Alan and I have tried to remember that what is most important is our relationships with others, showing love to others, speaking hope to others, and relying on God, who is in control of everything. We pray that you will have peace during this election season...

We have an on-going prank battle going on amongst our neighbors...Alan and I are planning something big...so stay tuned...

Cider, Color, Cool, Candy, and Costumes

Pumpkin Patch...apples, cider, donuts, animals, riding in a cow train...pure joy

Trick or Treat with Ben Napp (Bears football player), Jude DeWitt (Pea Pod), Oak (Lions football player) and Bella Dyer (Beautiful Pink Butterfly)

The Dyers came for a visit this past weekend and we had so much fun. The weather was gorgeous, the fall leaves were beautiful, the kids had fun playing together, and we got to catch up and have some good talks and good laughs. We are so thankful for life-long friends that God has given us and appreciate the common bonds that tie us together over the years and across the miles! We love you, Todd, Cata, Bella, and Becca!

30 Years and Reflecting

Reflection Coming Soon

Play and Enjoy Every Day

I find us so busy on certain days that I have to stop myself and take time to play with Oak...which is absolutely the first thing I love to do and the most fun thing to do these days!!!:)

A little update on Oak...He is walking, nay running, all over the place. He will play outside with or without anyone for as long as we will let him...and does not want to come in for food or sleep, ever. He eaglerly awaits Daddy's arrival home every day, so that he can play and wrestle with him every minute until bedtime. He loves to give hugs to anyone, especially the baby boys that are our neighbors. He brings books to us throughout the day and wants to sit and "read" them with me...saying sounds as I read. He bops his head and dances to any music or any item that he thinks produces music...absolutely hilarious!! He can say a few words clearly, like dada, mama, bye, nana (for banana we think), and is working hard on ball, book, balloon (basically saying baaa for everything that starts with a "B":)

Needless to say, while the world around us is unstable and most are pessimistic, we are thoroughly enjoying our little guy and reminded of how GREAT LIFE is and HOW BLESSED we are by his innocence and laughter every day!!