Catch-Up

So, it has been way too long since we have posted...our sincerest apologies!! Many factors have come into play-our computer crashed and we lost all of our pictures since Colombia, it was getting fixed for over 2 weeks, and life has been quite hectic lately:)

How has your new year begun? We hope it has been wonderful! Some updates on us:

Alan-Started a new semester at Lighthouse and began his 2x/week night class

Liz-Began work at Wedgwood, 2nd shift, 3-4/week, is growing bigger and almost half-way through this pregnancy

Oak-(It's kind of hard to put into words all the ways he is changing right now)-He is running around and playing non-stop, loves to hug everyone, favorite words are ball and car, but tries to say many others, loves to make animal sounds, loves to read books over and over, loves to help mommy/daddy cook or do dishes, knows where the baby is in mommy's tummy, is such a sweet, loving boy (We are so blessed and thank God every day for the son that He gave us-a treasure and joy every moment!!:)

Although we have been busier with me working at night and Alan taking classes, we are truly thankful for God's provision and find that we are soaking up the quality time we have as a family (since there is not a lot of it each week:). We are also thankful for the little blessings that this job has brought to us-extra one-on-one time for Daddy and Oak, the chance to work with kids that need love, guidance and to know that God is all-loving, more awareness of what being a parent of this generation means and all that we need to trust God to guide and protect us in-just to name a few! We relish this time together-just the three of us-as we eagerly await and prayerfully trust God with the next step in our journey when the new baby arrives in July!

Our little ham-Oak loves to cheese it up for the camera with his goofy grin:)

Uncle Shaun and Aunt Mandie came for a visit last week-it was so fun to see them!

(Not all pictures will upload-teachnology-our friend and foe:)

Christmas 2008

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!