sophie's christmas outfit. we are so proud...

a blizzard on a saturday? perfect!

the girls and i spent some quality time enjoying mother nature's best this morning! after casey went down for nap #1, we headed outside to enjoy blizzard #1...well maybe it wasn't exactly a blizzard, but it was enough to really enjoy! with everything that we have had to do lately with chirstmas shopping, work, dance classes and house work - there is nothing i would have rather done with my day! what a blessing from the One who knows what we need and gives it in abundance! oh...and yes...ellee did end up wearing matt's gloves. hysterical in pictures.

the aftermath...two TIRED kiddies...a hidden treasure for a sleepy mom! :)

first - so sorry to have bummed everyone out with may last post! i am so thankful for the outpouring of prayers and support as we try to figure this all out! we love you all so much and are so grateful for you!

next - it's christmas! a time for us to be celebrating the blessings that are all around us! what a gift to be surrounded by our children throughout this holiday season!

last weekend my sister pampered me by taking me for an early christmas present! she brought me to 'turbo nails' to get my nails done! what a treat! even though i can't type at all with them, they are pretty!


i also was able to capture some christmas shots of the kids in front of the tree! it was great to see them so excited about the lights and the ornaments!



we are praying for you that you are celebrating the joy in this season too! with the end of the year upon us, i am reminded at all the milestones that are coming our way. in 2009, we will celebrate sophie's 3 year 'gotcha' day and her 4th birthday! ellee will turn 2 and casey will turn one! somewhere in there, matt and i will mark our 8th anniversary and we will enjoy our first full summer in our new house! i am moved to feel nothing but blessed!

below are some other random pictures and fun times are pictured too. we are thinking about those folks who are far away and are anticipating seeing so many people we hold near and dear soon! blessings to you all!

i wanna do something that i can't

today is a hard one - you would think it's tuesday or something!! there are just some days that no matter how great work is going, i just want to stay home. no no...not just stay home for the day, but stay home. forever.

i want to wake up to the sounds of my kids calling for their mom - not to the sound of my alarm clock screaming at me. i want to give them hugs and snuggle lazily on the couch in our jammies. i want to pick out their clothes and take them outside and make snow angels. i want to watch them grow up - not just hear about it.

i feel like i am missing it. it breaks my heart.

matt bares the opposite burden. he longs to be out - working.

i am forced to just wonder - to sit and be still in the circumstances that we find ourselves in. we are waiting for something. a push, an answer, a solution. while we weather this season of discontent, i ask for your prayers.

7 highlights in 7 days...what a week!

this time of year is a blast! these last couple of weeks have been filled with some super fun things...below are a few highlights!

1. heather and i are at it again! this time we painted the dining room! from 'milk toast' to 'sunny day'!

2. i was in charge of bringing sweet potatoes for thanksgiving dinner - so of course - i dropped them down my basement stairs. sweet. potatoes.

3. we had a SUPER time when our michigan counterparts visited us here in minnesota. seriously, we had a blast and cannot thank them enough for coming! dave and missy - we love you!

4. i bought a hair straightener and promptly transformed sophie into ann curry and then promised her chocolate if she would agree to pose for a photo shoot. seriously people - ann curry. am i right?

5. sophie had dance class - man she is cute!

6. ellee learned to be a snake! she started to slither around and say 'sssssss'. what a cutie!

7. casey remained a stud - here is a picture to prove it. :)