snowy days...

we had our first "real" snowfall and boy, did we have fun in the snow.  look at these sweet snow babies:

 

the boys LOVED sledding down the hill in our backyard.  we even got in on the action, it was a blast.  

       

oh, and of course, what kid can play in the snow without a little taste?!?!

CLICK HERE to see a few photographs from our snow fun!!

christmas pictures...

   

hope you had a wonderful christmas as we did too!  we spent the days celebrating Christ's birth with both sides of our family and had an amazing, relaxing time with them.  we just LOVE our families and the boys had so much fun playing with all their cousins!

CLICK HERE to see some of our christmas snapshots!

merry christmas!

I bring you good news that will bring great joy to ALL people. 

The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today.

 {Luke 2:10-11}

M  E  R  R  Y    C  H  R  I  S  T  M  A  S !

picture update

well, it's been a long while since our last picture update (since october, actually).  there's been so much going on this time of year we haven't had the chance to get pictures together for a slideshow, but of course we have tons to share with you!  

CLICK HERE to see a slideshow of pictures that highlight things that have happened in the months of november and december (so far) with our family.  some of the things you'll see are greyson having fun with paint, hudson's first preschool christmas performance and a trip to starbucks with daddy and the fun we had in the first snowfall of the season.  

  

center

at a time of year when things like 

shopping, 

gifts, 

santa,

 and busyness 

consume and overshadow 

the truth of christmas, 

this is our prayer...

oh, CHRIST, be the center of our lives!

{and the center of this season!}

christmas keepsake

if you're anything like our family, every year when you're decorating your christmas tree there are always those special keepsake ornaments that are so fun to put on the tree.  memories from when you were a kid or of the person who gave it to you coming flashing back.  we love looking at our old keepsakes and this year was no different.  everyone loves a christmas ornament keepsake, right?!?  here's an idea of how you can capture a memory of today and remember it for years to come.  we did this with the boys last year and it was so fun to get them out this year and see how much they've grown. 

here's how to make it:  to begin, get a ornament bulb of your choice (or maybe two or three, just in case).  using acrylic paint (be sure not to use tempera or washable), coat the inside of your child's hand.  simply place the ornament bulb in your child's hand and tell your child to grasp the bulb tightly.  press his/her fingers to be sure the impression is clear.  now you have a handprint (we had to do this several time to get a good print). each finger of the handprint becomes a snowman.  use sharpie markers to design your snowmen to your fancy.  label it with your child's name and the year and there you have it, a perfect christmas keepsake!   

december tradition

  

  

  

it's beginning...

...to look a lot like christmas in our home! 

(click on image to enlarge)

here's a glimpse into what our home looks like during this christmas season! 

and yes, the nativity scene is still shrink wrapped...it's safer that way with two little ones!!! ;-)  

hope rising

are you in need of some great, new, inspiring music?  this is the cd for you!  oh my goodness, we just got Fee's latest album, entitled Hope Rising, and it is AMAZING!!!  seriously, the songs are lyrically breathtaking and will leave you filled with hope and joy in our great God.  below are a couple of our favorite songs.  take a listen, you won't be disappointed!  oh, and the best part is that you can get this whole album (MP3 digital download) on amazon for $5.00!  CLICK HERE if you're interested!  hope you enjoy! :-)