Cutie!

Christmas Day

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11

running out to see the presents

Josiah jumping with excitement!

Checking out the trampoline from Papa

Wow! Leapster Explorers:)

opening presents

checking things out

dragons

Ryan helping Aedan with his Leapster.

Josiah with his Leapster from Gigi!

yummy meal

jumping

and more jumping

Mercy with her new purse..lip stick and bracelet

If you look closely, you can see her two teeth.

The kids put the last proclamation ornament on the little tree.

At bed time, the boys were crying because Christmas was over...they had a great day!

Christmas Eve Pictures

our yearly picture

Josiah and Aedan

3 sweeties

Ryan and the boys

Mercy Cate and I

We waited for it to start snowing. It finally started in the middle of the night. At one o'clock it was snowing. (I checked when going to feed Mercy.) We didn't have a ton of snow in the morning, but the ground was covered...like a blanket. It started snowing Christmas Day again and snowed several more inches...the boys were able to use their new sleds from Grammy and Grampy the day after Christmas. A lot of hot chocolate was consumed Christmas Day...something about the snow falling makes me want to drink hot chocolate...with marsh mellows.

10 years!

December 23, 2000

December 23, 2010
(We look just the same, right?)

Ryan and I celebrated 10 years of marriage...on our anniversary and the 9 days prior. Ryan came up with creative ways to celebrate each year...see previous blog posts. We went out on our anniversary to Olive Garden, and then I was sent on a scavenger hunt (with roses included)...very fun and sweet. Thank you, Ryan, for making our 10 year anniversary special. I love you!

9 year celebration

~2009~a great year:)

Florida trip

Samaria Project~New Orleans


with child~Mercy Cate

Put on a soft dress, turn down the lights

I'll put on a soft song, pour a little wine

Let's move the kitchen table,

Let the candles fill the room

Put your arms around me and mine around you

Cause we've been waiting for this moment

And the rest of our lives

We could dance away this city

We could dance away the night

We could dance away this city

Just you and me tonight

Oh the night he is a lover

See him dancing with the moon

Where every step is sacred

And every whisper's true

And our lips have shared our secrets

To leave them in the past

So kiss be like the first time

Kiss me like the last

Cause we've been waiting of the this moment

And the rest of our lives

We could dance away this city

We could dance away the night

We could dance away this city

Just you and me tonight

Nothing but the eyes of God

And a groom and a bride

Nothing but the smile of God

and a groom and a bride

8 year celebration

Remembering our various homes...all 6 of them:

Ridgetop Way~with some amazing neighbors: the Russells

Ann's house

the apartment on Issaquenna~with a pool:)

our first house in Central

the rental house in Cookeville

our house here...in our 8th year of marriage:

Happy Birthday Josiah!

Today was Josiah's 5th birthday! I can't believe that he is already 5! He has grown so much, and is such a sweet boy. I love his complementary spirit and yes, his wildness. He LOVES dragons, which is inspired by the best little boy movie ever (that I've seen anyway)~How to Train Your Dragon. He still loves dinosaurs, rescue heroes, and also has a new love of transformers. Josiah loves his brother and sister...he especially loves to make Mercy laugh. (She finds it humorous when he falls to the floor purposely.)

Josiah has been asking to go to the dinosaur museum for a LONG time. Ever since we went about a year and a half ago. (Click here to see those pictures.) We asked him if he wanted to go, and of course, he said, "Yes!"

I am 5!

What a Big boy!

pre-presents

Mercy likes to put EVERYTHING in her mouth...even tissue paper!

pre-party pictures

Pin the tail on the alligator

Charis's flashdance pose!

jumping over the alligator game

run, run!

the alligator cake

5 candles!

He blew them all out!

Josiah LOVES icing!

cake time!

presents

right before bed in their new viking pajamas...best friends~Josiah and Aedan~

Happy 5th Birthday, Josiah!