Peacock Lane

We got out to Peacock Lane tonight and had a lovely time together looking at the pretty lights. 

This one would have been perfect if I would have gotten everyone in the shot...sigh...

Thankful for family time with these guys!! 

Christmas Day 2019

Merry Christmas!! 

We had a lovely day celebrating Jesus' birthday!

Here are a few snipits of our day...

Matthew in his new chair for his room. It came with a football pillow. Of course. 

Calendars for both... huge hits!

Evelyn got bluetooth speakers with a strobe light attachement... she was super excited!

Stockings are their favs... :) 

We surprised them with a "family gift" of a Disney Plus subscription. They are SO excited.. and I am, too!! :) 

This one never naps... but he's been sick and still trying to catch up. A nap before his cousins came over was what he needed!

We love our time with these guys!!

The next morning was spent in the basement, with Matthew working on his new lego sets and Evelyn having a dance party with her new bluetooth speaker that has disco lights with it!

It was a very Merry Christmas, indeed!

Christmas Eve 2019

Our Christmas Eve was cozy and lovely. Not to crazy but super fun, too. We headed to church early as we were helping with the candle lighting during the service. 

                                  All dressed up and looking fine!                                   

Love these sweet friends of Ev's!

After church we headed to mom and Doug's to celebrate with my side of the family.

Grandpa Doug's dip is a huge hit.. every time!

Cole and Matthew

Ev and Regan

Cousins!

Lots of good fun had by all. Thankful for my family, especially for my mom who always is the best hostess!!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Mom and Pa's Christmas Concert

Doug's folks were part of a multi-church Christmas Choir this year, and we got to go to Salem tonight to see them perform. It was a lovely concert!

Aren't the the cutest? Thankful for them and so fun to see them embracing retirement with gusto!!

4th Grade Music Concert

Tonight was Matthew's music concert. These kids have been working SO hard on their performance and I couldn't be more proud of all of them!

Matthew really wanted a solo on the glockenspiel and practiced SO much and worked so hard. And he got it!! He and his friend Xavier won top honors and got to do a very complicated duet. They crushed it!

Matthew and his good buddy Torren

Matthew and X... thankful for their friendship!

Matthew and Sam.. friends since age 3!

It was a fun (and short...yay!) night and we are thankful for the music program at Fir Grove for pouring so much into these kiddos!!

Things Pondered, Part 13

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.

She never existed before.

The woman existed but the mother never.

-Osho

My sweet girl,

Today you are 13. It's a big birthday.

You are growing into such a lovely young woman. Right before our eyes. 

You love clothes, Taylor Swift, your phone, your friends, your cat, and your family... not necessarily in that order!😀

You are beautiful... I don't think you realize just how beautiful you are. 

You are shy and don't like attention. But when you are with people you are comfortable with you can be oh, so silly and crazy and make us laugh. 

You are a deep thinker and oh, so smart. And it just comes naturally. You get that from your dad for sure. 

You are a deep feeler and full of emotions, common for your age. 

You are wanting more space these days, and as hard as that is for me, I am trying to give it to you. 

That being said, forgive me when I don't give you attention when you want it or need it. I promise to be better at that.

You are growing in many ways... and I am here for you as your biggest cheerleader and fan as you face the changes in your heart, body and soul. 

My prayer and my challenge to you this year is that you do your best to always have..

*The eyes that see the best in people,
*A heart that forgives the worst,
*A mind that forgets the bad,
*And a soul that never loses faith in God

Happy 13th Birthday!

I love you with all that I am, Evelyn Joy!

"... and Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." ~Luke 2:19