more from Christmas '09

Of course I couldn't choose only 10 so here are several more to wrap up Chrsitmas 2009:

watching a car race around the new track

love this smile

Drew got into unwrapping this year

momma encouraging Drew's new unwrapping skills

safety glasses to go with new tools

getting a kiss from Nonna

and a kiss from Mimi (with candy cane on his mouth)

Drewzers lovin' on his doggie

Mimi's gift from the boys

the boys with their poppa and nonna

Top 10 favorite pictures from Christmas 2009

There were lots of great moments of Christmas 2009, but here are a few of my favorites captured on camera:

Ty opening his Spider Man backpack

stopping to think

I'm too sexy for my shirt :)

Drew with his new power drill (after he opened it, he never put it down)

my little musician

little tackling big

Drew snuggling with daddy and his new puppy (and his drill)

toy rifle passed down from Poppa, Uncle Brian, and Dylan

"Oh mom, not another picture!" (notice his new Spider Man watch and backpack)

After I told him I'd give him a candy cane if he smiled for me

Brian

I wouldn't normally appeal for prayer through a blog post, especially about something so personal, but this is a very special, life-threatening circumstance. My brother, who was injured in a motorcycle accident nine years ago, is fighting for his life again in the ICU but this time with a severe case of pneumonia and a staph infection in his lungs. I love Brian dearly and it would mean the world to me if you would pray for both his physical and spiritual healing.

Corey preached (his first official sermon as a pastor this past Sunday) about the hope we have in Christ's return and the promise of new heavens and a new earth. It is both devastating and heartbreaking to see Brian in the condition he is in now. But, I look forward expectantly and prayerfully that he will one day be completely restored, having a new body--one without pain, with legs that can walk, and a mouth that can talk. Please pray with me that God would grant Brian faith to believe, if He hasn't already.

We've moved!

It's been a full December, to say the least. Corey finished 3 and 1/2 years of seminary, we packed all of our belongings in our St. Louis apartment, said goodbye to friends, traveled almost 6 hours (in a 26 foot moving truck with a car in tow plus two other cars and two small children) to Indianapolis, IN, celebrated Christmas in Kentucky with family, and returned to Indy. Whew! We feel like real northerners now as Indy welcomed us with 4 inches of snow! It has been a good transition so far. Ty and Drew were champs throughout the entire packing/moving process. They busied themselves by building forts, popping bubble wrap, and playing in empty boxes. We are renting temporarily (hopefully!) as we look for a house. We love the layout and location of our new apartment, and we've already had a few friends stop by! One downside we've discovered so far--I think I'm allergic to our apartment! No seriously. I think the guy before us had a cat that he didn't tell anybody about. So that is the only thing (besides being ready to "settle" and "nest") that makes me anxious to find a home. More updates and pictures from Indy to come!

P.S. I am so sorry. I love sending Christmas cards, but despite several attempts, it just didn't happen this year. Please know that we didn't forget about you! We hope you all had a wonderful and joy-filled Christmas!

bath time

We always do bath time together--it's easier for me and they love it! Cups are always involved as well as stick-to-the-wall alphabet letters and other fun water toys including boats, helicopters, airplanes, trains, and other things that squirt water. Both boys also almost always "swim" in the tub, and Ty likes to "float" on his back. Fun times.

gingerbread houses and breakfast with Santa

We spent this morning with our friends, the Hager's, having breakfast with Santa. The kids decorated gingerbread houses and then got to have their picture taken with Santa. Ty was willing to talk with Santa and didn't mind standing next to him, but Drew wouldn't go near him and screamed when we put him on poor Santa's lap. Oh well. Maybe next year? When Santa asked Ty what he wanted for Christmas, Ty said, "Candy canes." (He just recently discovered that they are more than just tree decorations but that you can actually eat them! It was an exciting discovery for him.) Anyway, three of my favorite moments were 1) looking down at Drew to see his mouth full of the candy he was supposed to be using on his gingerbread house, 2) hearing Lucy exclaim out of nowhere, "YUMMY!" and we looked over to see her squeezing the icing into her mouth (she's too cute!), and 3) Ty's expression after having his first sip of a "kiddie cocktail." I'm so glad he got to have one. I remember my dad making them for us as kids, and we thought we were so cool (and they're delicious!) :)

decorating the houses

seriously concentrating on that icing (he had a little help from daddy)

chipmunk cheeks (where did all the candy go?)

after sip of first "kiddie cocktail" about which he exclaimed, "Ooh, it's spicy!"

I love this picture. I think it's so funny. The original intention was a cute picture of the four kiddos sitting on the bench together. This is the closest thing we could get. (My mom and dad ask me occasionally for a "good" picture of the boys together--this picture is proof that that is a virtually impossible task at this point in time.) :)

winter is here

The cold weather has finally arrived, and it's here to stay. If you know me at all, you know that I am not a big fan of being cold; however, my kiddos don't seem to mind it. They want to be outside no matter what it feels like out there, and I know that it's good for them (and they sleep so much better after running around in fresh air!) Drew's favorite outside toy is the "mow mow" (that's what he yells when he sees any kind of lawnmower or tractor) and Ty loves his bike. ("It's not a bike, it's a motorcycle," he reminds me every time I call it that.) :) Here are my two winter cuties:

black and whites

snuggling

Our kiddos are both snugglers. One of their things lately has been to climb in bed with us in the morning and snuggle up under the covers. It's so fun! I think about how great it would be if we all fell back asleep and actually "slept in." It hasn't happened yet. They're much too wiggly! When Drew sees this picture the first thing he says is, "WooWoo!" which is his little giraffe next to him. I think it's so sweet!

first day with my new rebel!

I have wanted a digital SLR for a long time, and I was surprised with one over Thanksgiving break as an early birthday present. Wahoo!!! It is sooooo fun! Every time I put it around my neck, I feel like a professional photographer. I can't wait to learn what it can do! In the mean time, I'm having a great time taking pictures of everything and everyone.

I had some willing subjects:

and some not so willing:

finally, I resorted to taking pictures of pictures (this is my gma and gpa's wedding pic from 1945):

and even myself:

only boys

Tonight's entertainment involved a wooden spoon, tongs, and oven mitts. The boys used my cooking utensils to make "fly swatters" and then spent a long time swatting imaginary flies and bees on the trash can. As I stood back and watched all of this, a thought popped into my head: "Girls would never do this." I just thought it was so funny. The difference between boys and girls sometimes is like night and day. Corey and I had a good laugh at them, and then I had to take a picture. :)

I made fish!

Tilapia, to be exact, which I know probably doesn't sound like that much of a feat, but it was for me. I've never made fish before--mostly because I don't like it and I hate the smell of it. But, my husband likes it. So, 5 years into marriage, I made him fish. I bought three tilapia fillets and made one blackened and the other two with lemon butter. Ty ate almost two fillets by himself! Corey enjoyed his blackened. Drew wouldn't touch it. (At this point, it looks like he's a vegetarian like his mama). I'm glad to have a new recipe to add to my collection. It was so easy! Who knew?

de-stressing with friends

To say that I've been a little stressed out and distracted lately would be a bit of an understatement. We went to Indy a week and a half ago, put an offer on a house, got super excited about it, came back to STL, told everybody we found a house, decorated it in my head, made what feels like hundreds of phone calls about home owners insurance and other whatnots, had a routine home inspection done on Monday, found out it had radon, termites, asbestos, and mold issues, felt like we had the wind knocked out of us, took back our offer on the house, and returned lots of phone calls about no longer needing homeowners insurance and other whatnots. I feel like I've been stuck in my house for days with the phone glued to my head, ignoring my children. With all of that said, we are not disappointed or discouaraged because we know (obviously) that God was protecting us (and we are so thankful!) and must have something better for us. We'll just have to wait and see what that is. Today was a much needed breath of fresh air. My sweet friend, Emily and her little boy came to hang out with us, and it was so fun to spend time with them (and not think about houses or apartments or moving or phone calls or packing or getting lung cancer from what I thought was going to be our new house).

Emily, Ty, and Tripp

love the pose

my little loves

first pony ride

Today we went to a super fun birthday party for our now four year-old friend. There were pony rides and a petting zoo, balloons, and candy. It was a kid's dream come true! The boys loved it! Ty jumped right in line to ride the pony. He was so giddy while he waited for his turn. (He couldn't help but jump up and down smiling the entire time. He's been talking about wanting to ride a horse for a long time!) And he really liked the sheep--he liked giving her hugs. (I have to admit, she was very soft...and sweet-natured.) Drew loved the animals too, but he never stood by one long enough for me to get a great shot. He'd touch one, giggle, and then quickly move away, but they were definitely a highlight for him too.