What happened to February?

I'm not sure how it is already the middle of February. I have found a new love for February since last year and here are the obvious reasons why. Last year on February 10th in Durango, CO my brother Matt married the most amazing, beautiful, expressive girl I've ever known. That may sound like I'm just saying that because I really love her, but I actually mean it. As a matter of fact, at their rehearsal dinner during the toasts my own mom stood up and told her and all 60-70 guests that she "could not imagine having a better daughter"...of course everyone smiled and then immediately looked back at me with very sad faces. My mom threw in "daughter-in-law" after the laughter...thanks mom. But, she really is that fantastic.

Here they are tearing it up salsa style at their reception. We miss you and love you both more than you can imagine!!!!

And this is my other favorite part of their wedding and ultimately February. Here is Noelle t-5 days. So it seemed fitting that when Jordan was asked to speak at a ski retreat for this weekend in Durango that of course we went. We left on Noelle's bday (Friday) for Durango and came back this afternoon. We spent most of the day on Saturday swimming at the rec center and walking around downtown and the evenings were spent fixated on Lightening McQueen and Mater.

Here is Noelle in the cutest swimsuit given to her by her Granmommie and Grandaddy. She wasn't too excited about the whole swimming situation as you can tell by the expression, but after a little while she lightened up and seemed to actually have fun.

This is the perfect picture to describe Austen in the water...the kid is a fish! He loves it. He ran around, went down all the slides and could not wipe the smile off of his face.

Landon liked the water just about as much as he liked walking on snow. But I managed to get a picture without him crying or clinging on to Jordan for dear life. In his defense, he did go down the crazy wet-n-wild style slide twice...the second time was actually willingly!

On Tuesday night we are going to my mom's house for a real birthday dinner and cake for Noelle since we didn't have the chance for it last week. It was actually a lot easier for me on Friday to get through the day without going through the birthday party motions. Maybe I can survive Tuesday without too many tears...yeah right!

January Madness

Anyone who knows Landon, knows that he is not a fan of the elements. I thought surely with his snow boots on he would be okay with actually walking on the snow. Not so much. I should add a disclaimer that about 20 minutes after his initial shock of actually having his boots touch the snow, he ran around in a few circles then proceeded to shout for the next hour "I walked in the snow Mommy and I didn't even cry!" Way to go kid.Austen is not afraid of the snow in the least...he had a good ole time launching it around the yard!


I am actually quite a bit scared of this snowman/robot looking thing in our front yard. Our house has been on the market now for 2 weeks without a single glance. SURELY this little guy will be pulling it all kinds of prospects...we may even raise the asking price for this fine upgrade.
Noelle was quite proud of herself for finally figuring out how to pull herself up in her bed...right after this picture I promptly pushed her down and reminded her of my "no more milestones" rule.
Look at this face...I'm sorry to all of you who don't get to kiss it on an hourly basis like I do. We did get the most blessed diagnosis of RSV for Noelle yesterday...she's doing ok...very junky cough and kind of wheezy. I am praying that we are seeing the worst of it now! She has never really been sick before, so she is getting huge amounts of sympathy from us :(

Can this month last forever?

Today marks the first day of the last month of Noelle's infancy. I am ridiculous I know. When I gave birth to Noelle, Austen was barely 3 1/2. So, even though I remember most of the highlights from the boys first 12 months...I didn't quite hold on to them as tightly as her's. She's, ya know, the grand finale. I am not fully prepared to embark upon the first birthday, so I am going to cherish the 11th month the best I can. I know that each stage gets more and more fun...really I know that, but still can I be a little sad? We are kind of in the "weaning" process now. I am nursing her in the morning and at night and she drinks milk and juice during the day. I thought that for sure after I went back to work full time that I would be exhausted and ready to regain my body back 100%...but yeah, not so much. I look forward to that small 10 minutes that is just her and I in the mornings and at nighttime. I know I am not alone in this feeling! I can't be!

Beloved

Most of you know by now that Jordan and I got tattoos for our 6th anniversary on 12/22. Here are the pics for your enjoyment :) Jordan's says "I am my beloved's" and mine says "My beloved is mine"...in Hebrew obviously. Song of Solomon 6:3...look it up people.

JY being tough.

"I am my beloved's"

"My beloved is mine"

The finished product...Hebrew reads right to left.

They were done by Dave Martinez at Addictive Ink....he's pretty much amazing...as a person and as a tattooist...check him out if you want some ink!

Well, I do believe we have almost officially survived 2007. Christmas day was nice and relaxing for us! We went to my mom's and opened gifts, ate food and had some good ole QT. Jordan was pretty surprised with a new macbook from me, his parents, and my mom and her bf! So you can all imagine exactly what he has been doing for the last 6 days. Here are a few pics of course!

Jordan is "everything mac"

My mom helping the boys play with their new cars...disregard the tight PJ pants...nice.

Way too cool for school...stickers and all

Apparently Noelle likes macs too...

What, you don't wear shoes with your pj's?

Have you ever seen anything more beautiful...um, no you haven't.

This weekend was also Jordan's official last weekend at Sagebrush. We've both felt a bit indifferent about it. It's hard to say goodbye to something that you love...even a job. Working at a church will always be the more than just a job...maybe that's why it is so hard to leave. Either way, we will continue to seek the Lord's provision for where our family should be these next months. We are definitely looking forward to a brighter future ahead. Thanks to those of you who have supported Jordan and our family's next step. Your words of affirmation and encouragement in confusing times are coveted. And can I steal a moment just to say that I could not be more proud of my husband. I am proud of the man he is when he is praised and when he is not. I am proud of his unflailing honor and integrity to his ministry and to his family. I am proud of the living example he is of the mercy and humility of Christ. I am proud that my babies call him daddy and proud that he will forever be mine. I really can't think of a way to improve that man.

What it means to be held

I really am not a scrooge. I tell myself this in kind of a convincing way. I admit that I get a little overwhelmed at the thought of buying gifts and all the things necessary for a "successful" Christmas. Our anniversary is the 22nd of December...which I love! We had a fantastic day and evening to ourselves...thank you mom! But this weekend has set a little different tone of Christmas for me. The presents are still here...the food is prepared...I am wearing my official "Christmas Eve" pajamas as I am writing. My kids are sleeping and my husband (aka Santa) is putting together a train set for the boys. So here is where it gets a little off track...Saturday morning a friend of mine called to tell me that her aunt, who had been diagnosed with cancer only 2 weeks ago, passed away unexpectedly that morning. It was difficult to hear her raw emotion, and I truly hurt for her. This morning another friend called to tell me her grandma was found unconscious and they were spending their Christmas Eve at the hospital....waiting. Tomorrow, Christmas Day, is the same day years ago that my own grandpa lost his battle with lung cancer and my mom and I made an impromptu Christmas flight to Ohio. With all that said, yesterday at church a song was sang that I had never heard. I see it's pretty popular now that I have officially "googled" it, but it was new to me. It is called "Held" by Natalie Grant. It's a raw song about hurt, loss and devastation. Here are the lyrics to the chorus that is so touching to me through this past weekend...

This is what it means to be held

How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life

And you survive

This is what it is to be loved and to know

That the promise was that when everything fell

We’d be held

The song is a reality check that horrible, devastating things can and probably will happen to us...even to those who "have died to live" as the song says. Our promises aren't that nothing will fall...only that He will be there to hold us when it does. Losing the ones I love is the biggest fear that I have. I refuse to even play out those "what if" emotions in my head, but I am comforted knowing that in all things I will be held. So this Christmas, I am praying for and hurting for my friends that I dearly love. I am also remembering how much I miss my Grandpa...I miss being called his "little pill" and how he and Grandma would come to our house every October and he would spend all day fixing up every broken lawn chair in our backyard. I miss feeling how spikey his hair was against my little hands and feeling so proud to be his "Roseann Rosanna-danna". But above all these things, I am spending this Christmas being "held" in His arms.

This is me and my grandpa about 24 years ago!

Fun family visits!

This week we were lucky enough to see BOTH Papa (Stacy's dad) and Grandaddy (Jordan's dad). Papa came into town Friday night and Uncle Matt and Aunt Sara were here on Saturday. We had tons of fun...the boys absolutely love when family comes to visit and so do Jordan and I. Noelle was in love with them all...of course. It was the perfect visit for everyone! Papa really took it for the team by sleeping with Landon and getting peed on TWICE...sorry Dad! One day we'll have a spare bedroom!

Noelle and Grandaddy laughing at each other!

More love with Grandaddy!

Papa and the kids!

Noelle and Papa!

We are getting pretty excited about Christmas! We have an awesome christian advent calendar that we got a few years ago and the boys love looking forward to the story every night. They get to hear the Christmas story almost every night in December! If anyone out there wants to know where we got it, let me know!