Top 10 of 2018

This year as all has flown by!  This year like many in the past has been filled with hard moments but overall many blessings; and the following list below (in no particular order) are Dad and my top 10 favorite things that took place in 2018.

1. Seeing our extended family that lives throughout the United States
2. Being apart of many amazing ministries at our church
3. Celebrating 13 years of marriage
4. Celebrating Elyse turning 10, Caleb turning 8, Kallen turning 6 and Ian turning 5
5. Family vacation to Grand Cayman 
6. Elyse's basketball team winning their division with Nate as the assistant coach
7. Elyse, Caleb, Kallen and Ian being apart of Awana
8. Participating and worshiping in Joyful Noise together
9. Sending all four kiddos to Legacy Christian Academy, and seeing them love school and God
10. Having our foster child, Ellie in our home for ten months and loving on her

Some firsts that took place this year:

• Ian started preschool at Legacy
• Mom went to camp with some good mom friends
• Grandpa gave Ian his first stitch on the chin, it did not go well
• Kallen broke his arm falling out of a tree
• Caleb played flag football
• Kiddos all tried ice skating and tubing
• Kallen lost his first tooth
• Kallen rode his bike without training wheels and crashed into bushes avoiding the large drop to the creek below
• Kids saw and swam in the ocean
• Kids swam with dolphins
• Ian was tall enough to ride big rides at MOA
• Ian ever flew on an airplane
• Ian threw up twice on an airplane (ha!)
• We hired a babysitter besides Nana to watch the kiddos so we could get away.
• Dad was accepted to the board of Metro North Chambers

Happy New Years, off to 2019!

Nickelodeon Universe Fun

Last Sunday already, some of our good friends, the Chaney family asked if we would like to join them at Nickelodeon Universe for the day.  The kids were thrilled, plus Dad and I loved the idea of hanging out with friends too.  We were thinking two to three hours, but were stunned to discover it was over five; true to the saying, "time flies when you are having fun".  We all agree, this might become an annual tradition.

Christmas Day

Yesterday we celebrated Christmas with our annual routine.  Kids woke up bright and early wearing their matching pajamas Dad always gets us.  We hustled downstairs to open stockings, ate breakfast, waited till the Disney parade started and slowly opened the rest.  We then had a nice family lunch and spent the rest of our day playing games, building Legos, playing with all the new toys, and just loving our time together while praising our Lord for his birthday.   It was a Merry Christmas indeed this year!

Merry Christmas

Advent Day 24

Attend Christmas Eve Service at Constance Free Church

Advent Day 23

Pizza and Movie Night- "VeggieTales Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas"

Visit with Caleb's Birthfamily

Today we met half way with Caleb's birthfamily to celebrate Caleb turning 8 and just to spend sometime together again.  It was so nice to see them all and we look forward to doing it again, hopefully before Caleb turns 9.