Images at home

Real Icicles...

That I could see without glasses OR contacts!!!

Cooper's favorite place to be.

Cooper can "smile" on command now. Still working on getting a natural looking one, though! I remember when Grace started doing this. It was so funny to realize what we must look like to them when we smile!

There it is!

Oh, the cheese.

My cuties.

In search of routine

We're trying to find a way to slow our children down each night before bed. One of our "slow" activities is family Lego time!

"Tower!"

A "lady bug" joined us, which is always a distraction!

Here's Cooper telling Daddy that it went in his eye! It did!!!

Happy New Year!

I want more for my kids.

I've always wanted my kids to be better than me at everything. I want them to be super smart, great athletes, strong, faithful Christians, financially responsible, and happy little, confident people. It hopefully makes me better at all those things as I try to model it for them. That is why when they have recently become afraid of spiders I questioned where that came from, because I ALWAYS try to put on a brave face as I say, "Oh my!! We must get that silly spider!!!" :) I guess they can see through my "act". However, it won't stop me from trying!

Before Christmas my mom took Grace shopping for Operation Christmas Child where they filled a shoebox for a little girl Grace's age. She really got into it and I'm so happy they have started this tradition together.

She really got into the gift giving this year, as I had hoped she would. We, as a family, also gave to a little girl in the area for Operation Elf. She was so fun to shop with while we were picking out toys and clothes for her. The love of giving is another one of those things we hope to foster in them.

Adding hats/scarves/mittens to the tree for those in need.

With that all said, this ends 2009. What a crazy year. In all the craziness that was that year, we certainly never forgot to count our blessings. They were amazing and we feel so blessed.

So long 2009, please, 2010, be less eventful....

Farm Fun

Always a good time at the farm.

Standing on the air vents!

The First Snow

The first "playable" snow of the year was beautiful! We headed out after the crowds thinned on the hill and it started to snow huge flakes! Cooper kept yelling "Rain!" and wiping it out of his eyes! No sledding pics this time as we both took our turns - those will come later!

We made a little snowman, and I thought I get a cute picture of Cooper squatting down to check it out, but before I could get it he knocked it over and yelled, "Smash!" ! It was very reminiscent of Calvin and Hobbes snow creations. He certainly is ALL boy. :)

Cooper eating the snow. Snow Angels!

We got Cooper down and told him to wave his arms and legs, at which point he stuck all for limbs straight up and shook them! Too funny!!!

He's got quite an arm!!!