Gracie's Angels

Today Gracie sat down next to Noah and looked at him very seriously and said,

"Noah I want to tell you something.  Did you know the day I was born angels came and sang to me?"

I melted!  I don't doubt for a second that angels were singing the day she was born.

Another Christmas, come and gone!

We had an amazing Christmas this year!  The greatest gift of all for me?  Levi not having school for 10 days!  It was amazing!  We spent Christmas Eve with Levi's family.  It was such a nice, relaxing time.  One of my favorite things that we do is the white elephant swap.  It's so fun getting all competitive-like and trying to snag the best gift in the midst of other, well, junk!  For the last 2 years Levi and I have gotten in a stealfest with Clancy and Missy.  Last year they outsmarted us and won, this year we used their brilliant strategy and took home the gold (not really gold)!  Hmmm, I think we have it coming next year!  Gracie had so much fun being spoiled and playing with her cousins.  Noah, on the other hand, just wanted mommy!

On Christmas we woke up, opened our stocking stuffers then drove up to the cabin to spend the rest of the weekend with my family.  It was perfect!  This was the first year that we went to the cabin for Christmas and I'm hoping that this will be the start of a tradition.  Gracie loves the cabin and calls it "Gracie's cabin".  Noah enjoyed all the attention and was quite comfortable with anyone holding him.  What a change!

It's the start of a new year and I'm excited to see everything that 2011 has in store!  Levi will be finished with his program in February but is trying to get into a competitive elective course.  If he gets into the course he will be in school til May.  Our prayer is that God direct Levi's path, whether it's the elective course or a job offer he can't turn down! 

This morning I was sitting on the couch watching the kids play with each other and listen to their squeals of laughter as Gracie ran up and down the hall and Noah crawled as fast as his little body allowed to catch up with her.  I love that they love each other and enjoy one another so much!  I am so blessed and love them so much.  I wouldn't want to be anywhere but here!

Happy New Year!

My two most important men!  How handsome are they?!

I love the expression on Noah's face!

Daddy and his girl.

Oh how I love my family!





Grace, on the other hand, LOVED Santa this year.

Noah got a super cool truck that he can ride!

My grandparents are wonderful and so supportive!  They just adore Grace and Noah.



My parents surprised Levi with a serious toolbox!  He's the real deal now!  :)



Opening presents Christmas morning.  I think that was my favorite part of Christmas.  Just being with my little family!

Noah loves the guitar.  When Levi gets it out, Noah dives for it!

Out for a walk at the cabin!

Gracie had fun bundling up with all of Mamas stuff.  Kinda like a game of dress up!

I don't know if you can tell but Grace has her socks on her hands and her gloves on her feet.  That is how she walked around the house for at least a hour.

My Noah, growing up!

My son is growing up.  Oh how I love him and wish him to stay small and need me forever!  But that isn't possible so I will find the joy and excitement in his little day to day discoveries and milestones! 

Noah can now independently sign "more" when wanting more food.  It's so cute because I'll give him a bite or some puffs and then turn away to help Grace and when I turn back he's looking at me with those big almond eyes and a smile on his face, proudly signing "MORE!"  I melt! 

He also has come to believe that when he hears the alphabet song, and only that song, he needs to start clapping.  Yesterday, I was driving home from a friend's house and was trying really hard to keep the kids awake so that I could get a good nap out of them when we got home but Noah was so tired and his eyes kept closing.  I was talking, singing, putting on a great show but nothing was working until I broke out in a very original rendition of the ABC's.  His eyes popped open and he began automatically clapping.  As soon as the song ended his eyes shut and he was out!  It was hilarious!

He is also starting to pull himself up on couches, chairs, toys, whatever he can find and it's very scary because he don't have the balance so once he pulls himself up he just topples over. 

It is so fun to see Grace and Noah interact with each other and play together.  Noah is already wanting everything Grace has and now that he's mobile he just goes after her!  It's pretty funny to watch. 

I love them so!

So much to be thankful for...

What am I thankful for this year? 

1.  A God that loves me.  Jesus and the Cross.  Being forgiven, washed clean.
2.  An amazing, hardworking, supportive husband and two smart, sweet and incredibly cute children.
3.  My extended family and in-laws and the incredible amount of support they have given us, especially the past two years.
4.  A home that I love.  I complain that it's too small and that our family is growing out of it but the truth is that I will be devastated when the time comes to move. 
5.  After a few years of praying and searching, we are finally part of a wonderful, gospel-centered church.  Such a great community of believers!
6.  My cute, destructive dogs!  They are a handful and shed too much but they are part of the family and my kids adore them.
7.  The fact that Levi will be graduating from school in a few months and I'll get my husband back!
8.  An AMAZING company to work for, Guthrie Mainstream, and a boss that has been so willing to help me find a way to continue working while staying home with the kids.  Such a great family company.  I am so proud that Levi and I get to be part of it. 
9.  Living in America.  Being free!
10.  Health! Thankful for the fact that I have a strong, healthy family.
 There is SO much to be thankful for but I'm going to stop at 10!  Have a great month of December!  Happy Holidays!

Gracie learned how to sign "I love you".  She's quite proud.



Grace and Noah are actually starting to play on the floor together.  It's so great!



I think Noah is looking at me thinking, "Seriously mom?  She's crazy!"  (I'm not gonna lie, she really is!)

Gracie and Daddy ALWAYS have to make Saturday breakfast together.  Here they're making pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes. 

Grace and Julia going on a bike ride with Levi.  The two little best friends!

Uncle Brandon is so patient with Noah even when he's giving him a fishhook!

My handsome little man!

The Winkyaw's and Roles!

Naughty? He can be!

LOVE Fall!

Can I just say that I love fall?!  I love the colors, the weather, trips to the park and zoo, being cold in the morning, not sweating when drinking my morning coffee, daily walks to Agritopia, and most of all being home with my kids to enjoy it!

My Noah son is crawling everywhere, it's army style but regardless he can get around easily.  Most of the time he's just crawling to get to me then grasps onto my legs and yells at me until I pick him up.  He loves playing with toys and for the last week I've been able to watch my two sweet kids play and interact together.  It's so much fun and Gracie loves the idea of babysitting Noah for me so that I can do whatever needs to be done.  Potty training for Miss Gracie is going good.  Well, partly good, she is pretty much trained when she needs to pee but she refuses to do the other dirty in the toilet.  I'm getting so frustrated and don't know how to teach her.  I feel like I've tried everything!  In time, I guess....  Really sick of cleaning gross underwear!

Anyways, ending with a few pictures!

Happy Fall!

Love this man

Last weekend Levi was asked to sing at a wedding.  It was beautiful.  This recording doesn't do it justice.  I love that man and how he honors the Lord with his voice.  The picture isn't great because it was so dark but sound is ok. 

P.S. Don't tell Levi I posted this video... :)  He's a little too humble and I'm a little too proud.  I don't get it, if I could sing I'd be singing on the rooftops, for anyone that would listen!  I guess that's why God didn't bless me with this talent!

 God is better than all the riches in the world.  His love is better than life.

teething, sleeping, scooting and (sigh) potty training!

I am failing in my commitment to keep my blog current and stay up to date on milestones!  But honestly, I just don't know how to find the time.  Now that I'm working I use every single second of the kid's naps and bedtimes to do my work and then fall into bed exhausted.  Regardless, it is a blessing to have the job I do and I feel so fortunate that I am able to be home with my munchkins.  I love them so!

My Noah bear will be 6 months tomorrow.  WOW.  My little man has been in this world for half a year already!  Oh boy, is he a mommy's boy.  Seriously.  It is so difficult for someone else to hold him and as soon as he catches sight of me he starts crying and fussing.  I feel bad because I want other people to be able to bond with him and see him as the sweet, lovable baby that I do!  Oh well, in time...  He really is the cutest thing ever.  He's got these rosy, squeezable chubby cheeks that I can't stop kissing!  Noah is now sleeping through the night (7:30pm-6:30am).  It is wonderful and I'm enjoying a full night sleep again.  He is starting to scoot around on the floor and can get up on hands and knees but hasn't figure out how to coordinate them to crawl.  He is also currently getting some teeth in and is not very happy about that.  Neither am I, he's been a little cranky and starting to bite when nursing.  :( Worst. pain. ever. 

My little Gracie girl is in the process of potty training.  I am really going to doing this.  I will not give up.  I will not stress about cleaning up accidents and the germs that get all over.  She is ready and it will save us loads of money on diapers.  I can do this. (Sorry, little pep talk for myself!)  Honestly though, she's doing pretty good.  Fortunately, all of the accidents she's had have been on tile.  Lysol wipes are the greatest and my floors are looking pretty clean!

We went up to my parent's cabin for a few days this week and it was nice.  Levi's parents and Wyatt and Carolyn went up and Grace had a blast discovering the forest with Papa, Wyatt and Julia.  I feel so blessed that there is a little place tucked in the woods that we can disappear to when we just need a break!  I'm really thankful that my parents are so generous with their cabin. 

Well that's about it!  I'm looking forward to the holidays with all the fun decorations, baking and scents that are so associated with fall and winter (thinking cinnamon).  Hope everyone has a great week!