The Bryan Family

Burning energy

2012-02-07T14:35:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wish I could steel some of my daughter's energy. Even just a quarter of the energy she has would be wonderful. Tim and I joke that she like the Energizer battery...she keeps going and going and going... With that said, here are a few ways we've been burning that energy lately.

With Valentines Day quickly approaching, we've spent a few of the rainy days preparing for it. This girl is just like her mama when it comes to crafts. We both can't get enough. During all holidays, Michael's becomes our second home.

Bounce It Up was one of Tessa's favorite places to play. Unfortunately, they closed their doors last week. We got in one more play date though. We'll have to check out kids Bounce in Preston for some bouncing fun now.

Tessa and her friend Lily mastering one of the climbing walls

Tess was all smiles until she found out we were leaving

It's been so fun making our monthly trips to Wenatchee for my midwife appointments. We always end up spending time with family when were over there.

Tessa and her cousin Chloe

This last week has been absolutely gorgeous to say the least. You'd never guess it was the beginning of February. We have taken full advantage of all the warm sun and have spent countless hours outside enjoying every ounce of Vit. D we can.

Jayda Faith Bryan

2012-01-29T17:42:00.000-08:00

It's a GIRL! On Friday, we made our monthly trip to Wenatchee to see our midwife. We also had our 20 week ultrasound. Everything went beautifully. Our little girl was perfectly healthy and weighed in at 9oz. We are sooooo excited, and we can't wait to meet her in June!

A taste of Valentines

2012-01-22T18:14:00.000-08:00

Can't think of a better way to spend a cold, wet, lazy Sunday afternoon

Blessings among the difficult

2012-01-20T17:46:00.000-08:00

What a week it's been! 2012 hasn't exactly started out the way we anticipated, but that's life. There's nothing much we can do about it. I will say that God has been truly amazing, and He has never given us more than we can handle! Going through tough bumps in life always brings our family much closer, and for that I am thankful. On Christmas Eve we got a call that Tim's dad was in the hospital. As life would have it, we changed some of our plans and went down to see him. His dad was beginning to recover and was taken to an assisted living facility. We received a call late last week that he had been taken back to the hospital. Tim's dad is in stable condition for the time being. A few days before receiving that news, Tim's work computer was hacked into. Just to top off the week, we all came down with the stomach flu. ...and let me just say for the record, pregnancy and the flu don't mix well. We were all feeling much better by the end of the weekend, just in time for the beautiful snow. We did have the privilege of being able to play in the snow before it turned into ice. Our power went out yesterday morning and we made the most of the day. Our family, who lives two doors down, came over for a good ole' fashion camp out. Thank goodness for natural gas. We had hot water and a stove. I think to truly appreciate what we have, we need to have it taken away sometimes. Having the power go out wasn't all that bad. I must admit it was actually fun.

Tessa and her cousin Fi playing in the bath

Yeah, we really roughed it....we watched a movie on our portable DVD player in the candle light

Lots of snow, pretty pink cheeks, and hot chocolate

2012-01-18T11:03:00.000-08:00

It's not very often that sunsets, like this, make their appearance during the winter months here in Seattle. I enjoy getting lost for a few minutes in the beautiful and majestic sky. Sometimes, I even picture that I'm laying on a warm sandy beach watching the sunset.

Do you notice that when it snows, it's really quiet outside. Not only is the snow beautiful, but it's peaceful too.

It turns the ordinary into something more

Our little snow queen

Building a "Tessa size" snow man

The best part about making snow balls is throwing them at people. It didn't take long for our little ham to figure that one out.

There are now dozens of angels in the snow...figuratively speaking of course

Tessa found that snow and slides are a pretty fun combination. We can't count how many times she flew off of the slide and into the snow.

You know you've had fun in the snow when you're cheeks look like this

....and of course an afternoon playing in the snow, wouldn't have been complete without hot chocolate.

...the rest of Christmas, games, random pics, and 16 weeks...

2012-01-08T19:52:00.000-08:00

This Christmas was special for several reasons, some of which I've already posted about, but what made this year extra special was that my family from Wenatchee was in town. Having around 40 people at my aunts house for Christmas dinner was pretty crazy and fun. We had a fabulous time. Thank you Mike and Marlene for hosting the perfect Christmas dinner!

My sis Steph who lives over here on the fun side of the mountains...just kidding mom.

My goofy uncle Bob. By the way...Congrats on retirement!!!!!

The best auntie ever!

Some sweatshirts are worth a thousand words. This sweatshirt is just worth one.

My sisters and mom. Love you guys!

I told you there were random pics in here. Here is one of them.

Here's another random picture. He looked to cute to pass up. I even felt a little sorry for him hanging in the corner all by himself....not really.

Last week, after all the chaos from the holidays had come to a halt, Tessa's little cousin Fiona came over for a visit.

I've finally been feeling somewhat better and that means I've had the opportunity to re-engage a little. This last week Tess and I spent hours painting, coloring, playing games, painting our nails, going on walks, and enjoying our girl time together.

16 weeks and counting. We find out in 18 days whether we are having a boy or girl. I can't wait!

Santa Came!!!!

2011-12-25T11:39:00.000-08:00

This Christmas has been so much fun. As I get older, Christmas has become special in different ways. In a way I feel like I can see Christmas through a child's eyes again. ...of course never forgetting the real meaning of Christmas.

Tess ran into our room bright and early this morning telling us to wake up because Santa had come and left presents. She could hardly wait to get us out of bed and into the other room so she could open her gifts....boy did that bring back memories for both Tim and I. It is one of the sweetest little memories of Christmas morning we will have forever.

Merry Christmas babe, Tess, and our little angel on the way! I love you all so very much!

Food, family, and tradition...Christmas Eve

2011-12-25T11:27:00.000-08:00

Tim and I enjoy entertaining, which hasn't happened much as of lately. Christmas Eve we changed that though. We spent a wonderful evening with family and food. Tim made his "famous" prime rib for dinner.

Cousin Scott and little Fi...she is such a doll.

Family traditions are pretty special. I think they become even more special as you get older and are able to pass them on to your children. Christmas Eve we all sat down before bed and Tim read the Christmas story. Tess got this fabulous "Little People" nativity a few years ago for Christmas. While Tim read the story of Jesus' birth, Tess played with the little baby Jesus.

It wouldn't be much of a birthday celebration without cake. One of the traditions I've had since I was a little girl.

...and then there's the whole present dilemma. Do you open the gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. We compromised...One gift Christmas Eve, and the rest Christmas morning.

Thank you Auntie Steph!

My baby sister stayed with us on Christmas Eve....Love you Steph!

A little pre-Christmas party with grandma

2011-12-25T11:09:00.000-08:00

I remember getting my first Easy Bake oven as a little girl. I can't tell you how many little cakes I baked. It was the highlight of my Christmas years ago. Grandma carried on the tradition with Tess this year getting her her first Easy Bake Oven. This little girl has been turned into a mini baking machine.

Buttered popcorn, family, blankets, and the Polar Express...you can't get much better than that.

...and the finished product

One of my favorite parts about Christmas is our Christmas card table.

85 Years and counting

2011-12-25T10:48:00.000-08:00

My grandpa turned 85 years old this last week. Every year we meet for breakfast with family to celebrate his birthday, but this year many of his friends attended his party too.

Anyone and everyone who know our family know that we LOVE music and enjoy singing. It wouldn't have been a true party "Cliff" style without a little music. There were over 50 of us singing in the back of the restaurant. I'm sure everyone else who was having breakfast was just thrilled with us.

It wouldn't have been a party without Boots and Edythe

Grandpa singing....gotta love him for trying

Aunt Ginny taking it all in

Happy Birthday Grandpa! We love you!

Warning....graffic hunting pictures!!

2011-12-10T19:35:00.000-08:00

While getting anything you're first season of bow hunting is almost unheard of, it's not unheard of for my man. Tim got his first deer Wednesday night. WAY TO GO BABE! I was lucky enough to get to be a part of it. Not the hunting part, although next year, we'll change that. After Tim took a shot, he called me, and Tess and I headed out to meet him. I was so excited I was running around the house like a mad women throwing on whatever cloths I could find for Tess and I and running out the door. I should have thought about that a little more since I caught myself helping my husband gut a deer, while three months pregnant, and wearing a white coat. Totally worth it though!!! We had a blast that night, and we can't wait to taste the meat. Not to brag too much, but my hubby is a rock star of a hunter!!!

A picture of Tim and his beautiful two point black tail buck. It took just 30 minutes to stalk, and he took a shot at 20 yards. Bow hunting is a lot different than rifle hunting, and we're both big fans.

We've got a little catching up to do!

2011-12-10T19:14:00.000-08:00

So, due to my lack of energy lately, here's another group post. Despite my being sick for the last few weeks, thanks to Zofran, Unisom, and b6, we've still managed to have fun....thank you Jesus for modern medicine! I won't go into too much detail about what we've been up to, but here's a little of what we've done in pictures.

I love Thanksgiving. I love the history of it, being with family, giving thanks for what we've been given (which isn't just reserved for Thanksgiving), and ALL THE FOOD. Yah for good food.

We spent Thanksgiving at my mom's this year. Thank you mom for the yummy dinner.

Now onto December.... Every holiday has something special about it. While the decorations, family, food, and activities are so fun, Christmas is extra special to us because it's the holiday we celebrate Jesus and His birth. Amongst the parties, Christmas concerts, decorating, baking, time with family and friends, and shopping, reading the Christmas story on Christmas even has become one of our favorite traditions.

Decorating the gingerbread house and eating it too

A little time for pampering...kind of...I gave Tessa her first hair cut. On that note, I gave Tim a hair cut for the first time too. I will spare you the pictures... mainly because there aren't any.

Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree....

Our little monkey watching a movie in one of the decoration boxes.

Holy baby belly!!!

2011-11-19T18:47:00.000-08:00

This is me at almost 10 weeks preggo. I was not this big first time around at 10 weeks. What the heck. I even started out a few pounds lighter this time. I'm really not sure how this is possible since I've not been feeling good and not eating as much. With that said, I can say that I have not been as sick this time around. I still haven't gotten sick. I feel like I'm going to get sick all the time, but don't. This pregnancy has been completely different thus far. Thank goodness for that! By this time with Tess I had already been hospitalized twice for being dehydrated. Tess is convinced we are having a baby boy. She's always talking about the "little itty bitty baby boy" in my tummy. I'm not so sure though. I remember when I was pregnant with Tess I just knew it was a girl. This time I have no idea.

What we've been up to

2011-11-19T18:31:00.000-08:00

We've had family game nights, family movie nights, Tess did a little trick or treating, and we've been spending many days at home the last few weeks as I have not been feeling the best.

Books, books, and more books. Tess hasn't been a big fan of napping lately. So, instead of napping, she will play in her room for hours before coming out. She loves playing and reading her books. This is what I found the other day when I went in to see if she was asleep. She was wide awake and very proud of herself for stacking her books across her room.

Our First Pic

2011-11-09T13:32:00.000-08:00

Ok so while Jen is laying on the couch sick as could be...... I thought I would post the ultrasound photo from last Friday's first visit. Jen is 7 1/2 weeks along and the moring sickness is alive and kickin. Thanks to all our friends for your prayers for Jen. She isn't quite as sick this time and we haven't gone to the hospital yet, so things are looking ok for now. Just keep praying.....

Here is a picture of our little new critter..... See that little three bubble looking thing on the middle left? Yep that's my new little one! I am a proud poppa!

When we ask Tessa "whats in mommies tummy?" she keeps saying baby boy..... Time will tell!

Savannah Grace or Teagan James????

2011-11-04T20:20:00.000-07:00

Just two of the names we are considering for our new little baby on the way. We are happy to announce that our 2nd baby will be arriving June 24 2012...give or take a few days. We are so excited!

This last summer while Tim and I were on vacation down in Arizona we decided that we wanted another baby. We talked about trying at the beginning of the new year, but as most of you know, plans tend to change. I had a few complications with my BC mid September, and we just decided that I would not go back on the pill. We thought it would take us several months to get pregnant, as I have PCOS. God had other plans...I conceived two weeks later. What a miracle! Thank you so much to all of our friends praying for us to get pregnant without complications. God answerer's prayer in HIS time...not ours. We are so blessed and can't wait to meet our new little one.

A little bit of fun...

2011-10-30T17:25:00.000-07:00

The last week has been such a fun week for us filled with fall morning walks, playing in the colorful leaves, carving pumpkins, watching fall movies, drinking lots of hot chocolate, and last, but certainly not least, cookie baking (I have eaten too many to count). Time with my family is so special for me, and I cherish every minute of it.

Tim and Tess trying to figure out how to carve the pumpkins....so hard to decide.

Ok, so you know those cute baby photos of a little one sitting inside the pumpkin? Well, we never got one of those, so here's our older version. ha ha

...and the finished product...one of them anyways.

Pumpkin #2

We drink a lot of hot chocolate in our house. Might I just recommend Starbucks hot chocolate from Costco. It's the best in whole milk!

It's so hard when you're two to wait for the cookies to bake....who am I kidding, it's hard when you're almost 30 waiting for the cookies to finish baking.

We're pretty sure most of the frosting made it into her mouth before making it onto the cookies.

"Daddy have my cookie"

My sweet little girl!

Cramming the finished product into her mouth.

Tess finished her first month of swimming lessons. She got to pick out a little toy fish on the last day. Very proud of herself as are we!

Saturday mornings are the best. I remember being young and curling up in soft warm blankets on cool fall mornings. This last Saturday was no different for Tess.

A little more of Fall

2011-10-16T15:22:00.000-07:00

Two of my, many, philosophy's are

#1 you can never take too many pictures and

#2 you can never visit too many pumpkin patches in the fall.

I know many people will probably disagree with me about both, but that's ok it works for us.

I love lazy Sunday afternoons....especially during the fall months. This lazy fall afternoon we went to one of our favorite pumpkin patches with my cousin, who's more like a sister, her hubby, and their sweet little girl.

Tessa and Fi

Scott, baby Fi, and Heather

My other sister!

Our little pumpkin

Isn't she one of the cutest babies you've ever seen....I think so!

The day wouldn't have been complete without a little hot cocoa

...and we couldn't leave without a train ride.

...or a hayride

Thank you for a great afternoon at the Trinity Tree pumpkin patch Scott, Heather, and little Fi. We love you guys!

A little bit of fall

2011-10-13T14:28:00.000-07:00

Look at what Tess found on our way to the car after swimming lessons...now that is one big leaf

doing crafts with auntie Stef

...No more monkeys jumping on the bed...

I love spending sunny fall mornings drinking tea and playing with Tess in her room.

Today was our first of many trips we will make to the pumpkin patch. What a perfect day we picked to go.

Gearing up for the Holidays...

2011-10-11T14:21:00.000-07:00

As much as I love summer, I too love fall. I think every season has something special about it. The last few weeks we've been doing many crafts, which started with grandma a few weekends ago. Since then we've made many trips to Michael's Craft Store. Here are a few of the art projects in which have kept Tess and I pretty busy during the day.

Tessa's homemade "Trick or Treat" bag

We had to make sure her little Alice in Wonderland costume fit. I love her little dimples!

5 Years....Here's to us babe!

2011-10-04T14:47:00.000-07:00

What an amazing husband I have!!!!! This last Friday was our 5th wedding anniversary. My sweet hubby surprised me with a weekend get away to a gorgeous B & B up on Lopez Island. It's still hard to believe we have been married for 5years. How the time goes by. I am blessed beyond words! Babe, thank you so much for a perfect anniversary and getaway!

I can't say enough about the MacKaye Harbor B&B. It was voted one of the top 10 in the U.S.. The owners are so incredibly sweet. We were welcomed with a bottle of wine, fresh flowers, and a card. We will most definitely be back!

We had a romantic dinner at the Bay Cafe over looking a color filled sunset

Now, if you now me then you know that I love dessert. This was one of the most delicious cheesecakes I've ever eaten.

I can't remember the last time we were at dinner for two hours. It was so relaxing just talking and watching the sun go down.

So much history has gone into this B & B. It was built back in the early 1900's.

One of the best parts about our trip was our kayaking adventure. We paddled around the shore of the bay and saw such beautiful wildlife. I think we saw over 50 starfish. Some were purple, some were orange, and we even saw a black one. There were also countless sea urchins, and jellyfish. What a fun experience.

Thank you babe for an incredible surprise that I will never forget. I love you!

Sunshine, family, and girlfriends!

2011-09-25T15:57:00.000-07:00

What a FABULOUS weekend we had in Wenatchee. With temperatures soaring into the 90's it's, hard to believe it's the end of September.

Tess played in Grandma and grandpa's pool, we had a water balloon fight, went shopping, took the dog for a walk, painted chairs, colored on the sidewalk, had some great food, did some sunbathing, and enjoyed being with family.

Friday night was girls night out! My sister and I spent the evening with two of our BEST childhood friends. We had a blast and I can't wait to see them again!

Jeni (who came all the way from Georgia) and my sister Amy (right)

Jeni and me

The night wouldn't have been complete without dessert and wine

Marie (left) Amy, me, and Jeni. Thank you ladies for a memorable night!

Playdate at Paint Away

2011-09-20T14:16:00.000-07:00

This morning Tess and I headed to The Redmond Town Center for our first official MOPS playdate. We spent the morning playing at the Sensory Garden, and painting pottery. The kids had a blast! What a great idea for a playdate...thank you Sharon and Angela!

The pictures I promised

2011-09-17T15:12:00.000-07:00

Tim and I all set to go hunting

We actually got more tomato's this year than I thought we would from our tomato plants...this isn't all of them.

Picking blackberries

eating blackberries

Tessa and her cousins Jayden and Ashton hiking and picking blackberries

Tessa's favorite toy at the park...in case you couldn't guess....it's the swing

making blackberry cobbler....our favorite... served warm with vanilla ice cream

blueberry picking with Aunt Heather and baby Fi

Hunting, blackberry fun, and more...

2011-09-13T13:44:00.000-07:00

This last week has been so fun. Summer made it's appearance, all be it late, it still showed up. Praise the Lord! We were all in need of some warm sun! We have been busy and loving every minute of it. Last weekend I had the opportunity to go hunting with my hubby and one of his friends. We had a blast! I love the city, and I love to wear mascara and heals, but there is a part of me that will always be a country girl. After all, I did do taxidermy. We saw lots of game trails and sign, but no elk. This girl was in need of getting out into the deep woods and getting a little dirty. I can't wait to go again!

Aside from hunting, this mama has been a busy baking lady. This week alone, and might I say it's only Tuesday, I have made 4 pints of freezer jam, 4 loaves of zucchini bread, banana muffins, blackberry cobbler, and sandwich bread. Something happens to me in the fall, and I turn into a baking freak.

In between all of that we've squeezed in a few play dates.

Just when I think summer is going to slow down, we dive head first into fall. Tess starts swim lessons, I start my new MOPS group, Tim and I start our new bible study, a great friend, from Georgia, is flying up, Tim and I celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary, and on top of all of that, we've decided were are going to have another baby. Good times!!

Pics of hunting, blackberry picking, and play dates to follow. I forgot to re-charge my camera battery...oops.

Our little ham...

2011-09-07T20:14:00.000-07:00

Monday morning, while Tim was hunting, Tess and I had a little fun making funny faces at each other. She is such a little ham. I can't get enough of her giggles and goofy faces.

We also enjoyed a little tea with our guest Elmo

Soaking up every warm ounce of sun!

2011-09-07T20:06:00.000-07:00

Natural born cowgirl

2011-09-03T16:49:00.000-07:00

Every September, we look forward to visiting the Evergreen State Fair. It is by far our favorite of all fairs.

This one is for you babe

While Tess is very much a girly girl, she's not afraid to get a little dirty riding tractors

How utterly embarrassing... I'm sure glad I wasn't put on display pumping!

This little calf was just two weeks old

Tess and I had the privilege...if you want to call it that... of petting a pregnant pigs belly. It was pretty amazing seeing her stomach move with all of those babies inside.

You can't go to the fair without eating all that greasy fair food

What did I tell you...this girl is a natural. She didn't want any help from mom or dad. She was so sad to have to get off of quote, "me pony." I think horse riding lessons maybe just around the corner.

Summer is coming to an end...

2011-08-31T19:43:00.000-07:00

The end of summer is approaching ever so fast and with it many last summer adventures. The last few weeks have been filled with little getaways, hikes, walking, and family bbq's. I always hate to see summer come to an end, but I look forward to many fun filled days next summer.

My brother and sweet little niece Chloe

Tessa playing with cousin Jayden and his new little puppy

Tessa, Caylee (middle), and Chloe

My step mom Lorie (upper left), my dad, Grandpa Bruce, and grandma Barb

My sisters and grandpa

Fishing and Whidbey

2011-08-22T19:28:00.000-07:00

We've had many fun adventures this summer. This last weekend was no different. We went fishing Saturday with Tim's friend Billy along the Puyallup. No luck catching any fish though. Then on Sunday we headed up to Whidbey Island. We go up to Whidbey every summer and stay with my aunt at her summer house. It was a shot in the dark this summer with the weather, but we picked a great weekend to go.

Our version of rock art...

Tessa and Tim enjoying the ferry ride

Miss Abby

Sipping her Starbucks and watching the sunrise

Caught a Salmon on my first cast. Thanks babe...you're a great teacher!

My mom (middle) and aunt Marlene. Thank you again Marlene! We had a blast!

One of my favorite parts about being up at Whidbey, besides the wonderful company, is being able to sit back and watch all of the ships pass by. The sailboats are my favorite though

Our Saturday fishin'

2011-08-14T19:47:00.000-07:00

Tim and I love to fish. Saturday morning we got our buns out of bed at 5:00am....on a Saturday. Yeah, we thought we were crazy too. Tess was even up at the crack of dawn. We spent the morning fishing and playing on the beach.

Attempting to get her fish on

Look what I caught....a big old pile of seaweed

Well, it wasn't a Salmon, but at least one of us caught a fish.

Tess found a seashell

We found a little grab leg

So, the best part about the whole experience....drum roll please....Tim caught a rock! Yes, you read that right...a rock. We couldn't believe it either.

We found lots of little seashells

This girl and her shoes!

2011-08-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

Heidi, I know you will appreciate this post. Tess loves her shoes.

Our trip to the fire station

2011-08-14T19:18:00.000-07:00

Checking out the aid car

All the kiddos and mamma's watching as the fireman put on his fire gear

Sweet little Blake...he always has a smile on his face.

spraying the fire hose with the help of one of the firefighters

Cute little Ashley

Our second summer camping trip

2011-08-07T19:48:00.000-07:00

We left last Thursday morning for our second camping trip of the season. We headed over to Steamboat rock state park. We live in such a beautiful state. Where else can you find a rain forest, the ocean, volcanoes, rich forest, farm land, and desert. We took our time getting over there enjoying all of the beauty along the way. Our first stop was Cle Elum. We stopped to get a burger and look at some beautiful vintage cars. We camped from Thursday through Sunday...definitely not long enough. We're already planning a late summer/fall trip back. Our last night there we drove up to the Coulee Dam and watched the laser light show. I'm still kicking myself for not bringing my camera and getting pictures of it.

Tess giving her sidewalk chalk a ride on her bike. I guess she figured the chalk was missing out?

Banks lake was beautiful! Our RV site was right next to the water. The only downside....the number of mosquito's. I think we were almost eaten alive.

The famous Steamboat rock

We got our fish on....but didn't catch any fish.

Every night deer would come down to the lake to drink.

On our way home we stopped at Dry Falls. What an incredible view!

Some excitement on the way home...this brush fire had just started while we were driving up vantage.

Visiting Grandma's in Wenatchee

2011-08-07T19:10:00.000-07:00

Tim and I always enjoy going to my mom's in Wenatchee and spending time, and Tess loves seeing grandma.

Tess playing in the pool at grandma's

There is a great little farm just outside of Wenatchee. We spent much of the later morning and early afternoon there. What a great place for kids and adults. Part of me felt like a little kid again chasing the rabbits around and riding on the cow train.

There were countless fun activities for the whole family. Tess found the swing.

This was a great little tractor area with several cute little toys for the kiddos to play with...even the big kiddos. I think Tim had more fun with this one than Tess.

The cow train....

Having a lazy day...

2011-08-07T18:47:00.000-07:00

It's always fun for us to have a lazy day with such a busy summer. A day spent in our sweats, reading books, and watching movies.

Camping in Wenatchee

2011-08-07T18:24:00.000-07:00

This summer has been filled with lots of fun trips. Tim and I were talking a few weeks ago, and we both feel like we've been gone more this summer than home, which is just fine with us considering we both love to travel. This was a weekend camping trip to Wenatchee Confluence state park from a few weeks ago.

...and what a vacation it was...

2011-07-26T19:51:00.000-07:00

Our six day Arizona vacation started out with a limo ride to the resort. I can't tell you how long it's been since Tim and I were on a long vacation with just the two of us. It has been a long time coming. With both of us loving the heat, as we do, what better place to visit than Arizona. With temps soring well above 100 degrees, we were in heat heaven. We travel to Arizona at least once a year, usually to see family. The Desert Southwest is one of the most beautiful places in North America. It's not just a desert, and those of you who have been there know what I mean. Tess stayed at grandma and grandpa's in Wenatchee and was spoiled rotten.

Hello sunshine! The sunsets in the desert are some of the most beautiful I've seen.

We stayed at the Hilton at Squaw Peak. What a fabulous resort, spa, and water park. We played in the water, slept in, got a couples massage, played golf, and ate great food. I'm so thankful we had this opportunity! I can't wait for next years vacation. Until then, here's to wonderful memories from this one.

Playing catch up

2011-07-26T19:37:00.000-07:00

This summer sure has flown by. We've been so busy and gone so much that I haven't had much time to update the blog. We've taken full advantage of what little sunshine we've had this summer. Tessa loves playing in her pool. I think she should have been born with fins.

We went to the fire station with our friends Tara and little Ireland. The girls had fun.

We had a blast on the 4th of July. We enjoyed great food and fireworks with our wonderful friends the McMillan's and the Sipes'.

Tessa, Sadie, and Anna

Tessa's favorite part about the 4th was by far the loud fireworks. She laughed and jumped up and down every time she heard one.

Such a great group!

2011-06-19T14:17:00.000-07:00

Tess and I are part of a playgroup from our church that meets weekly. What a fabulous group of ladies and kiddos! It has been so fun to be able to be part of such a great group. Thank you Melissa for being such a great leader!

The pictures below are from our last playdate.

Happy Father's Day to all of our dads!

2011-06-19T13:30:00.000-07:00

Dad, Garry, and Del,

We love you all so much. Thank you for always being there for us! We are so grateful to have all of you in our lives. We hope that this Father's Day is a special one for each of you.

Love and Hugs,
Tim, Jen, and Tessa

Happy Father's Day babe! We love you!

2011-06-19T13:25:00.000-07:00

Wow, I'm not even sure where to begin with this post. There are so many silly stories I could tell, and so many heartfelt moments I want to share. I have to remember that I'm not writing a book here. The last two years of watching Tim as a father have been so incredibly amazing. The way he laughs with Tess, the way he holds her when she's sad, the way they work on projects around the house together (daddy's little helper she is), the way he reassures her when she is scared, the way they giggle together while reading a silly book, the way he teaches her about life, and the way he shows her what loving Jesus is all about. They all make me smile and melt my heart. God has blessed us in countless ways. Tess has the best dad in the world, and I have the best hubby in the world. Thank you so much babe for all that you do to make us a family! We love and cherish you more than we could ever say with words. Happy Father's Day!

A trip to the Ocean

2011-06-16T19:46:00.000-07:00

What a fun and beautiful trip we had to the ocean. We stayed in Ocean Shores. Tim had some business there, so we all went. The weather held up and was sunny most of the time. I love the ocean. We played in the water, felt the sand between our toes, spent several hours beach combing, and enjoyed it all together as a family.

Just being a little girl!

2011-06-14T20:58:00.000-07:00

It seems like the closer we get to summer, the busier we get. We have been doing many fun things the last few weeks. When the weather is nice, we spend most of our time outside.

Happy 2nd birthday cousin Ashton. Our nephew Ashton turned two a few weeks ago. He had his birthday party at Bounce It Up. It was our first time there, and we all loved it. Tim and I felt like kids again bouncing on all the toys.

All ready to go to the park

Having lunch on the deck

Coloring pictures on the sidewalk

What a little climber Tess is. If you build it, she will climb it.

Look at that concentration. Working so hard on painting a picture for daddy.

Ice cream and friends

2011-05-29T20:27:00.000-07:00

This weekend we had a few friends over for some ice cream. It was fun having the house full of kids and even a little dog.

Pete and sweet little Ireland

Tim playing with Ireland. He is so darn good with babies. I love it!

Tessa holding Princess. I think she needs her own little dog...Tim disagrees. We'll work on that one.

Hailey, Tess, and Princess. We had nine kids running around our house yesterday. It brought back fun childhood memories. When we were little, our house was the neighborhood hangout. We always had all of the neighborhood kids in and out of the house. It was wild, but I loved it.

Welcome Fiona Sophia Rose

2011-05-29T20:10:00.000-07:00

Congrats Scott and Heather! She is perfect! We couldn't be happier for you.

MIA....but we're back

2011-05-26T21:35:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a while. You can always tell when we're crazy busy because I don't blog. It's been almost a month since my last blog and a lot has happened. Here's a little of what we've been doing. Tim and I were invited to a baseball game. It was a wonderful double date with some fabulous friends! What made it even better....the Mariners actually won. This was the first Mariner's game I had been to where we won.

Mothers Day was so special! A wonderful breakfast prepared by my two favorite chef's. Being a wife and a mom has brought me more joy than I ever imagined possible. Thank you Lord for my beautiful family!

One of Tessa's favorite toys. She totally takes after her daddy.

I think it's time for a nap???

. It's been a little difficult not having the half acre we once had. We managed to make the most of it though. I never thought I'd plant a garden on a deck, but hey, it worked. Last week was beautiful and we took full advantage by spending most of our days' outdoors. We went on walks, played at the park, had a picnic, and planted a little garden.

And last, but not least, we spent a little time dancing in the rain.

A BIG SHOUT OUT.....CONGRATS BABE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-05-25T15:27:00.000-07:00

Congrats to my man who's worked so hard to get to this point. Today, Tim got the email he's been waiting for....for a very long time. HE PASSED HIS Professional Engineer Exam, which means he has his stamp in the state of Washington. CONGRATS BABE! I couldn't be more proud you of. I love you.

A view from the car

2011-05-01T19:47:00.000-07:00

On the way over to Wenatchee last weekend, the sun was out and it was gorgeous against the snow. These are just a few pictures I took on the car ride over.

We stopped in the little town of Liberty on the way over. My great-grandfather mined gold up there years ago. It was fun seeing the tiny town, and when I say tiny, I mean tiny.

Easter in Wenatchee

2011-05-01T19:11:00.000-07:00

Ahhh Easter. I love Easter for so many reasons. Of course for the reason that Jesus was not found in the grave, but that He had risen. Hallelujah! I also love all of the traditions that come with Easter. Believe it or not, I can remember coloring eggs when I was Tessa's age. I think I still love it just as much.

Tess and grandma coloring eggs together. Tess was a little more interested in stirring the liquid color rather than coloring the eggs. I think her hands may have gotten more color than all of the eggs combined.

Giving the egg a kiss before putting it in the color

Easter morning opening her Easter basket

This girl loves airplanes. She must take after her grandpa. She will find and point out planes that Tim and I don't even see or hear half of the time. In case you were still wondering what she was pointing to, it was an airplane.

Hunting Eggs at grandma's. The weather held perfect for a Sunday afternoon egg hunt.

What would hunting eggs be without eating at least one

Happy Birthday to my man!!!

2011-05-01T16:34:00.000-07:00

Happy 38th babe! Here's to a man who stole my heart 6 years ago and will forever have it. Here's to a man who gives of himself to see others happy. Here's to a man who loves his family like there's no tomorrow. Here's to a man who works harder than any other I know. Here's to the best dad in the whole wide world...Tessa told me so. Here's to a man who loves God with every ounce of his being and lives it out everyday. Here's to the most amazing man I know. Here's to you babe. May this next year be even better than the last. I love you! Happy Birthday!

Keeping ourselves entertained

2011-04-03T16:01:00.000-07:00

So, what do you do with a toddler when it's cold and rainy outside...for two weeks.

You play make believe

Read countless books

Color

Play with Play-Doh

Pretend you're at the beach with lots of beach balls

Look out the window and pretend to see the sun

and finally

watch the movie "UP" too many times to count

The Falls

2011-04-03T15:49:00.000-07:00

Snoqualmie Falls in all her glory

We ventured up to the falls on Sunday after church. With all of the rain and snow melt this last week, the river was raging. It was pretty amazing to see the power of the water falling over the edge.

Little Chloe

2011-04-03T15:40:00.000-07:00

Our little niece and Tessa's little cousin, Chloe, came for a visit on Saturday. She's almost 6 months old already...crazy how they grow so fast

Tim and Chloe

Don't babies just make the cutest faces

Heather and Chloe

Sweet little thing

Taking her new wheels out for a spin

2011-04-02T09:19:00.000-07:00

With the sun making an appearance last week, we took full advantage. We spent much of the afternoon outside. Tess is such a little girl, from her 15 pairs of shoes to her collection of play jewelery, but she has another side. The "lets take my new toy outdoors and get muddy," side. I'm thankful for both.

Tess tearing it up on her new ride

So silly...

I found a heart in the sky...A reminder to me of how much God loves us.

Tessa's 2nd Birthday Bash with family

2011-04-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

On March 26, 2009 at 6:31pm, Tim and I welcomed our new little bundle of joy into the world. Since then, we've built countless special memories. We cherish every minute we have with each other and with Tess. She has changed our lives in so many wonderful ways. God has blessed us with a sweet, stubborn, independent, and beautiful little girl. Happy Birthday Tess! We love you more than words could ever say!!

Tim made Tessa her favorite breakfast....homemade pancakes.

Sharing her cookie with grandpa.....She had too many cookies to count that day.

Enjoying pizza

chillin' with her cousin Brittany and eating another cookie

This kid can tear into presents like no one's business...she must get that from her daddy. :-)

Thank you all for making Tessa's 2nd birthday so special for her!

Family...

2011-04-02T08:40:00.000-07:00

This year for Tessa's 2nd birthday we decided to celebrate with just family. My mom and sisters came over a few hours before her party started last Saturday. It was great being able to spend some fun "girl time" with them.

Happy 2nd birthday to my beautiful little princess!

From left to right: The birthday girl, me, my mom Connie, my sisters Amy and Stephanie. Love you guys!!!

What's this....two days of warm sun

2011-03-24T15:54:00.000-07:00

Tess would swing all day if I let her

I think spring has sprung...knock on wood. The last two days have been beautiful and warm. After being sick all week, the sun was just what I needed. Tess was excited to get out of the house too.

Sweet and silly moments

2011-03-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

It's not very often that I can catch Tess asleep. Usually, just as I open her door, she opens her eyes. I managed to tucker her out pretty good last week, and I was able to get a picture of her fast asleep. Watching her sleep brought back so many precious memories of when she would sleep in my arms when she was a baby.

This is what happens when mommy tries to talk on the phone. Tessa will get into everything she knows she's not suppose to get into. She does it so fast too. She decorated her face with make-up, and she decorated the floor with toilet paper.

Her little giggles light up my days

The "Super Moon." We took the truck up to the top of a hill across town. We sat and waited for the "super moon" to makes it's appearance...and what an appearance it made. It was beautiful, and it was fun to watch it come up together as a family.

Someone snuck into our bedroom and found her birthday present.

diggin' her new ride

Yes, those are burn-out marks on the kitchen floor! She definitely takes after her dad.

A Baby Shower...

2011-03-18T20:26:00.000-07:00

I love baby showers. Yummy food, great conversation, lots of gifts for the mama to be, and what is cuter than a pregnant belly. My cousin Heather's baby shower was this last weekend, and what fun it was. Her and Scott live just a few doors down, which made for an easy trip over to their house. Congrats again you two!!! We are so happy for you, and can't wait to meet our new little cousin!

The food was beautiful and delicious.

What fantastic gifts she got

...reminded me of summer...

It's so fun having a little girl. Tess enjoyed the baby shower too. Have I mentioned that she LOVES babies. I think she's ready for a little brother or sister...

Pregnant and beautiful

Just being a toddler...

2011-03-07T16:38:00.000-08:00

This last week and weekend were both fun and busy. It feels like we've been going and going and going, which is probably a good thing considering the rainy weather. It gives us something other than the cold rain to concentrate on.

Look at that concentration

I know I've posted about Tessa's tiny little hands before. I just love watching her create and learn with them.

Tess will spend hours playing with play-Doh. When I was little, I would spend hours playing with it too.

This weekend two of Tessa's friends turned two. We were only able to make one of the parties though. Happy Birthday Paisley and Lily! Jenn, Paisley's party was beautiful!

The kiddos got to make cute little purses.

We finished our weekend off with ice cream, and a drive to the top of our street. We walk up to the top of our hill all the time in the summer to enjoy the view.

just having a little fun....

2011-03-03T20:52:00.000-08:00

Thanks for a fun playdate Roman and Jaime

Another short road trip

2011-02-28T20:33:00.000-08:00

I love going on short road trips with Tim and Tess. We went down to Vancouver on Sunday/Monday and had fun playing as a family. Vancouver is a pretty city...even in the rain.

So curious about everything...I love it!

Grandma Time

2011-02-28T20:20:00.000-08:00

My mom came over this last week. It was so much fun being able to spend time with just us three girls. I love you mom, and I'm so thankful for you! Tessa said to tell you that she loves you too!

Growing up a little too fast!?!?!?

2011-02-24T21:08:00.000-08:00

What's this.....I guess it is still winter

2011-02-24T21:06:00.000-08:00

.....and just when I was getting ready for spring

What an amazing husband I have!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-02-24T20:50:00.000-08:00

My sweet and wonderful husband drew me a bath tonight with candles and lavender oil. Thanks babe! It was just what I needed.

Sights that made me smile this week

2011-02-24T20:40:00.000-08:00

This week we took a short two day trip down to Oregon. The weather gave us a little taste of everything on the way down and on the way back. Despite all of the rain and snow, the sun did make an appearance.

....not sure what it is about seeing boats on the water, but it is always so peaceful to me.

So serene!

It's not every day that you see Donald on the back of a truck. He looks kind of mad doesn't he!? I promise, we didn't cut him off. :-)

Tim will be the first tell you that I tend to take pictures of very random things. The top of this old bridge caught my eye.

Happy 18th Brittany!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-02-20T14:29:00.000-08:00

I can't believe my little cousin is 18. Happy Birthday Girl!!! Enjoy every minute of your special day. We love you!!!

18

A weekend together

2011-02-20T14:23:00.000-08:00

Like many other people, I always look forward to the weekends. Tim is home from work, and we can play together as a family.

What a sweet daddy/daughter picture. I love to step back and capture moments like this one.

It is so fun and relaxing to sit back and watch movies as a family. Just throw in a little popcorn, and we're set.

What's a weekend without a little pizza.

Expressions

2011-02-18T21:53:00.000-08:00

Have you ever taken the time to stop and notice all of the expressions that a child makes? For me, it is absolutely heart warming to sit back and watch all of Tessa's expressions. Each expression tells a story, and they all make me smile.

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-02-14T14:29:00.000-08:00

Just have to give a shout out to my Grandpa and friend Jenni

HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU TWO!!!!!!

Happy V-Day

2011-02-14T14:25:00.000-08:00

Even though Tim and I don't get into Valentines Day, we wanted to make it special for Tess!

We even got our toes done for the special occasion

heart shaped toast for our little Valentine

And she did it!

2011-02-14T14:11:00.000-08:00

It has been six days since we started potty training, and I can say, with confidence, that our almost two year old is potty trained (during the day). I figure we'll tackle the "over night" in another week or so. She goes both #1 and #2 in her potty chair. The first day wasn't bad, the second day was the hardest, and from there each day has gotten a lot easier. She tells us when she needs to go to the bathroom now, and we take her. I'm so proud of her. I was torn about when to start the whole potty training thing. I liked that I didn't have to worry about her needing to go potty in the middle of traffic, or trying to find a bathroom at the mall. Both selfish reasons...I know. The other side of me didn't want to change a toddlers poopy diaper! When Tess started bringing me a diaper/wipe and would tell me when she went to the bathroom, I figured she was ready. It wasn't planned, but last Tuesday I just decided not to put a diaper back on Tess, and the rest is history.

Reading a book in her cute little underpants

She now has too many pairs of underwear to count

When Tess goes to the bathroom in her potty chair, we give her M&M's or bubbles.

Yum Yum

2011-02-06T14:16:00.000-08:00

I love Saturday mornings. Tim makes breakfast with Tess, so I can sleep in.

They made yummy homemade pancakes and eggs. When I came out to get breakfast, this is what I found. I couldn't help but take a picture....kind of looks like we had a guest for breakfast...before we ate him.

It was a good weekend for cooking and baking. In other words, it was cool and rainy outside. I finally got around to making Valentines cookies. I'd been wanting to make them all week, but didn't have the time.

Soaking up our Vitamin "D"

2011-02-03T09:46:00.000-08:00

As I've said many times before, when the sun is out, here in Seattle we take full advantage. Yesterday we did just that!

This picture of Tess says it all for me. She looks like such a little girl. I was going through her baby cloths last week and can't believe how tiny she was. It seems like they grow up over night.

Through a childs eyes

2011-02-03T09:15:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I think about how much fun it would be to be a child again. Nothing to worry about, most of your time spent playing, sleeping, and eating, and climbing into tiny little spaces only to find yourself in a world of imaginary wonder. Playing with Tess has brought back countless childhood memories. I'm pretty sure I now fully understand what people mean when they say "living life through your child's eyes." It's a beautiful sight!

A busy week and weekend

2011-01-31T16:35:00.000-08:00

What a fun weekend we had. We spent Saturday morning at the Sportsman Show. We watched a dog water competition, and Tess caught her first fish. Saturday night we headed over to a friend's house for dinner. Our friends have three little boys. Tess had such a fun time playing with them, and she sure knows how to hold her own.

My sweet girlfriend came to visit last week and brought me flowers. Thank you Heidi...they are beautiful! Gerber daisy's are my favorite.

It's been so fun working on crafts with Tess. Here are her Valentines we worked on this morning.

Tim and I don't get into Valentines Day. It's just not our thing. So, this year, since I'm a MOPS table leader, I thought it would be fun to make Valentines for the mom's at my table.

Tessa fishing with her daddy. Way to get your fish on girl!!!

Tessa catching her first fish with mommy.

Who needs the cookies when you can have the cookie dough...right.

Bath time was a great way to finish off a busy weekend. Tess, your dad sure knows how to make your hair look pretty.

Our afternoon playing at the park

2011-01-26T19:31:00.000-08:00

The weather held up perfectly today for an outing to the park. Taking walks with Tess has opened my eyes to all of the things I might otherwise pass right by. She is so enchanted by all of the small rocks, leaves, sticks, dirt, bushes, and cracks in the sidewalk. We walk for a minute or two then stop, bend down, and look at all of those tiny things I typically just walk right by. Her favorite part about our park adventure today was the slide. She went down the slide countless times this afternoon and loved every minute of it.

A fun weekend with friends

2011-01-24T11:35:00.000-08:00

This last week was spent mostly indoors due to the fact that we were all sick. What I thought would be just a little cold turned into much more. However, we all survived and are on the mend, :-)

Our wonderful friends, the Gordens, came over this weekend. We took turns watching the kids and both couples got to go out for a bit. Tess had so much fun with the kids.

Tessa's "serious" face.

Popcorn and "Monsters vs Aliens"

Two peas in a pod

Cody

The girls having fun....Lily, Haily, and Tess

Lily

"Friends are forever"

GO HAWKS!!!

2011-01-16T15:04:00.000-08:00

Well, the Seahawks didn't win today, but we still had fun watching them. There's always next year!

A perfect food grazing day

We've taught her well....even Tess got into the game

Big Girl Bed

2011-01-16T14:53:00.000-08:00

We've been talking about when we should transition Tess from her crib into a bed. This Friday we decided to go for it. So far, she's done great.

Not only does she enjoy sleeping in her big girl bed, she also loves to play on it.

Dress up

2011-01-13T10:06:00.000-08:00

Having a little girl is so much fun for so many reasons. One reason....being able to play dress up. Tess enjoys putting on "pretend" makeup, she loves trying on shoes, and hats...she has too many to count.

Patience....what's that

2011-01-10T13:08:00.000-08:00

Patience is definitely not one of my strong points. I was one of those kids who sat in the back seat asking "are we there yet?" over and over and over again. Twenty years later, not much has changed. So, when I face a challenge, an unknown answer, or a long car ride, I remind myself of this verse.

-Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Psalm 37:7

Don't get me wrong, I still struggle with patients especially when it comes to the unknowns. I do, however, find it much easier knowing that God is in control of whatever I'm waiting on. It's all about his timing...not mine.

A lazy morning

2011-01-06T13:10:00.000-08:00

A lazy morning on a cold rainy day. I must say these two go hand in hand. I love lazy mornings, and we sure don't have many of them. Of course when we do, I'm all about soaking up every minute. This morning Tess and I stayed in bed drinking Tea and reading books.

Such a little girl she is.... From her dolls and tea parties to dressing up....she's 100% girl.

Two.....right around the corner

2011-01-05T16:07:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe my baby is no longer a baby. She's a little toddler. Here are a couple of pictures from earlier today. We spent the day in doors playing with dolls, books, and blocks.

Bob is not the nice one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-01-04T10:09:00.000-08:00

Jillian Michaels and I have a meeting every morning in our living room. She kicks my rear 3-5 days a week. I love her DVD's and that "in your face" attitude she brings along with the workouts.

On the other hand, I've always thought of Bob Harper as the "nice one". Well was I wrong! We were at Target the other night, and I saw that one of his newest DVD's was on sale. I thought, oh what the heck, I'll try it. I actually had Tim pick between two DVD's because I couldn't decide. After popping it in the DVD player yesterday, and doing the 60 minute workout, I realized that I was more than a little wrong about the, "nice guy" attitude he presents. I actually cried working out yesterday morning. I have NEVER cried while working out.....NEVER. I cried four times during the course of the workout. I was shocked at how hard this circuit training DVD was.

If you are looking for a butt kicking workout, look no further. His DVD, the Inside out Method, is one of the best I've ever done. ...And don't be fooled...Bob Harper is definitely not the nice guy.

Some fun with my new camera!

2011-01-02T16:02:00.000-08:00

For Christmas this year Tim surprised me with a new camera. ...and what a camera it is! I've had a blast taking pictures the last couple of weeks. There are so many different settings, and I'm sure it will take me quite a while to figure all of them out.

Coming from a family of photographers and taking photography myself (years ago), I've had that itch to start photographing again. I'm really looking forward to this summer, and all of the beauty that will come with it.

This afternoon I drove to the top of our hill, where the view is amazing to say the least. I took some pictures, and played around with some of the settings.

silhouette of Seattle and the Olympics.
This picture is just missing snow.

New Years Eve Morning at the Needle

2010-12-31T13:39:00.000-08:00

This morning we ventured out to visit the Space Needle. It had been years since Tim and I had been there. Tess had never been there, so we thought with the sun out, what a perfect morning to go. Thank you dad and Lorie for the gift certificate!

Starbucks coffee and the Space Needle....you can't get much more Seattle than that!

Going up...

Our little monkey....this girl will climb anything.

Mount Baker

Lake Union

The city and Mt. Rainier

Not sure what ferry this is, but it looked pretty on the water.

View of the Olympics

I love this place....the Pacific North West.

2010-12-31T13:33:00.000-08:00

Yeah, it rains...a lot. Yeah, we don't get to see the sun often. However, days like today, make it all worth while. When the sun is out in Seattle, there's no other sight like it. It definitely makes up for all of the cloudy days we have. This picture below was taken from our bedroom window. It's a peek-a-boo picture of the Olympics.

These Tiny Hands

2010-12-27T13:08:00.000-08:00

As a mom, there are so many little things I can't get enough of. One of those things are Tessa's little hands. Lately, I've been trying to capture everything she does with them because I know they won't stay this little forever.

Merry Christmas!!!!!

2010-12-27T12:25:00.000-08:00

Christmas is here and gone just like that. We spend so much time getting ready for this one day. Christmas is by far my favorite holiday for many reasons. We get to celebrate Jesus coming into this world, we are surrounded by family and friends, we spend countless hours in the kitchen baking, we get to put up beautiful decorations, we get to eat lots of really good food, we get to watch our baby girl love every minute of it, and we can't forget all of the Christmas music.

Christmas morning we spent at home opening presents, eating breakfast, and making fun memories! We headed to my dad and step mom's for brunch and then onto my aunts for dinner. A very busy day, but a very fun one!

She tore those presents open like a pro...

Opening her stocking from Santa

Christmas morning and our 2nd tree

Tess opening more presents...

Tessa and her cousin Ashton. My parents have this cute little bench in their living room for the kiddos. These two love to play on it.

Good morning princess...Merry Christmas

Thank for my new toys daddy

Tess loves dogs, and great grandma Calkins put a little toy puppy in her stalking this year. She wouldn't let it go all night.

I'm ready for more presents...

Christmas Eve

2010-12-26T16:46:00.000-08:00

It has been a family tradition of ours to open one present Christmas Eve and then the rest Christmas morning. As you can tell from the picture, there was no hesitation from Tess. She dove right in.

...at my parents after the church service

Tim and I hosted Christmas Eve dinner this year. From left to right: My cousin Anna, my step-mom Lorie, my dad, Tessa, and Tim.

Tim made his "famous" roast...yum!

Getting ready....

2010-12-26T16:27:00.000-08:00

This month it seems like we've been out of town more than we've been in town. I finally have a few minutes to blog.

These last few months have been so fun with holiday prep. This year Tess is old enough to really enjoy all that surrounds the Christmas holiday. She has been so enchanted with Christmas....the lights especially. It has been a blast baking, decorating, and shopping with her.

Tessa's "Little People" Nativity

Almost Christmas....

We have so many wonderful friends, and I always enjoy getting their Christmas cards. This year I didn't do cards....oops!

Tessa helping to decorate our second tree.... In anticipation of Christmas, we got our tree the day after Thanksgiving. Well, it died about two weeks ago. So, we had to take all of the decorations off and do it all over again. The bright side....we like our 2nd tree much better. We're thinking about making it a family tradition. Ok, maybe not.

Thanksgiving....a little late!

2010-12-13T13:36:00.000-08:00

So, I haven't even downloaded the pics from Thanksgiving onto the computer yet. I will do that later. I thought I should at least post about what we did for Thanksgiving since Christmas is almost here.

This year we spent Thanksgiving in a few places. We had dinner with my aunt and uncle in W. Seattle and then headed back to Issaquah and to my cousins for some pie. We had so much fun and enjoyed seeing our family!

I'll post some pics later...

Happy Birthday Boots!

2010-12-13T13:28:00.000-08:00

These last few weeks we have been SO incredible busy, which means I haven't had much time for posting. My great uncle Boots (long story about how he got that name) turned 90 a few weeks back. Happy Birthday! We love you!

Here's a picture of Boots and my great aunt Edythe.

Tess found the piano....future piano player??

Faith through suffering

2010-12-08T07:23:00.000-08:00

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit -Psalm 34:18

This past week has been an extremely hard week for some of our friends and us. Two different friends of ours have lost loved ones to cancer this last week. One of our friends lost their niece and our other friend lost her dad. It feels like every time we turn around, someone else we know has cancer. It is such an ugly disease, and it's so hard to watch someone you love have to go through so much suffering. It's so hard to see the people you love have to face choices they never thought they have to make. It's so hard to hear the news of someone you care about losing someone they love. It's hard not knowing why God could allow this to happen. It just doesn't make sense to me. That's when I'm reminded that faith is embracing the unknown and uncertainty. Even though none of this makes sense on this side of eternity, I have full faith that God is connecting the dots in ways we can't comprehend....and won't comprehend until we get to heaven. The verse above is a good reminder for me that no matter what hurt I'm facing or what hurt my friends are facing, the Lord will hold us close and carry us through.

Thankfulness

2010-12-02T14:02:00.000-08:00

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
-1 Thessalonians 5:18

I have so much to be thankful for this year. A warm home, my beautiful family, a happy healthy little girl, a husband who loves and respects me to the core, a God with unconditional love that fills my life with so much joy, wonderful friends, and so much more! It's always easy to give thanks when things are going good. When things are tough and not going good, it can sometimes be a challenge for me to be thankful. I remember about 13 years ago, I had been Christmas shopping with two girl friends. I got home and a few minutes, after walking in the door, got a phone call. One of my friends, who I'd been shopping with that day, had just found out her mom had been killed in a car crash. I will never forget hearing the news. It happened just a few days before Christmas. It was so hard for me to find joy that year. It was so hard to be thankful, when my friends mom would not be able to be with her on Christmas. Even though that Christmas was so hard, I was still able to find things to be thankful for. I was thankful that I could be there for my friend. I was thankful that she had not been in the car. I was thankful for the rest of her family being able to support her. I was so thankful for God's strength to carry me through that time. It's in those situations, I want to learn to lean on God more. God's will for us is to be thankful no matter what kind of situations we may find ourselves in. While it may be hard, it is certainly not impossible with God by our side.

Cold, but beautiful!

2010-11-23T12:34:00.000-08:00

Tess, loving every minute playing in the snow.

These last two pictures were taken yesterday in the later afternoon just before it really started to snow

Milk, cookies, and snow

2010-11-22T13:23:00.001-08:00

Since moving to W. Washington I don't anticipate getting snow like when living in Wenachee. So, when snow is in the forecast, I tend to get REALLY excited. After growing up in winters where we'd have 3 feet of snow on the ground at one time, I miss not having it over here in the Seattle area. However, this morning we woke up to snow, and it has been snowing throughout the day. Without measuring to know for sure, I'd say that there's about 3-4inches of snow on the ground...with more on the way. This, of course, makes me very happy.

What's a better way to spend the morning and afternoon in our pj's eating cookies, drinking milk, baking, and watching all of the snow fall outside. Below is a picture of one of Tessa's toys. As you can see, she wanted to save her cookies for later.

Tess, enjoying her cookies and milk.

Let is snow....more snow pics to come