Sunday, November 30

Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree

This Thanksgiving break has been amazing.  All of us have thoroughly enjoyed having Tyson home all weekend long.  It has been wildly exhausting but filled with so much fun.  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  After several pie mishaps, it was one of my favorite Thanksgivings to date.  It was surprisingly low key and relaxing.  The food was amazing and still has me dreaming about the creamed corn and sweet potatoes.  On top of photo shoots, our family pictures, picking out a Christmas tree, P's first pajama party and decking our halls, I managed to sneak in a little Black Friday shopping.  Those dang sales get me every time.  

One of the ultimate highlights was getting our tree flocked and letting P experience decorating a Christmas tree for the first time.  She loved reaching into the box and handing me each ornament.  She was mesmerized by the flocking on the tree.  She hasn't quite been able to figure out what that white fluffy stuff is on the limbs.  This is our third year flocking our tree and I don't foresee us having a tree any other way.  Our house smells dreamy.  Walking into a house smelling like fresh pine puts a smile instantly on my face.
 I took the afternoon to decorate the house.  Hopefully we won't be moving again anytime soon.  Finding a place for every decoration gets trickier and trickier every move.  We bit the bullet this year and replaced all of our stockings.  The ones from years past were no longer available and we didn't want Lucy feeling left out.  I fell in love with these stocking from Anthropologie and knew they were the ones.  In an attempt to never have to purchase stockings again, I may have purchased a few extra for our unborn children....  

Each year I purchase the girls an ornament that represents them from the past year.  I bought P this Owl and Lucy this monogrammed L.  I am still on the lockout for an Elmo for P.  She is obsessed.  Tyson and I try to remember to purchase an ornament from our years vacations.  It is always fun reminiscing over the memories we have made thus far.
 Tyson hung our Christmas lights on the house yesterday and was so excited to show P his work.  I don't know why I always miss her reactions on video.  She lit up as soon as she saw all of the bright colors.  Her new favorite thing is driving past all of the homes in our neighborhood with lights on them.  She screams MORE MORE, every time she sees them.  I can't help but laugh and aim to find more.  Tyson and I can hardly contain our excitement to take her down candy cane lane.  I think she might faint.  It's a neighborhood totally decked out in lights.  We get shakes and fries and drive with the windows down, while listening to Christmas music.  It's one of my all time favorite traditions.  
There are so many parties that I am looking forward to and seeing P's face Christmas morning, but most of all I am looking forward to a season of giving and putting Christ at the fore front of my mind.  I love everything about this time of year and cannot wait to experience Lucy's first Christmas with her.  Having a newborn in the home makes the holidays that much more magical.  

I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving surrounded by your loved ones!
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Sunday, November 23

Shaver Fun

We just got back from a much needed getaway to Shaver.  We are always so grateful for Tyson's aunt and uncle who allow us to crash at their beautiful cabin.  It was so wonderful to get out of town and just relax.  The weather was indescribably perfect.  It was my ideal weather all bottled up into one weekend.  Think Fall/Twilight all in one.  It felt like we were in Portland or Seattle. I loved being snuggled up on the couch and looking out at all of the fog and colorful changing leaves.  It was seriously breathtaking.  I stuffed my face with berry cobbler and red vines all weekend long and caught up on some sleep.  P had so much fun spending quality time with her cousins.  She can't get enough of them!  Tyson even dusted off the mountain bike and took it for a spin.

Watching P explore the great outdoors did my heart good.  She was obsessed with finding the perfect walking stick.  I wish you could see the way she walks in her rain boots.  It's one of the cutest things I've ever seen.  I hope my girls will develop a love for nature and appreciate all that God has given us.  The peace that was felt being up there, rejuvenated my soul for the hustle and bustle that awaits.
^^^ So serious, and those hands in her pocket kill me. ^^^
I can't believe it's the week of Thanksgiving.  I will be busy making pies, taking family pics, shopping and setting up Christmas.  I seriously can't wait!!
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Thursday, November 20

Lucy's Hospital Stay

I just received the photo's from our stay at the hospital when Lucy was born.  It honestly feels like ages ago.  I can't believe how the time has flown by.  The days spent in the hospital were a bit of a blur, so I am grateful to be able to look back and remember some of the sweet moments.  I loved seeing the excitement and curiosity in P's face as she held her baby sister and examined her tiny feet.  My heart is extremely full with love for this little family of mine.  
Photo Credit: Stephanie Ryan
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