Dinner with the Wrings...

One perk of living in a place where people actually travel to for vacation is that you get to see your old friends!! We've been so blessed to have seen some of our good friends from Indianapolis this year!

If my kitchen wasn't in boxes we would have had Andrew and Erica over to our house tonight for dinner. So, instead we met them for Mexican.... and it was wonderful!

Who's next?

Christmas...

After Christmas Eve service we went home and opened up our stockings. Here's a picture of Gracie dancing with Daddy to one of Mommies CD's that she got.

Once the kids were in bed it was time to load up the tree. Thankfully all the wrapping was done and this was a pretty simple task.

Nathan came bounding into our bedroom at 7, "Mom, Dad it's Christmas morning. Get up! Get up!". Then off he was to share the joyous news with his sister.

We would ideally like to get the kids 3 gifts... however, this year that turned into 3 "groupings" of gifts. Here are some highlight pictures of some treasured items.

And each year we get them a combined gift. Last year it was play dough... this year though, thanks to Bryant's trip to China they got LOTS of new movies. Here they are going through them. We've watched all of them and I would have to say that my favorite is Up!

Now, we are off to a New Year very soon! We are hoping to head to New York to celebrate Christmas with our families over the New Year. And then we will return here to get the keys to our new house and finish packing and moving. We are so excited with what the Lord has blessed us with in 2009 and highly anticipate what He'll bring to us in 2010.

So much...

It seems like so much has happened here since last time I've blogged.

Well, over the weekend we got A LOT of snow. Not sure exactly how much but it was A LOT! They were calling for 16- 20 inches, and some places reported 24"! We definitely saw over a foot at our house.

This is a picture of the road... it's plowed. They just do a single lane here on residential streets to allow people out and emergency vehicles in. But, as you can tell there isn't much but a small path between our house and the neighbors across the street.

The back yard...

And Bryant decided to make cookies with the kids. Good idea, good results. Except for the minor little flour war that incurred while daddy was in the kitchen putting the cookies in the oven.

reloading...

And most recently, half of our household is recovering from the stomach flu and the other half is praying that they don't get it!

Santa...

We have NEVER pushed Santa Claus in our house. Nathan has always known what Christmas was really about. However, this morning he was telling me that in preschool a friend named Jack told Nathan that he believed in Santa. And Nathan said that he told Jack, "Santa isn't real! Your mommy and daddy buy all your gifts!". OH NO!!! I have THAT child! So, drastic measures were taken and thanks to a Mommy Snacks email.... Santa sent Nathan a personal video! And after watching it.... Nathan grinned from ear to ear and said, "I can't believe it! Santa is real! I want to call Jack right now and tell him that Santa is real!!". Enjoy!

Click here to Watch Nathan's video.

Week in a recap...

• Gracie is officially potty trained.

• We got tickets to the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular.

• Housing called, offered us a house on base! (prayer answered)

• Christmas shopping is done! (except for stocking stuffers)

• It is snowing... a lot! (their calling for 12-20 inches)

It has been a wonderful week!!

Pinkie Pie...

Introducing Pinkie Pie.... Gracie's potty training reward!

Week One: Complete.

Today marks the end of Week One for Gracie and her potty training thus far. Last Saturday Bryant and Gracie placed all the diapers into a grocery bag and then hung it on the front door so that the mail man would take them and give them to another little baby. We've only had to call the mail man back and ask for one diaper so far, and that was pretty early into the week. Thankfully perseverance and persistence is winning out. Not to mention the fact that I have to watch that little girl like a hawk!............ Had to take a mini break just there because I heard some grunting in the other room, like I said I have to watch her like a hawk! Anyways, we are officially in underwear ALL day, with the exception of pull-ups at bedtime and when we go to church. If this persists through this weekend, then come Monday Gracie will find herself the proud mommy to a big purple pony... her potty training reward.

Preschool Christmas Program

Here's our little Inn keeper from last nights Christmas program.

"My inn is full.

There is no room tonight.

But you can sleep in my stable.

I think that will be all right."

Sorry no video, once again it is just too big to post.

Children's Choir...

Tonight at church was the Children's Choir Christmas Program. Nathan had missed several practices since we were in New York for dad's surgery and then again all of last month. But, he seemed to know the songs well enough.... that is when he wasn't trying to get my attention. Yes, that's right I have "that" child.

I have video to upload for you all.... it's just a little too big and is taking way too long. I'll have Bryant downsize it and have it up soon.

First Snow this Winter...

The Length of a Lime...

At 12 weeks, an unborn baby is about 2.5 to 3 inches long. This is equivalent to a lime.



Bryant and I are happy to announce that in June our little lime will be a newborn

(a small pumpkin).

Christmas time...

The day after Thanksgiving always brings Christmas carols over the radio. Which always seems to put us in the mood for Christmas.

We returned on Saturday from New York, and immediately set to decorating the house for Christmas after church on Sunday. We have never pushed Santa Clause with our kids, we actually are the parents that tell our kids that Santa isn't real, he doesn't bring you presents, he's just the "fun" part of Christmas. We emphasize the birth of Jesus and that we give gifts just as the wise men brought Jesus gifts. In fact our kids only get 3 gifts from us, 1 from each other and 1 combined gift. Anyways, with all that said, Nathan woke up this morning and said,"Mommy did Santa bring me my birthday present under the tree today?".... somethings are inevitable, like a child believing in Santa.

Shanghai, China

Bryant spent 2 weeks in Shanghai, China. He says that there were tall buildings everywhere you looked and in the mornings the smog was so bad at times that he couldn't even see any buildings.

As far as eating authentic Chinese food.... the closest he got was McDonald's! (Which may not be a bad thing. I'm not sure if I would really want to eat true Chinese food.... we'll stick to our General Tso's and Szechuan Pork from down the road.)

He did bring back a lot of really cool stuff.... chopsticks, a beautiful platter, pearl necklaces for Gracie and I, lots of movies, and Leagos (Chinese version of Legos) and a Jade dragon for Nathan.

He had a good time, but we're glad he's home.

Hello from New York...

Well, I have no pictures for you. Bryant has our camera with him on the other side of the world. But, hopefully that means that in a couple of weeks, we'll have some pretty cool pictures to post!

So, for now here are some highlights of what we've been up to while daddy is gone:

• We headed to New York while Bryant's away, and we are planning to stay until after Thanksgiving.
• The kids have really enjoyed going on four wheeler rides with Grandma and feeding the cows their dinner.
• We've pressed some apple cider and made yummy donuts too.
• The kids have had a fun sleep over at their Nana and Papa's, which gave me a night off (I can't remember the last time that's happened).
• And today we're cleaning house and canning apple juice.

Enjoy your week, we are!

Fall Fun!

The Fall always brings lots of opportunities for memories!

Like leaves...

And pumpkin pickin'...

And carving...

And trick or treating!

Road Trip...

Last Friday, we got a call that we've been waiting for... my father was going to be having heart surgery on the following Tuesday. So, we packed up and headed out Saturday afternoon for home, New York. One thing about this trip that was so fun, was to see all the beautiful colors of fall as we were driving through the mountains in Maryland and West Virginia. This is quite a different sight then the road trip across the Midwest.

Dad's surgery went great, and he is recovering very quickly. With all the tubes out of his chest he is able to sit up comfortably and hasn't had a need for his pain medicine. It is truly a miraculous work of God! We are so thankful that we were able to be there for him and my mom, when they needed all of their children the most. I am so thankful to have such a close family, regardless of the miles that separate us.

On our trip back to Virginia yesterday, I had a first. I got my first deer! A 6 point buck! And, I wasn't sitting in a tree stand using a shot gun. But, rather in my minivan! On I-79 just south of Pittsburgh, as the kids say "Mommy, you killed Bambi.". Trust me, I would have rather not of.... but a deer in the median of an interstate is destined to be hit by someone, it just happened to be me. Luckily, very little damage to my van, just a dent on the underside of my front bumper... and one husband who didn't get that nap he was hoping for. Hopefully, there'll be less excitement when I head back that way next week!

To vaccinate or not...

Everyone is so hyped up about whether to vaccinate their children for H1N1 or not. All doctors and health care professionals say "YES!". So, why are we still doubting? I trust the doctors that say to do it, after all they had to get the same shot too. I am no medical professional by far! My medical knowledge spans about as much as I can find on webM.D. or Wikipedia, so who am I to answer the never ending question. Instead I listened to the doctors who say it is safe and got both of my kids vaccinated today. And since I'm not willing to give my kids something that I'm not willing to take... I got it too. And ya know what, in four weeks they're going back for it again!

Prayer...

Hello friends! Today I ask you to pray for my father, Art. Later this week, he is traveling to Pittsburgh for some tests and a heart catheterization. In August he was told that he needed to have a valve replacement and since then there has been a lot of waiting and tests in preparation for surgery. This weeks tests are the final hurdle before the surgery. We should all know a scheduled surgery date by the end of this week. Please pray for safety, calmness and comfort of knowing that our Lord is in control.

It's Been a Long Time...

It has been about 8 years since we have had to do State Vehicle Safety inspections. I've always been in favor of them, I even did a speech in college as to why Kansas needed to have them. But, this morning as we began our process of inspections so that we could register our vehicles here in Virginia... we felt the cost $$$ of them. I am not going to run numbers here or anything, but wowzers!! So today, one vehicle got inspected, one vehicle failed inspection, and one vehicle is currently in the process of getting four new tires. The other vehicle shudders in the driveway at the thought of going to the inspection station. I told ol' Bessy that she'll be good... we'll see.

Flu Shots, Bats, and Pumpkins...

Every time we call the Flu Shot Hotline we seem to have just missed the shots! They only get a limited supply and it seems to be gone quick. So this morning we were up bright and early so that we could await our turn in line at 8:30. And what a line it was! Nathan was rather excited when it was our turn because he was eligible for the flu mist, which meant no shot... woo hoo! Seriously, he asked the lady for "the medicine that goes up the nose"... and was tickled pink when she told him that he could have it!

Since we had to wait for our shots/ mist... Nathan was a little late for preschool this morning. Which meant that when he got home mommy got to help him do his craft.... a bat. All month they are learning about different animals that hibernate or migrate, and today was bat day.

While Nathan was at preschool, Gracie and I headed to MOPS. Today we made a pumpkin craft. I was so afraid of messing up the pumpkin, so I kept it simple. Plus, we like to decorate for the season not just Halloween... so this'll do the trick!