Going to Grandma's House

Well, Jonah has had quite a lot of adventures this Christmas. He really enjoyed his gifts, as I showed you yesterday. He also got to spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa's all by himself. He is such a big boy...he didn't even know we were gone.

Jonathan went on a ski trip with K-Life this year, so I went down to stay at my parent's house while he was gone. They were both on vacation, so we lived it up. Then, on the 22nd I came home to Branson and left Jonah with Mom and Dad. It was a huge success all around. Jonah did great, my parents had so much fun with him, and Jonathan and I had a mini in-house vacation (we actually slept-in...something we haven't done since mid-October 2009)!! We got Christmas shopping done, went to dinner, went to Silver Dollar City...it was FABULOUS. We cleaned our house and it stayed that way. I sure love our boy, and I don't want to part with him on a regular basis, but I (we) fully enjoyed the mini vacation! Then, after the Christmas Eve service at our church, Jonathan and I went back down to my parents' house.

We were very anxious to get there...I wore water-proof mascara that day, just-in-case, you know!! Well, reuniting with our sweet boy was wonderful & a little lack-luster at the same time. Jonah was having such a good time with Grammy and Grandpa he didn't even notice we were there. We scooped him up for hugs, but he wanted to play. We gave him kisses and he looked at the tv. Then, once we'd all sat down at the table to eat, it was like a light bulb came on. He was eating dinner just fine, then all of a sudden he looked at me, started reaching for me, and tried to climb out of his highchair. I'm glad he is so well-adjusted. I love that lil' cutie!

This is a rocking chair that was mine when I was little. He would climb up into it and turn himself around to a seated position...what a smart little fella!

This rocking horse was made for me when I was little. I think I can remember getting it for Christmas one year. I love that my baby can have fun with it now. He lit up every time Mom would rock him on it! He was so good about staying in place when seated on the horse. There will come a day, I'm sure, when he tries to climb all over it or ride it while standing.

Look how cute! They had such fun together!!

Can you see the Wii controls in Jonah's lap? He would climb anywhere to try and get those. In this picture he had just climbed up into my mom's lap (he can use his charm) and searched the back of the couch...look at that victorious face! He was so proud of his accomplishment. 

Thanks, Grammy (and Grandpa), for a great week. We will do it again sometime.

Having a Ball!

Merry December. This may be one of my last posts for the year. We have been having such fun this Christmastime! Jonah loved opening gifts, but really loved playing with them! One of his favorites was this ball that was in his stocking!

He loves to play with balls! He even knows how to say "ball," but we'll get to more of that in a moment.

Here is another picture from Christmas morning! Look what Santa brought...

We've been having lots of fun with this truck! It even has a working excavator scoop on the front. Thanks Santa Rob! (our friend Rob loves to spoil Jonah...and nobody is complaining)

Here we see Jonah with 2 balls! He is having so much fun! Here is a video of him playing with Jonathan. These guys are so cute!

Here he is again saying "ball" ...this one is short.

Baby it's Cold Outside!

Wow! I know it is mid-December. I have to keep reminding myself it is supposed to be this cold. It's almost Christmas, right?! The wind almost did me in last week. But, I'm still here. And so is this cute cute cute boy. So, if you need to warm up a bit, just look at this little bundle. He is so snuggly!

Believe it or not, I purchased the pull-over at a different place than the hat/mittens. But, they just so happen to match perfectly! I guess that makes him my cute little matchy monkey!

(he loves the mittens...he laughs when I put them on. he also loves to pull them off! I have to be quick to get them on at the same time, so he can't use his free hand to remove the mitten I just got on. then, I have to get the passy in quickly or he will use his teeth. my baby, he sure is a smart little thing!)

Merry Merry Christmas

Well, here it is. The busy hustle & bustle time of year. This is the time we all go out, fight the parking lot chaos, search for just the right gift (or one that will "just have to do"), and stand in long lines...all in the name of merriment! Crazy what we'll do for loved ones, isn't it! I really do love this time of year. I like shopping and gift wrapping. I like the fun of a good gift exchange. And believe you me, I've been in on some pretty fun exchanges already this year! Some of you (like my sis-in-law) were smart and completed your shopping by September. And the rest of you are like me, and have barely begun! I always find myself waiting till the last minute...but I just don't know where to begin. Thankfully we've simplified things this year and I have a whopping total of 5 real gifts to purchase. The downside is they are all for...well, I can't say who for, but let me just say, they are not easy people for which to shop. Anyway, that's not what I'm here to talk about today.

I took a little time out of this busyness to create some Christmas cards. I was very excited about my cards this year. I had some I'd gotten on clearance a few years back. They were dated, so I found a clever way to disguise the date and keep them cute. I worked with my family to get a wonderful photo, which I inserted in the photo slot. It was only after I sealed each one of them that I realized my "adhesive device" used in disguising that pesky date created a bulk in the card. This bulk, I knew would cause the cards to be hand-sorted (@ .64 each). Sooo, I re-opened each one of them and traded out the adhesive. resealed them. stamped them. Only to find I didn't have enough for all the folks on my list! WHY oh why do I do things the hard way?? This new predicament led me to walmart.com/photo. I found a cute, inexpensive card that went well with that wonderful family photo. To make an already long story a little shorter, everyone on my list got a card. Then, today I discovered this: the Christmas card I WISH I'd done!!  Isn't it the cutest idea/design/creation you've ever seen! I just love them. Maybe next year. Maybe.

Ok, the link didn't work, but I was able to post an example. It is an ornament. Isn't it the cutest! (I had one all personalized and everything, but eh, maybe next year). This is found at tinyprints.com...they have several designs.

The Year in Review

Well, this is a little late in coming. I just thougth everyone might enjoy a collage of Jonah's first year of life. I took a picture every Friday (well, almost every Friday). I have them labeled by week. I couldn't figure out how to center each little "thumbnail" in the collage, so some of them are kind of funky. We sure do love this boy and the time we spend with him!! He is a good little picture-taker!!! (remember, you can click on the photo to see it larger...just click the "back" button on your browser to return to the blog).

Just Ask

I'm feeling a little thoughtful & reflective today. I'm taking the time to think of the things the Lord has done lately. I don't always do that. Most often I hustle and bustle to the next thing or think ahead to plan what I need to get done. Today I was pondering in my heart while driving. God is so good.

Jonathan and I were recently met with a challenge. Something out of our control had been decided and it made a big impact on us directly. It was a negative thing and we felt a little betrayed/hurt. After going through a few emotions, we collected ourselves and DID something. We wrote a letter. The trouble with letters is that you don't get the exact feeling/intonation behind the words. We had to trust that the words would be received in the right way. It was scary, but we left it in the hands of God. You know what? HE took care of the issue. We have yet to know if our problem will be fully resolved, but we feel like the letter made it's desired impact. Thank you, Lord!

Someone else, very close to me, shared a story just yesterday. She was working, and on her way to an meeting that was less-than-thrilling. She was talking it out with the Lord, asking Him to show her she was in the right place, making the right decisions for the future. WELL, let me tell you, He did just that! Someone who observed her work that day said he would like to offer her a job...make it worth her while...AND that they have tuition reimbursement (for that masters degree she is enrolled for already). Even if it doesn't pan out, if she doesn't change jobs, she feels valued and reaffirmed!

Matthew 7: 7-8. 

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened.

No Shave November

 

Have you ever heard of "No Shave November?" I had not until this year. Jonathan (along with his fellow K-Life staff guys) participated this year. I wish I had pictures of the other guys. K-Life staff are under contract to be clean shaven, so they had to get special permission to partake of this apparently nation wide event. 

*I have learned that some women participate in this as well. I am not, nor will I ever be one of those women!

I found a website about it...I grabbed this from the site:

The Rules

1. You do not shave in November.
2. You DO NOT shave in November.
3. If you shave you are out.
4. No trimming, no waxing.
5. No shaving can go on as long as you want it to.

oops...looks like Jonathan did not obey rule #4. He kept his beard trimmed neat and tidy...thanks, Honey!

Beard Facts

• On average, whiskers grow 5.5 inches per year.
• Hans Langseth of Norway grew the longest beard ever recorded at 17' 6".
• The only guy without a beard in ZZ Top has the last name of "Beard."
• The average man will spend 140 days of his life shaving.

Well, you may have noticed that we turned a calendar page today. It is no longer November. Which means...yep, he shaved. Jonathan had some fun while removing the facial hair & I snapped some photos. Let me just say when it comes to Jonathan and facial hair it must be all or nothing. I like him with a full beard and I like him clean shaven...there is no acceptable in-between!

Yipes. This is downright creepy!

silly guy sporting the mutton chops.

 does anyone agree the one on the left looks a bit like a mug shot?!

NOT your best look, Dear.

 Now THAT's what I call handsome! I sure do love Jonathan. So does Jonah. He cries every day when his daddy leaves for work.

If you are bored, you can check out all these beard styles I found. Some of them I've never heard of...ok, most of them I have never heard of. I guess that could be due to the fact that I don't have a beard!