Love

I know Valentine's Day is supposed to be a day to celebrate romantic love, but I think there are so many different kinds of love to be celebrated. I am a lucky woman. My family is quircky, annoying, crazy, and wonderful. My friends know how to challenge me to be better as well as edify me for my strengths. With these things alone I would be blessed, but I have more. I have a wonderful husband who still loves me and after 8 years of marriage we have not lost the passion. He is my best friend, my biggest supporter, and someone who helps me find the adventure in everyday life. Plus, he gave me two beautiful children.

My kiddos are the most amazing part of my life. It's sort of funny when I think about that because I always thought my life would not include children. Motherhood was not a lifelong dream but it has become a huge part of my life's purpose. When Spencer gives me a hug and tells me he loves me or when Jayden is grumpy but cracks a smile just for me I realize how amazing it is that these children are mine. They love me, they think I can work magic in any situation, and no matter what, I'll always be their mommy.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Low Key

For our New Year celebration this year we hung out with the Cramers. Piper was adorable and she and Spence had a blast playing while Jayden snoozed away the turning of the year. When Steen got off work we played Spades and snacked on junk food. We all reminisced about previous New Year celebrations and the way our lives have changed in the last few years. It was a fun and relaxing evening topped off with a yummy breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes this morning. I hope you all had a great night and that 2011 is a great year for all of you.

Merry Christmas 2010

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. We celebrated with the Petterson family on the 22nd in Nyssa at Mike & Carrie's house. Once again we were wowed by Carrie's beautiful decorations. :) We went early to hang out and help out with the cooking and then enjoyed dinner and presents. Jayden started out in jammies but then changed into the cutest christmas leotard/tutu with red tights and festive bootie socks. I made her a headband because I couldn't find one I like at the stores and she looked like a Christmas ferry princess.

Spence had a blast playing with cousins and Steen got to chat it up with family. I made my new stuffing creation (I made an experimental recipe last Christmas for cranberry orange sausage stuffing, yum!) and sweet mashed potatoes. The boys enjoyed it but it wasn't a huge hit with the rest of the crew (understatement), oh well. Dirk came over with us and hung out until his dad arrived to take him home. It was great to get to visit with him. We miss him like crazy.

The rest of the crew enjoyed chilling on the new furniture at Steen's parents house while I was cooking... what a life. :)

Jayden and some of her cousins.

Great Grandpa Neil & Great Grandma Ruth

got to meet Jayden.

Opening presents by the tree.

Check out her adorable getup.

Steen had to work on Christmas Eve and on Christmas day so Spencer and I celebrated on our own on the 24th with games, crafts, and goodies and then Steen and I put up the tree that evening when he got off work, actually I guess it was super early on Christmas morning. We didn't run into Santa though; he waited to visit our house until we went to bed. :) We opened presents super early on Christmas morning and then had a yummy dinner when Steen got off work. It was an awesome time for us as we all lounged around in our jammies (yep, we didn't even get dressed on Christmas day) and enjoyed the time spent together.

Our tree had a total of four ornaments on it on Christmas morning.

Yikes, no award for mother of the year for 2010. :)

This was the extent of the christmas decorations at our house, besides the Christmas tree, this year. That's right, I just put out a vase and a bowl and filled them with candy. Don't judge me, I just had a baby in November. :)

OMG, I have two kiddos this Christmas. Yikes, and I'm 30.

How did that happen?

Lots of fun presents.

One tuckered out little girl, presents are hard work.

Yes, she actually enjoyed her first Christmas presents.

We also discovered that she's just a little bit vain.

She must get that from Steen *wink*. Heehee!

"I feel pretty, oh so pretty, I feel pretty and witty and gay."

West Side Story... watch the movie if you don't get it.

After a frantic call to my dad about the tri-tip steak, we finished up cooking it and sat down to an amazing Christmas dinner: mulled apple cider, red wine marinated tri-tip steaks, vegetable medley, red wine gravy and sweet mashed potatoes, & lemon oreo cheesecake. It was delightful.

The picture doesn't do it justice, but the meat was moist, flavorful, and perfectly medium rare.

The day after Christmas Steen had to work at 6 am. Ugh. Spencer, Jayden, and I joined the Gismondi family for the twins' dedication at Calvary Chapel. It was lovely to get to be there for this moment. After the service we headed to Cracker Barrel for a yummy meal and some visiting time. The outing was a double delight because I got to put Jayden in her Christmas outfit I didn't dress her in on Christmas day. She was just adorable.

Mark said a prayer for the twins upbringing and future while Pierce tried to eat the microphone.

Anna hammed it up for the congregation.

Jayden rocked her Christmas outfit: a red and white striped Santa onesie, red and green hair bow, ruffled red corduroy pants, and festive bootie socks.

Today I am cleaning house, baking muffins, and planning on taking a nap after Spencer does a reading assessment. We had a wonderful Christmas and I hope you did too. Enjoy your New Year celebration!