Welcoming The New Year

2009 was a wonderful blessed year for our family. We look forward with anticipation, hope, trust and faith in our Lord as we begin 2010.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Lana's Birthday Day

After a good night's sleep from the party yesterday, another little surprise was in store for our birthday girl.

First, the customary donut breakfast:

Then, we went to the American Girl "doll store." Here is Lana with her first American Girl doll -- the Bitty Baby. She has brown hair and brown eyes, just like Lana.

After we purchased her baby doll, the saleslady took it out of the box so Lana could carry it. It is the thing to do in the store --- all you see are little girls holding their dolls throughout.

Daddy had met us there from work and he had a little bit of time before he had to get back, so we had a morning snack overlooking the ice rink and huge Christmas tree. Lana thought it was pretty neat!

And that wraps up Lana's exciting start to being FOUR!

*Be sure to scroll down to see her birthday party pictures!

Happy Birthday Lana!

Happy Birthday, sweet Lana!

Four years old!

Precious child with a sweet, caring and sensitive heart -- Mommy and Daddy love you so very much!

Smile and shine, angel girl!

Lana's Birthday Party!

Balloons and...

....cupcakes.... must mean that it's birthday party time!

This is me, the birthday girl:

Today was my 4th birthday party at The Little Gym!

My special guests were: my great grandmother, Mema; my grandparents Nandad, Nana, Maw & Paw Paw; my friends Katie, Morgan, Sydney & Grayson, Blake & Barrett, Tommy & Kara, Abby (and all their parents) and of course my little sister, Lydia, Mommy and Daddy. Wow!! So many people that I love and care about were there to celebrate with me!

There were so many fun things we did! It was non stop games, jumping, bouncing, swinging, dancing and workin' up a sweat!

My favorite thing: the rings!

Friends from my class at school:

Morgan, Sydney, me and Katie

Umm, my least favorite thing: the crab walk, it was too frustrating to me!

Chugga, chugga choo choo train -- this train headed straight to the party room with the cupcakes. Let's go!!

Ahh, everyone is singing Happy Birthday to me! :)

Making a wish and blowing out my FOUR candles!

I love the pink princess cupcakes Mommy made!

My friends!

My family!

I had the most super fun birthday party!!! Being four is pretty neat already! Thank you everyone for making it so special!

Christmas, the 25th

We set off to Maw and Paw Paw's for Christmas, the 25th today! A few more gifts were exchanged:

I wish I could remember what Lydia and Paw Paw were saying here!!!

From their house, we went to Daddy's fire station for a Christmas luncheon. All the families were invited in order for everyone to be able to see their beloved fireman. It was quite a feast, potluck style with every family bringing something incredible! We stayed for a couple of hours and Tim and I knew that we were indeed blessed with two very special "Christmas days."

To my parents: I love you and am so grateful for the love, time and attention you give to our family. There are not enough thank you's or I love you's to let you know how much I appreciate and honor you.

To my girls: You are the most precious gifts I could have ever imagined receiving from the Lord, our God. I love you, I love you, I love you.

To my husband: I am yours. You are mine. God gave us to each other and our love will always be rooted on the foundation of His holy name. My love for you is true and deep.

*Whew, those little dedications just came from my heart and I needed to get them on here. I could go on with more thoughts to more of you, but I'll leave it at that tonight! You know who you are -- those of you who are very special to me. I love you and Merry Christmas!

Our Christmas, the 24th

We awoke on our Christmas morning and began by singing Happy Birthday to Jesus... It was His party after all!

Excitement on this little face while looking in her stocking:

A sweet moment between Daddy and Lydia:

Lana's long awaited PONY HOUSE!

Lana got a princess dress-up set and she is Sleeping Beauty and Lydia is Snow White:

Getting the hang of unwrapping a gift (she certainly didn't want anyone's help!!):

Enjoying her new music set:



Lana's first bike!



It began to snow that afternoon which really set the scene. We enjoyed a most wonderful Christmas day together from start to finish. Yes, it was technically a day early, but it was everything it needed to be -- us. together. laughing. giving. hugging. eating. napping. loving. living moments that will last forever in our memories.

Merry Christmas to you!

Go tell it on the mountain,

over the hills and everywhere,

Go tell it on the mountain,

That Jesus Christ is born!

Christmas Eve

This year we attended Christmas Eve church service a day early again and we are so thankful our church offers that. The girls looked beautiful. We checked Lydia into her class and Lana went with us to "big church." This was the first time she has been in for the whole service and she felt like a big girl to do that. We checked Lydia out of her class early and brought her in with us so that we could all be together to sing "Silent Night."

This really was our Christmas Eve -- since Tim works Christmas day, we decided the 24th would be our Christmas. So, when we got home, the girls opened their Christmas Eve pajamas:


And we left carrots and water for the reindeer:


And magic cookie bars and milk for Santa:

After tucking them in for the night, we could hear Lana tossing and turning in anticipation for the next morning!!