Fine in 2009

NEW YEAR...NEW BEGININGS

2009 has been a year of many changes...some big, some little, some unexpected. We have seen prayers fully answered and seen hurt at it's ugliest...through it all we saw God be bigger than we thought he could be.
We are so thankful for what we have come through...we could have only come through it and be on the other side because of God, and our family and friends.
It is with great joy, and hope that we move on to a new phase of our lives...we hope we have learned from our mistakes and we choose to move into 2010 with such determination and motivation for a wonderful new year and seeing what God has in store for our family of three!

Some of our 2010 goals:
*Consistent tithing
*Get out of debt
*Get a new car
*Scrapbook regularly
*Get into great shape...including run 5K.
*Spend quality time as a couple more regularly
*Be more generous with others.
*Camp a lot this summer.
*Plan/execute a great Mexico trip.
*Patience with everything
*To worry less
*Realize we can only control ourselves.
*Realization that some of these goals may only get close to completion, and if so that's ok...to keep trying!

Four Christmases

Christmas, Christmas, and more Christmas...we are Christmased-out! One of the many joys of the holidays for us is that we live near both sides of the family, so we have a lot of Christmases.
This year was particularly busy...with four Christmases and our own little family of 3 Christmas! We also attended the Candlelight Service at Netarts which has become a tradition in our family...we both feel so blessed to have our families so close, even if it makes for a busy holiday!!!
This being Aiden's first Christmas we tried to keep with our traditions, year ornaments(including snowmen couple which now gets to have a baby snowman), and the collection of Aiden's own ornaments as well. We traditionally put up lots of lights, make a gingerbread house(which we did with ty and hailey), zoolights(which we avoided this year because Aiden is too little to enjoy them). It was so wonderful having him pull on the wrapping paper of his first Christmas present. :)
Christmas will never be the same for us...the joy and magic of it all will now be shared with our munchkin...our own Christmas gift from God!
We are so blessed and looking forward to Christmases to come...teaching Aiden that Jesus is the reason for the season and showing him all the magical things at Christmas time!!

Aiden is 7 Months!

Aiden is 7 months old! We cannot believe how fast the time is flying...and now we get to celebrate our first Christmas as a family of three.
He is doing so many things...he is mobile for the most part. He isn't quite into everything and he isn't full on crawling, but he can move where he wants usually..he even does this "bear crawl" thing...so funny! He loves toys and books more than ever...he oohs/ahhs and books while we read them to him, he even objects when we take things away..especially the remote, phone, or book when it's done. He loves the shower..he opens his mouth and puts up his hands to "catch" the water. He sits up in his crib, and he really seems to want to walk/stand...he tries whenever he can, and loves it if you hold his hands so he can go!
He has become quite the ham...the camera turns on and he is all smiles...it's really adorable! He still has two bottom tooth buds, just waiting to come in...lately he has been fussier than usual so we think those teeth maybe just about to pop through.
He had a cold this week and oh the joys of a sick baby:( So glad that's over!
Jeph and I are just enjoying this stage with him and we love watching him interact with others..he is such a people person! We are looking forward to Christmas with our big boy!

Here Comes Santa Clause

This past weekend we were planning to go into Portland and finish Christmas shopping. Due to weather we were stuck in Tillamook. So we decided to take the day and have a fun family time.
We went to my parents to visit Aiden's new cousin Elliot, cute boy! Then we went to Fred Meyer(which was a zoo) and did a little shopping. Aiden loved being carried around in the carrier, he squealed and smiled...he is such a people person, especially in the carrier.
On our way out the door we ran into Emily and Daniel...so while we waited for Jeph, we had Daniel and Aiden take their first picture with Santa Clause. Aiden was pretty smiley and Daniel loved Santas beard. It was a really fun time!
Then Jeph and I headed over to the Blue Heron for lunch...it was so good! We picked up an OSU football...that plays the fight song, Oh goodness!
We even took pics with the Blue Heron cutouts...Aiden loved this...especially the cow! He was squealing in such delight...the pics turned out great! :)

Elliot Parker

We are an aunt and uncle again, and Aiden has a new cousin!! Elliot Parker was born to Cherise this morning at 10:22am...8lbs 1oz, 20inches. Mother and baby are doing well!

Welcome Elliot!!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year..

It's December...Jeph and I love December. It is a wonderful time of year...we are such "Christmas people." We have so many traditions...we decorate the weekend of Thanksgiving, we go all out...we put lights.. inside and out, we put up our tree, we have year ornaments( we get a snowman couple, a snowflake, and an ornament of something big that year) we have had an amazing 9 Christmas together, we love going through each years ornaments...great memories.
This time of year is magical wherever you go...we decorated Netarts Church this last weekend..it was fun to turn the church into a Christmas wonderland. Jeph and I send out Christmas cards, attend the Cantata at Nazarene Church, we go to Zoolights, we go downtown and go shopping..we attend the Christmas Eve candlelight service, Christmas with our families...it's such an amazing time of year!!
This year we get to share it with Mr Aiden...we can't wait till Christmas...the next few weeks leading up to it are filled with such awe!!