A New Year Approaches

With the new year now just a day away, I find myself in my reflective mood again. I will do my traditional Year in Review in Pictures on Jan 1st, but my mind is also swirling with New Years hopes and dreams. I don't like resolutions, because frankly I am really bad at them. Really bad. But Billy and I will be having a date night Sat. and will be using that time to reflect and plan. It is fun to look back at my blog over the years and to see the reflections that took place in January! As you wait upon my 2011 posts, you can click on and read my deep thoughts from 2009, A Sweeping Trend in the Modern Church and 2010, Letting Go.

Both seem to be poignant to me again this year as 1)We are hoping to find a new church (more diverse with a younger congregation) and 2) I reread Letting Go and realized that I did. I finally let go. Joy came this year in unexpected places for me, even amongst some real hard times. In an area that has bogged me down emotionally for as long as I can remember...both before and after infertility...I found freedom.

So as I search for the mind space to compose my 2011 reflection post, have a read at the past two years and let me know your thoughts!

The Park

On a very chilly day, we were stir crazy (crazy being the operative word) and took the kids to a park. It was COLD. But the kids had a blast, so we adults hung in there as long as we could.

Aunt Virginia pushing J on the swing. He LOVES to swing.

Nana and Padre have bikes and helmets at their house for all 3 kids now. They biked for a long time!

We decided it really was time for Isaac to ride without training wheels.

Billy was nervous and Padre got the first aide kit!

"Don't drop me!"

Billy said "I'm letting go now! Pedal!!!"Learning to stop with his foot. It did not take long for him to get the hang of it!

Then he was off!

Vivi riding with Aunt Beth.

Vivi with Nana on the way to feed the ducks. Not sure about this!

The birds were crazy!! Billy wanted them to swoop down and eat bread out of his hand but when they did he chickened out! It was hilarious!

J getting help from Aunt Vicki.

Vivi was finally brave enough to throw a few pieces.

She was very proud of herself. :)

We warmed up with some yummy Tex Mex for lunch!

Festival of Lights

Christmas Day

We woke up on Christmas morning at Nana and Padre's house in Houston!

Isaac looks SO incredibly big to me here. Older. Wow.

Very fun fighter plane set! Plus he opened a Trio Batcave, books, Brain Quest cards, legos, crayons, and a really cool journal.

Vivi with gifts bigger than she is!

(an easel and Barbie furniture set)

J with his gifts from grandparents, great aunts, and an aunt.

Vivi with her very girly gifts...pink of course!

Barbie girl!

The Barbie pool was a big hit!

Playing pretty pretty princess!

After lunch, we opened stockings!

That night we enjoyed yummy Christmas treats.

The next day we went to see the movie Tangled....SO cute!

I loved every bit of it!

In the evening, the kids made this snowman cake with their aunts and nana while Billy and I had a much needed....LONG overdue date night to Olive Garden!

Over the weekend, we also went to a park, out to eat Tex Mex, and a light festival. I will post those pics next!

Christmas Cards

Our Christmas Card 2010.

We are so happy with how it turned out, and to have a 3rd child in the family this year was the greatest gift we were given!

How happy we were everyday to check the mail and receive so many beautiful Christmas cards from friends and family. They are still coming days later, and we have run out of room! :)
I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas.