Zoolight Safari

We went to Zoolight Safari tonight with some buddies, and it was so much fun! The kids had a blast and were amazed by all the lights. Miller, of course, loved the choo-choo ride. Below are some pictures of our evening...The first picture has nothing to do with the zoo (except that we LIVE in a zoo!). Last night we had game night, and the kids enjoyed playing with the various games while we played Taboo. Fun times! Hope everyone is having a wonderful week of Christmas!

Santa Pictures

This morning we went to the Galleria with Jeff's family and shopped around/rode the carousel/took pictures with Santa Claus. We lucked out with Santa because the professional photo system was down, so there was no wait and we got to take our own pictures for free. The cousins had a great time together! Here are some pics...

Thad and Hallie riding the carousel. Miller is in the background with his arm hooked around my neck.
Thad and Hallie after the carousel ride
Mags with Santa
Hallie B. with Santa...She was amazed!
Trying to coax Miller to get closer to Santa...not lookin' like it's gonna happen!
The best we could do...and you can tell Mills isn't thrilled about it.

Winter Fun

Here are some pictures from the past few days. The weather has been coooold, and we have been spending a lot of time indoors. Enjoy!
The kids watching the snow flurries last weekend
Maggie and Alex making Christmas treats...Maggie's pounding the peppermint for peppermint bark.
Colby and Miller on the sit-and-spin. Two-year-olds love to share!
Miller chowin' down on a candy cane (We were building a gingerbread choo-choo train, and he got sidetracked...):-)
Maggie, very proud of the finished choo-choo train!

Awesome Opportunity

No fun pictures to share today, but something better!

Today, Maggie was talking about being scared at night when she wakes up and doesn’t see Mommy and Daddy. I reminded her that Jesus is always with us, and that there is no reason for her to be scared at night. We talked about how she can say a special prayer for Jesus to calm her and protect her when she wakes up and is afraid. A few minutes later, while we were playing, Maggie, out of the blue, said, “Is Jesus really always with us?” I explained to her that Jesus is really with us all the time—whether we’re awake or asleep, happy or sad, whether we’re having a good day or a bad day, whether we’re alone or with friends and family…and that he always loves us, even when we're being disobedient (but that he of course wants us to obey!). She thought this was “amazeable." :-)

This is one of the best conversations Maggie and I have ever had. I love that she is thinking so hard about Jesus and that he is already working in her heart. I am thrilled at the opportunity Jeff and I have daily to witness to our children and introduce them to their Savior. Not often are we given such a blatant ministry opportunity. And I am challenged. I think about the times I have failed my children with my words and actions, and I am motivated to do better. I am challenged to view each day not as “one day closer to the weekend…one day closer to Christmas…one day closer to so-and-so…,” but as one more day I am given the opportunity to teach my children about the love God has for them and prepare them for a life of loving Christ and showing his love to those around them. And what an AWESOME opportunity. Why God has chosen to bless us with these children (even on the “hard” days), I am not sure. But I am thankful beyond words.

Maggie surely did make ME think today.

“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 1:6

Two Silly Geese

Here are some pictures of Mags and Mills playing this morning. Today has been a fun stay-inside-and-play-all-day day. I hope I never take the "uneventful" days like today for granted...Every day I get to stay home with these precious kiddos is an enormous blessing to me. I love spending every day with our two silly geese!

The Butterfly Song

Mr. Turkey...and Some Competition!

Maggie came home from school yesterday singing "Mr. Turkey." She sang it over and over, and then Miller started singing it along with her, and she was NOT happy...

Silly kids!

They have so many toys, but instead of playing with those, they choose to do this...silly kids! (I promise, in case you eat any food from our house that either needs to be strained or sits on a cake plate...I WILL wash these dishes.) :-)

A Fun Fourth Birthday!

We had an excellent day celebrating Maggie's fourth birthday! Mags helped me make chocolate chip pancakes and eggs for breakfast; then we went shopping for a birthday present (Maggie picked out a guitar, which she calls a violin, and has played it all day); then we got Happy Meals; then we came home and rested; then we went out to eat (Maggie picked the restaurant--"Jiminee's"--otherwise known as Jim & Nick's); then we went to church. We just got home and snacked on the Halloween donuts our Fancher friends brought Maggie this afternoon. A GREAT day. :-) Here are some pictures...

Mags enjoying her Happy Meal!
A birthday kiss from little brother
Hanging out with Mommy at Jiminees :-)
With Daddy
Our four-year-old!
One tired birthday girl!

FOUR!

Our Maggie turns FOUR tomorrow. I still remember four years ago like it was yesterday. The day before Maggie's birthday, I had a completely regular day. I got up, went to teach my sweet classes of eighth-graders, and went to my regularly scheduled 36-week doctor's appointment that afternoon. (I remember starting a new lesson on direct and indirect objects and being so concerned while driving to my doctor's appointment that the kids didn't get it and I needed to reteach it the next day.)

I got to my doctor's appointment and had high blood pressure. For the second time that week, my doctor checked me into the hospital for some monitoring and lab work. My blood pressure wouldn't go down, so she decided to keep me overnight and induce the next morning. I remember apologizing profusely to my principal and assistant principal on the phone for taking off a month early. I also remember, among worrying about other things the night before Maggie was born, being concerned that my school kids would NEVER understand direct and indirect objects. :-) I had no idea how God was about to change my life.

After a LONG day on October 20 (I was induced at 7 a.m. and Maggie was born at 9:12 p.m.), we met our sweet girl. From the time I laid eyes on her I could think of nothing else. She was taken quickly to the NICU for some routine monitoring since she was "pre-term," and the nurse brought our healthy baby girl to our room a couple of hours later. I will never forget those first few minutes Jeff and I got to hold Maggie. Such a precious time...no words can describe it.

We are so thankful for Maggie and the sweet little girl she is becoming. We love watching her grow and learn new things, and we feel unbelievably blessed that God has entrusted us with her and with Miller. Tomorrow will be a wonderful day full of reminders of just how blessed we are.

Happy fourth birthday, Maggie!


Four years ago...

Jesus is My Best Friend...

Nap Time

I told Miller it was nap time and then went to get a diaper to put on him. This is how I found him. ;-)

All Dressed Up

These are some pictures we took before a friend's wedding yesterday (Miller isn't dressed up because he didn't go...but he's still cute!). I guess we dress up every Sunday for church, but we're always rushing out the door and never think to take any pictures. We also take very few pics with both parents in them since one of us is always taking the pictures. We'll have more family pics taken soon...

Hope everyone has had a great weekend! It surely has been beautiful!

Kids' Rooms

Jeff's parents just moved and were kind enough to let us use two of their guest beds for Maggie and Miller. Here are pictures of their new "big boy" and "big girl" rooms. Miller is still sleeping in his crib for now, though. He's happy there and sleeps well, so we're not ready to move him to the big bed just yet. Oh, and Maggie's curtain rod, umm, fell, last week. ;-) That's next on the to-do list.


Thank you, Pop and Yaya!

Zoo Trip!

The kids and I had a fun trip to the zoo today! Here are a few pictures...
Miller...VERY happy about playing in the splash pad and eating raisins
Boosting his immune system (aka eating raisins off the ground at the zoo) Yes, eww. :-)
Miller was trying to keep Maggie warm. Her lips turn blue when it's under 80 degrees.
Two-headed giraffe...sort of.

Miller's Birthday Party!

Miller's second birthday party was on Saturday. DEFINITELY memorable. :-) The funny first...The balloons flew away within five minutes of being tied to the pavilion; the Mickey Mouse ears melted off the cupcakes just as quickly; and we found out that I'm not good at using the value size ketchup and mustard bottles. But we were surrounded by family and friends that we love, and we had a wonderful time celebrating the birthday of a very special little guy. Miller, by the way, LOVED all the Mickey Mouse-themed food, music, etc.

We're so appreciative of our family and friends who helped out with the party. Jeff's dad grilled the hot dogs for us; my parents hauled all the stuff to the park; and our friends Scott and Margaret got there early to help us set things up. The night before the party, some of our neighbors came over to help us make the Mickey cupcakes and cookies. LOTS of laughs were had. :-) Jeff and I are so blessed to have family and friends who were willing to help us out. What a wonderful weekend full of laughter and celebration! Here are a few pics from the party...

The happy birthday boy...VERY pleased that everyone is singing to him!
Miller LOVED the cupcakes!
The balloons, minutes before they flew away!
The cupcakes pre-Mickey ears melting
The cookies and cupcakes post-Mickey ears melting. It's okay...Miller still loved them! :-)

Miller's 2nd Birthday!

Our sweet Miller turned two today! Time SURELY flies. As I was putting him down for his nap, I realized it was the exact time he was born two years ago. I hugged him extra tight and thanked God for our precious little boy. What a BLESSING he is to our family. Here are a few pictures from Miller's birthday. His party is Saturday, so more pictures will be coming soon!
Eating and covered in food...how he's happiest! :-)
One of my favorite pictures ever...This boy LOVES his daddy!
Mommy's sweetheart