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Showing posts from December, 2006

12/31/06

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Our lovely house! Before it all comes down I have to share how awesome our house looked this year! Ben took an extreme liking to "cool bike" and has talked about it multiple times everyday since Thanksgiving. It's a bit traumatic for him because every morning when we unplug it because it falls down. This is a very big deal for Ben who continues the of his day saying "cool bike fall!" until we put it back up again. It's been fun having him love something so much So thankful for... ~ Mark surprising me with his lawn decorating skills, and desire for that matter. ~ my amazing friend Lolly who watched Ben for me for 6 hours on Friday so I could have a break and get some things done. She even put him down for a nap at her house. Her kindness and sensitivity to me blows me away - she saw I was losing it due to Mark being sick and out of commission and me being, oh, 8 months pregnant. 6 hours is a lot to offer, especially when she has 2 kids o her own at home, so

12/26/06

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Happy Birthday Ben! He's 2, is that even possible? We celebrated with a few friends and family on the 23rd, and today Mark and I have been giving him little presents here and there. He's a bit on "present overload" so we're rationing. :) Here are a few pictures from his party and I'll post more from Christmas and whatnot when I get them up and running. So thankful for... ~ two years ago today... when I gave birth to my baby boy. This year has been such a fun one and I am so thankful for Ben in my life. ~perfect weather for Ben's party ~ getting to have our San Fran crew here for the celebrations ~ 5 resting kids during Christmas lunch. The adults were able to all sit down and eat the same time. A rarity and something I don't think has happened in 3 1/2 years. Love the kids, but love eating warm food too. ~ the very wonderful and generous gifts from everybody. ~ getting to spend Christmas Eve with Howie and Nonny and more of the Kuebler family. That wa

Little Monkey

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Ben as a monkey.
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Our trip to "Candy Cane Lane" ***(There's a new blog below, too.)

12/20/06

I had a brush with bed rest yesterday, and some today. After a couple of hours of too many contractions (more than 4 in an hour is considered too many), and talking with my nurse and doctor a couple of times I was put on "modified bed rest". This means, in their words, "when given the option - sit, better yet lay down." So that's what I did and it helped. They only would start up again if I got up. And today I've only had a couple braxton hicks, which is normal. So that was my brush with bed rest. I'm still going to take it a bit easy (mom) so my plans to go to D-land are put on hold for a couple of weeks, and I won't be joining Sarah for our 3 mile walk around the lake, but I'm ok with that. As long as this little remains calm and stays put everything will be just fine. So today I am thankful for ~sweet Leslie, who had two preemie babies encouraging me to heed my doctors orders. ~ getting to see The Nativity with Mark last Friday. We haven't

12/16/06

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The view from where I sit... First off... a very happy anniversary to my bro Jason and Carrie - celebrating 6 years of marriage. Over those years I've watched them exemplify what a Christ centered marriage should look like. Sacrificing for one another while each took a turn completing training for and starting new careers, Carrie as a nurse and Jason an officer. They've completely shared the rolls of primary care giver to their kids. They've supported each others interests, Jason's soccer and Carrie's running. All the while making each other, and all who are around them, laugh and have a good time like no other. They are the perfect match for each other. Jason found his lobster and her name is Carrie. :) Lot's of love to both of them today. So thankful for... ~ a fire in the fireplace! Wasn't sure if/how it worked so we've left it alone all these months. Today Mark bravely turned the gas on and lo and behold a beautiful, working fire lit right up. It'

12/14/06

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So thankful for... ~silly bathing Ben ~ (multiple) people pointing out that Ben has become much more interactive and playful with others. He has so much fun now playing with his friends, he gives hugs and laughs all the time... it's good to see him developing friendships and getting excited to see people. ~ my time with my mom decorating their tree. It's fun to hear the same old stories about the different ornaments. (or or d ments, as I've consistently called them my entire life.) ~ getting to "see" my new niece via the web-cam today. She's so precious! ~ Mark hanging out with me and Ben while we watched the Caurana's kids the other day. Mark is always a hit with kids, they love him because he's so fun and he doesn't try to be. He took them for crazy wagon rides, they built a fort... he's the best. *My favorite line of the day from Mark was after 4 year old Hannah made the suggestion to get stuffed animals and have a tea party in the fort Mar

12/11/06

IT'S A GIRL!!!! Not me, not me... my sis-in-law Amy had her baby girl, Elizabeth Claire! Her birthday is actually the 12 th , she was born at 12:01am in North Carolina. I haven't talked with Amy yet but I heard that everything went great. Elizabeth is 7 lbs 5oz and beautiful. I'm very excited to have another niece! And I can't wait to hear the details and also see some pictures. I hear she has some red hair, just like her mama. So right now I'm just very thankful for all the blessings of having a new little baby in our lives, for a healthy mom and daughter, for the miracle of childbirth and for my new little niece. I love her already! Congratulations Todd, Amy, Michael and Daniel! You're now a party of 5. I plan on sharing a sweet little bond with Elizabeth, since I'm the youngest of three and only girl. I LOVED and still love that position in my family. She is one lucky girl! :)

12/09/06

* the spell check seems to not be working, and ya'll know how desperately I rely on that... so sorry about any and all mispellings* So thankful for... ~ a very nice last day of MOPS. ~ the opportuntiy to volunteer in Ben's mops childcare room on Friday (he wasn't there, I was just helping out). I got to see what he does for the two and a half hours he's in there each week. It's much more than one big play session! I was so impressed with all the activities and evertyhing. We are very blessed to have great ladies working in his room. ~ time with Leslie after WEEKS of schedualing and re-schedualing playdates. ~ our health at this moment is very good. ~ Mark staying home with Ben so I could run a few errands this afternoon. ~ ONLINE SHOPPING! I did most of my Christmas shopping on-line this year and let me tell you it was WONDERFUL! Most sites have free shipping deals right now, so it actually SAVED me money (and sanity) to buy it all that way. I love it. ~ three nigh
Here's a good email I got today I thought I'd share... Dear children, If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it. 1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time. 2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them. 3. Instead of writing President Bush complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again. 4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tel l them the story of My birth, and why I came to live
So thankful for... ~ a really great time up in Simi with Mark's parent's and friends. It was like a miny vacation. ~ Christmas was early since Tina's off to NC, so I'm thankful for our wonderful Christmas presents. ~ the time Mark spent with Ben so I could get a mani/pedi with Tina. ~ Tina's sweet treat of a manicure and pedicure. Since the winds were so crazy strong in Simi the pampering with lotion felt so good! ~ our time with Ali and Anthony. Always good to see those sweet friends. ~ getting to catch up with CAsey at Coryn's shower on Saturday. I love our valley friends! ~ two gorgeous days and playing outside a lot with Ben. ~ the hugs and kisses Ben planted on me this morning without any prompting or asking for them. He just came right up to me and threw his arms around me. I won't lie, tears filled my eyes. He's such a sweet boy and moments like that just make my heart sing.

11/30/06

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Sort of looks like he's being electrocuted , doesn't it? No, no, this is his "cheese" face.