Birthday blast

I must say that we had so much fun at Caroline's birthday party. She was so cute wearing a little embroidered tee that had an oversized two on it. My SIL had it made, and it was just too cute! All of our guests were to come with the exception of Josh's parents. It wasn't snowing at the time, but they were afraid to leave for the party and get snowed out. They live in the mountains of N. GA, and got a lot of snow/ice/sleet so it was completely understandable that they couldn't come.

I don't think I'd ever seen Caroline "hyper" until the party. She was SO excited! She seemed to know right away that everything was for her. Of course she tried to sneak and open her presents early when I wasn't looking. She also ran around like crazy talking nonsense, and playing with the balloons I'd bought. We had a lot of fun. I got a cupcake for her, so after we cut her big cake, she ate both her cupcake AND some real cake. I got some cute icing-face pictures too. Overall it was a really fun day. I'm glad that we got to spend it with family. They're such a blessing!

Long time no see...

sorry about that. I don't know about you, but I've been busy! It seems like Christmas flew by, then we went to the beach for a week, and then there was just mountains and mountains of laundry to do! Lately I've been preparing for Caroline's b'day party, which is tomorrow. Even though it's going to be a very laid-back party, I've been running around like crazy trying to get things done. I've put off cleaning the house until the very last minute. Otherwise it'll just need to be re-done. But there's been errands like crazy. That coupled with the fact that the girls are now playing together, kinda keeps me on my toes.

Lately I've laid in bed and chuckled to myself at the quotes I'd said throughout the day. Things like, "No, no. Don't feed your sister rocks!" or "Quit eating paper" (to Sarah Kate) and then "Quit feeding her paper!" (to Caroline after realizing what had really occurred). Like I said they keep me on my toes.

Yesterday, Caroline officially turned two. She's been two in spirit for quite some time now, but we're seeing a nurturing quality in her too. She often runs to find Sarah Kate's passy when the baby's crying. She's been carrying her baby doll everywhere she goes, even holding the doll up to the car window saying "look. see? truck. car. tree. see?" It's just so cute! She even puts the doll in its carseat carrier and puts it in the crook of her arm the way I carry Sarah Kate. It's really endearing. I think she's got a tender heart, just sometimes her stubborness gets in the way. (She got it from her momma, what can I say?) Kind of a reality check that she's watching me so closely. The verse about "being imitators of God" comes to mind. I want her to be a Godly woman, and she's gotta learn it somewhere. That somewhere is me. Kinda scary, kinda exciting. But her turning two is bittersweet, just like every birthday will be I guess. Glad she's growing up, but then I don't want her to grow up either.

Last night Dad and Kathy, Katie, and my grandmother all came up to celebrate. They won't be able to come to the party, so they brought cupcakes. A word she learned quickly! She REALLY liked it when we sang "Happy Birthday" and she even blew both her candles out without any prompting! I was so proud!

I'll leave you with some pictures. Trying to get back up to speed. Christmas. Beach. Snow. Birthday. I hope I can fit them all in. We'll see. Sorry I've been neglecting blogger. I'll try to do better. And sorry for the long post, but I wanted to catch up to speed.

Mmmmm...the warmth of home and all things cozy

It's been a little more difficult this holiday season to get in the the "feeling" of Christmas because I'm at home all day with the girls. When I was teaching I had to attend every Christmas program and party imaginable, brought home yummy goodies from my students, and by the time Christmast rolled around I was ready for a break. Well now that I'm home I don't have all that, and I've been sort of a loss as to how to celebrate or bring that feeling back. So I've found myself decking the halls and blaring Christmas music all the time. I've made our traditional holiday goodies, and now I'm just waiting for Christmas to arrive. I'm learning to find joy and comfort (or comfort and joy, ha!) in the little things of Christmas--the musicbox my mom made MANY years ago in her ceramics class, the sight of 2 new stockings hanging by the fireplace, and I can never get enough of my Christmas tree. Here are a few sights I get to enjoy:







And then I finally got some time to do a little scrapping too.






I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas! And a Happy New Year too!
See ya'll in 2008! I'll be a year older and a year wiser (yeah right!). Merry Christmas!

a dear, sweet friend

more precious than words can describe, more valuable than they'll ever know. When I thought that no one would remember, my thoughtful friend surprised me yet again. I came home over a week ago to find a decorated tree waiting for me on my front porch. Not only was it festively decorated and strung with clear lights, but it's "ornaments" were different Scripture references written out on strips of embossed paper, each adding its own comforting words. At the top of the tree near the bow a card read, "In memory of Claire Hoffman Misner We loved you too."

You see, my dear sweet friend had remembered that I wanted to start a Memory garden for my precious little Claire, Sarah Kate's twin who was lost at 20 weeks after inutero surgery. And on the anniversary of our loss, standing valiantly on my front porch was a living tree bearing words of encouragement and standing tall in an altered bucket that read "Emmanuel, God with us". When I thought no one would remember. We never really had a funeral, so there wasn't an event that would trigger people's memory. So, I thought we'd have to suffer the pain/loss all by ourselves. But no. My friend remembered, dedicated her time during a crazy holiday season, to think of us, to create a special keepsake for us, to let us know they really cared. I can't even begin to tell you how much that has meant to us.



The tree now stands in our dining room even though it's a live tree. We didn't want the rain or anything else to harm it's decoration. Eventually I'll plant it outside, but for now it stays lit in our home. Each time I pass it, I'm reminded that God has provided for us in ways unimaginable, has used the people in our lives to show us His graciousness and endless mercy. I'm simply reminded, as it reads, that "God is with us." What a comfort! What a gift!

Ironic don'tcha think?

Okay, like I've said earlier, I love taking little quizzes like these. Here's the latest.

You Should Have a Blue Christmas Tree

For you, the holidays represent a time of calm, understanding, and peace. You avoid family fights, and you don't get too stressed out - even when things are crazy! You like to make Christmas about making everyone's life a little bit better. You don't get caught up in greed or commercialism. You're too sincere for that. Your blue tree would look great with: Lots of silver tinsel You should spend Christmas Eve watching: It's a Wonderful Life What you should bake for Santa: Chocolate chip cookies

What Color Christmas Tree Should You Have?

I think that this is a hilarious prediction/revelation because I HATE anything BLUE that has to do with Christmas. I know that the "blue" tree is supposed to represent my personality, my attitude toward the season, but still. Blue??? I don't think so.Christmas is about red and green despite the recent push to include pink and lime, etc. It's NOT about BLUE! And on top of that I CAN'T STAND TINSEL!!! It's messy, it's cheap looking, and it does NOT belong on a tree! So, so far my quiz predictions have not been so accurate. Scott Baio is a no go, a blue tree is hideous, and tinsel? Yuck! But, it's all for fun, so I'll keep taking them. I'll keep posting them. Why? Because my inner teenage girl still likes to giggle at the outcomes. Enjoy!

Yummy Christmas candy!

Just a quick post that'll hopefully make you smile. Caroline's two newest words--"andy" and "ookie"!

Christmas trees

We've had our tree up for a while now, but with all the bustle and busyness of the season, I haven't posted in a while. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the whole "tree" experience, everything from picking it out to decorating Caroline's personal tree


searching.....searching.....


"Do you think this one'll work?"


Yep! This is the one!!!

Well, that's all I've got for now. I forgot that when I took pictures of the girls decorating the tree, my memory card was still in the computer. :( I'll have to download them later. TFL!