Prayer for Missions

Please keep my brother and his precious family in your prayers. A few days ago they left for Southeast Asia for a short term missions trip. They should be getting settled into their new home today. We will miss them, but we are so proud of them for being willing to follow God's leading in their life! We look forward to reuniting with them this summer!

And.... Action!

As promised, here is Lucas demonstrating the new family word he coined several weeks ago:

"Oh dear!" + "Oh shoot!"= "Oh Smear!!!!" And no one delivers this phrase quite like Lucas. It makes me laugh. I hope it makes you laugh too!

My New Favorite Lunch

I have been craving veggies lately, which is great because usually it's chocolate and jelly belly's! In the winter I have a weird aversion to lettuce. I used to blame it on pregnancy, but this year there is no baby to blame. So here is my take on a winter salad.

1 small bunch of broccoli cut into bite sized pieces.
1 carrot, scraped and sliced
1 large handful of snap peas
1/2 cup garbanzo beans
1 Tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Heat olive oil in pan. Add veggies and beans. Saute for 7-8 minutes or until heated through. Season with salt and pepper. Enjoy! Toasted pine nuts or pecans make a great addition to this dish also!

The Anitdote

Recently, I had a few days where I was feeling extremely restless and down in the dumps. I was having a hard time getting back in the right frame of mind... until Lydia walked into the bedroom wearing this headband upside down. I just busted out laughing at her perky pigtails! Thanks, sweetie, for lightening my mood!

Snowman Gone Bad!

Several days ago we had a nice wet snow so the kids and I headed over to the yard at our new house and constructed a snowman. The kids ditched me after about 5 minutes of watching me roll snow around the yard- can't say as I blame them! But they had fun decorating him! The problem came when I had them stand next to the snowman for their pictures. Lydia kept running away from the snowman and she finally told me she was afraid him. I thought he looked pretty cute!

Notice she has no gloves on... she refuses to keep them on. Poor little hands!Here she is fully recovered from the traumatizing afternoon. The look so adorable and squishy in their winter-wear!

Very Belated Christmas Pictures

I know you are all probably so done with Christmas, but I had to post some pics.
Christmas with Brian's family on Christmas eve:

Lydia trying on Aunt Katie's new winter hat!
This is Christmas morning at our "new" house. We did end up setting up a small area to celebrate Christmas in our own home- just the four of us. It didn't last long, but it was sweet.
Worn out! Too much activity for one day!


This is Christmas with my side of the family in January:
I had my grandma's name this year and this is the quilt I made for her. It was a ton of fun! I love McKenna Ryan's patterns!
It's not too often that Lydia will fall alseep in someone's arms. She looks so sweet in this picture!