SNOW!!

And we liked it this time!!!!

Fragile

I think sometimes we forget...no I KNOW sometimes we forget how real life is...and that we have no guarantee of another day...
Not mentioned for the purpose of being gruesome, but for the purpose of being aware and thankful...to cherish

“Let’s say this goes really bad for me. Most people are not going to get what I am going to get - which is a year, two, five, 10, 12 … to fight. And to spend time with my children and to understand that each day really is a gift. What are the statistics? That 150,000 people in the United States are going to die today? And they’re going to die in car wrecks, of brain aneurysms. Most of them are going to die instantaneously. They don’t get to lay in bed with their wives, like I’ve gotten to for the last month and say what I want to say to her. To kiss my children. To drink it in really deeply, all of that. It’s carpe diem on steroids, all of a sudden. That really is a gift.”

quote from Matt in his recent article

Noah - 20 months

This little guy is growing up so fast!! He makes us laugh everyday! I love getting to know his little personality. His Aunt Niki says he is "spirited," which I think is a nice way of saying "strong willed" ;)

Helping mommy clean

I know you can't see it, but we do have a diaper on here :)

Feeding "puppy"

My little artist

so serious

a baby on the hip and vacuuming...hmmm..

where has he seen this?!!!

Baby Ben :)

A few weeks ago we had a baby shower for Lisa and little Ben. Lisa has been on modified bedrest for a while now (uh huh...sure ;)), but is doing great! Here are some pics from her shower:

Marcy, Lisa, Kim and Jen..college roomies at one point!

Lisa, Marcy, Kim and Nicole

Lisa and Marcy (marcy is pregnant with twins!)

Hostesses: LeeAnn, Kim, Nicole, Lisa, Brandie, Jennifer

Article

The Associated Press wrote an article on our pastor, Matt, and it was released this weekend and various media outlets across the country have already picked up the story. Just another way God is being glorified in this situation.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/national/83152262.html

2 Whole Weeks!!!

After blocking out the weeks leading up to and during Levi's law school finals (not exaggerating), our family actually had 2 FULL WEEKS with all of us home. It was WONDERFUL. We really relaxed and enjoyed our time together. Noah was sick some of the time, but it sounds like the majority of those with kids experienced this. And for some reason, he decided to sleep in until 9 or 9:30 each morning!! Here are some pictures:

we went to the Galaria for pics with Santa with the May Family
Here Brooks and Noah are checking out the ornaments

Brooks and Briggs did great

Noah did not...

We had a Christmas party with our home group (well, half of us)

Levi and I went down to Houston for one of his pledge brother's weddings. I also got

to have lunch with some of my girlfriends!

Kile, Christina, Jill and me

Grant, me, Levi and Matt

Celebrating Christmas at my mom and dad's house

The mechanics for Noah's hot wheel

Kelly, Lane and me

Noah opening some gifts

Here we go!

smooches

making important phone calls while driving

Family pic

Christmas Eve at our house before church, and
before he chunked the bible on the ground...

Christmas Eve

Levi's family came over and went to church with us Christmas Eve. The weather was crazy! We had dinner and opened gifts before his mom and sister had to head back home for work in the morning. We were supposed to head to Kansas City in the morning to see his Grandma and Grandpa but did not go because of the weather.

Noah and Hudson

Trains!

my bike from Granna!

Christmas Morning

Eating the left over cookies from Santa

We could have put straws in his stocking and he would have
been just as happy! I think he just liked the process of pulling

stuff out of it!!

He WILL play the piano :)

We bundled him all up to go play in his first snow. He didn't

last very long out there because he was not a huge fan of there

being a "mess" on all of his things.