Happy 2nd Birthday Tubs!

Today, our baby is two!!! And as hard as it is to see him growing so quickly, I must say that I have enjoyed getting to know my little boy over these past two years more than I can express. He is funny, sly, energetic, mischievous, sweet, talkative, charming and so much more. Silas, we love you to pieces!

We celebrated this morning with a few cousins at a joint birthday party for Silas and Henry. Prepare yourself...there are probably way more photos here than you wish to see. Happy birthday, boys!

A very merry Christmas indeed...

The kids carried on the tradition of acting out the Nativity, and although pretty basic, it was darling to watch. I'll let you guess who played what. And if you are really good, you might just figure out who played Mary and Jesus:




We also went to see Curly, Donner, and Blitzen:










And of course we opened presents:









And Owen spent a bit of time enjoying Silas' birthday gift from Holland and Lincoln:






We also did a number of other fun, festive things that I was so busy enjoying I didn't even bother to get my camera out! Hope you all enjoyed your Christmas, too!

Hope and Joy...

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted. We're still here, I promise! There are so many things I would love to say or post on here, it's just that finding the time to get it done or the words to adequately express my thoughts has been a challenge lately. But I do want to take the time now to share a little of what's been on my heart lately (shocking, I know, since I typically just post pictures). That being said, here goes nothing...

I feel like I have had to grow up a LOT this past year. I feel like I have had to face the reality that sometimes life hurts. That the reality of what we face on this earth is not always easy. That sometimes we or the people we love have to endure immense heartache. And we often don't understand it. But you know what? In the midst of it all, my God has shown me more of himself this past year than I ever could have imagined. He has given me a hope, and a peace, and a longing for Him that I wouldn't trade for the world. I guess I bring this all up to say that, although our hearts are heavy for several people around us right now who are deeply hurting, I am more thankful now than ever for the little tidbits of joy God provides in the midst of the struggles we all face. Things like...

Warm cocoa with my boy:






And going to look at Christmas lights in matching jammies and boots:



And the delightful scent of paperwhites:



And frost covered trees:



And my boys, even if they aren't cooperating for pictures before the church Christmas performance:



I guess, to wrap it up, I want to say that I truly hope you find joy this Christmas in the birth of our Savior, and that you delight in His love for you, and that His little blessings put a smile on your face regardless of your circumstances. That may sound cheesy, but I mean it from the bottom of my heart!