The award for most touching present goes to...

dear miss Faith, who not only TOOK this amazing picture of my son, but framed it for me as well.
...I freely admit that I teared up when I opened this gift...

...but seriously folks, wouldn't you?

(I will post more soon, I promise. Right now, I don't want to wreck Jon's game play with a bunch of photo uploading induced lag)

Feet Friday---A Snowy Meander

for a laugh or two

When the snow piles high...

Sunday morning, I woke up and knowing it had snowed quite a bit the night before, wandered out to the sliding door to see how much snow had fallen. I was expecting 4-6 inches, but I also expected to see our snowman's cute little orange-peel grin. What I got was this:
Holy cow! Somehow, the snow had drifted all over my porch. Mr. Snowman was completely buried, as was Jonny's peonie (God only knows if that thing will survive this crazy winter) and Liam's garden pot. Liam was disappointed that the snowman was buried, but soon "warmed up" to the idea of building a snow fort:

Even David got in on the snow play, but not for very long, cuz he's still a bit sniffly and coughy. I let him play in it long enough to snap a couple pictures and then sent him off to warmer play.I must admit, this has been such a treat. Snow here in our area doesn't stick around very long, and hardly ever does it keep snowing. I'm really hoping for a white Christmas, we're so close now!

Jonny's Sickness Adventure

So, Jonny's been sick the longest and worst of all of us. His dad has had pretty much the same symptoms, and was diagnosed yesterday with pnuemonia.
So, Jon called me, said, "Get me an appointment as soon as possible."
His appointment was this morning at 9am.
At 6am, he woke up with excrutiating pain in his right ear.

He called me after his appointment to tell me the verdict. It's not pneumonia, but he does have bronchitus and an ear infection. But not just any normal ear infection.

No.

The doctor looked in his left ear and said, "This is fine." Looked into the right ear and said, "oh. Oh my god. That's bad. We don't often see it that bad in adults." or something along those lines.

I guess that explains why the right side of Jonny's head felt like it was going to explode. Or implode. One or the other.

The good news: Jonny's got medicine to make him all better. I'm not a huge advocate of western medicine....we prefer to stay as natural as possible, but in this case, I'm so glad he's got the guns to kick this ear infection, cuz I can't stand seeing him in pain.

Feet Friday--Pruny Bath Feet

Here's the pruny just-out-of-the-bath feet of my little water baby!
Boy, does David LOVE the water! It is so fun to have a baby who actually LIKES baths. Like I've mentioned before, Liam hated them from day one. Bathtime with him was as fast as possible because he was screaming bloody murder.
With David, it's my decision to get him out, because if he had his way, he'd LIVE in the bath. He splashes and wiggles and just has a blast, and it is a blast watching him.
We bought him some bath time toys for Christmas, and I can't wait for that first bath with the toys!
Oh, and David has graduated to the big bath tub! He kept trying to sit up in the little one, so I sat him in the tub and he just loved it! I keep forgetting my camera when I give him a bath, or I'd have a bathtime picture to share.

Snow Days

~Leavenworth~

We went to Leavenworth with the rest of the Butcher clan, and had a blast!!!
The Elder Butchers' are a part of a business group and this group rents a bus for the day and people can bring their families and such, so Bill and Carol brought all of us with them. The bus trips there and back were long, but fun. The time in Leavenworth was cold, but also very fun. I played around in picnik and edited some of the pictures from the trip...take a look!

Bus fun.
Liam looking out the window and playing with the light
First moments in Leavenworth.....the first thing Liam did when he got off the bus was grab a huge handful of snow and eat it! The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, I LOVE eating snow!
Elder Butchers
Me and my boys
Liam being Scarf Ninja! (second picture is Nicole and Pierce, third is the whole group)
I love this picture of Jon and Joe. I think they were talking with/laughing at Liam.
Gorgeous lights pictures thanks to Jessie
Family Picture!

balance...

Garland Creations

We've done quite a bit more this Christmas season than we usually do. Baked cookies, Advent. And here, Liam and I made a cranberry/popcorn garland to go around the top of our entertainment center.
It's alot more work than I thought it would be, but it sure was fun! Liam spent more time eating the cranberries and popcorn than actually making the garland, but that was okay!

A Step Of Faith

Today, I quit my job at starbucks. It was time. As I mentioned in my sickies post, my hours there have not been good. Part of that is the fact that the hours at my store changed, and part of it is the fact that my availability is not too good either (got to give the hours to the husband, who brings in significantly more an hour than me).
Well, the first week of December, I had 4 hours. Yes, folks, FOUR. It gets better. This week and next I had ZERO hours scheduled.

This caused me and Jonny to have to do some hard thinking and praying. Mostly me, as Jon had put the whole me working at sbuxs thing in my hands when I went back after maturnity leave. Talk about a hard decision! I agonized and lost sleep over it but finally knew that I couldn't keep working there.

I have struggled today. I know I did the right thing, but I kept feeling like a failure, and I kept worrying about how everything is going to work out. But, if I truly believe that God led this (and I DO!) than I know I can trust that He will work out all the details!

In the end, I am happy to know that I will get more time with my family...especially Jon. And, I am working more at my church again, which is nice too. I am grateful that the Lord made clear the path I was to take and gave me the courage to do it.

Feet Friday---a lesson in contentment

"I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet." -unknown
I found the quote first, and then the picture. In a time of economic uncertainty and and my own person battle with being content, I find the quote and picture very challenging. The things I "cry" about on a daily basis are nothing compared to the things people are dealing with around the world.
Tonight, I choose to be grateful for my feet. :-)

Feet Friday was begun by my dear mommy. Go check out her feet friday post!!!

To Do or Not To Do

I was over visiting Organizing Junkie's web site earlier, and she has a post up about not doing quite so much at Christmas and losing sight of what's truly important.
As a fun part of the post, she made a list of things she's NOT doing this year, and linked a couple of others who have a similar posts. I thought it was a fun idea, so here's my not list:

1) We're not getting a tree (this is something we've actually NOT done for the past few years, it's just easier since we go to relatives on Christmas)

....huh. There's actually more we ARE doing this year that we usually don't do. Maybe I should tweak this a little, LOL.

We ARE:

1) Baking cookies. See my Eatery blog.

2) Sending out photo cards (I got a GREAT deal at snapfish)

3) Doing Advent (and it's been really fun!)


What are you doing or not doing differently this year???

The "She" urghs

So, can I just vent for a minute? Yes, I know that my previous post was ventish as well....what can I say, it's been that kind of day!

I can't stand that people call my son a girl. Yes, I know we live in a culture where a child with long hair is instantly assumed to be a girl. And yes, I know that Jonny and I have taken a path of huge minority (oxymoron?) when we made the decision to not cut Liams hair, as part of his dedication to the Lord. And, yes, I have even made the mistake myself once with a young boy at our church, for which I will be forever mortified.

And yet, it erks me to no end that it happens so much to Liam....and even to David. I try to be understanding. Lately, I've just let it slide, unless the comment is, "oh! How old is she?" or "what is her name?" Even then, I try not to emphasize the HE when I say, "He is 6 months old" or "His name is Liam" Because I know how embarassing it is to be wrong about these things.

But, here's my issue.....I do NOT put my boys in much that is "gender neutral" as far as clothes go. Most of the comments about David happen when he is wearing blue. And Liam wanders around in a camo coat for crying out loud!!!!

So, in the end, I understand that it happens and will continue to happen, but I also understand that I WILL continue to be annoyed by it!

Sickies In The House

Thats right...we've all been sick.It's been a long week or so.
Well, technically, it's been longer than a week. Liam got a yucky cough a while back. Ended up taking him to the doctor because it had already been like two weeks and I was starting to get a little worried, not to mention a wee-bit sleep deprived cuz the majority of his coughing was at night.
The doctor said, it's just congestion in his sinuses and ears, and there's not really anything you can do but let it run its course. It usually clears up in two to three weeks.
Oh goodie, I thought, another week of this.

Well, then Jon wasn't feeling good either. Lost two days of work, which for us is a big deal, especially since it was the week of Thanksgiving and he was already missing two days for the holiday. (found out later that his boss paid him for Thanksgiving day. Oh thank God!)

Okay...so, fast forward to this last week. David now has the cough Liam had before, which makes for even less sleep for mommy. He doesn't wake up nearly as much if I am holding him, so he's slept with me alot lately.
But then, on Sunday morning, when I woke up to go to sbuxs, I felt yucky. Sneezed about 20 times in my 3 hour shift (hours suck for me at sbuxs, but that's another story)....and sneezing is NOT normal for me, even when I get sick, so I figured I was in for it.

Sunday Afternoon, Liam comes down with a bad fever and is laid out on the couch like a slug the rest of the day and most of the night. David's still coughing, and now Mommy is quite sick, so our night went quite long.
Monday afternoon, Liam was obviously better, but very naughty and I thought I was starting to get better too.

Tuesday morning, I woke up and could barely move. I had all the symptoms of a bad fever, but no actual fever (I checked a few times). I couldn't even stand up for more than a few minutes without feeling shakey and queezey. I made a fortress next to the couch to keep David enclosed and slept on the cough while Liam watched PBS all morning.

Thankfully, by afternoon, I was feeling better. Jessie came over to let me sleep, oh blessed sister in law!!!! And a wonderful lady we know brought us chicken noodle soup, bread and pears for dinner!

So, now here we are at Wednesday. Liam's better, although he had a nose-bleed last night (apparently they are genetic or something, both Jon AND his dad had them as kids). David's still got a bit of a cough, but hopefully it won't last much longer. I am quite tired and stil a little stuffy in the sinus area but much improved over the last few days.

I can't wait for the sickies to leave the house. I am ready to be healthy again!

My Favorite Tree In The World

This is a three-picture shot of the maple tree in my parent's front yard. Someday, I want to go back and make a 6 or 9-picture shot and get the tree in its entirety (and, I'd love to do it seasonally as well...someday). It is a gorgeous maple, landmarking my parents property for anyone coming to visit. In the summer, it blocks the house from the road, helping to keep down the dust that gets kicked up from the gravel/dirt road that services the many homes along the lane.

I have spent many an hour playing and relaxing in the yard under its foliage. It makes for great shade on a sunny summer day!

I have used many of its leaves to make "nature dolls," something I loved doing as a young person and will introduce Liam to next summer.

I have wiled away many a moment simply taking in the beauty that this tree affords, and thanking the Lord for making such beauty in this world.

So, here's the picture, that you may enjoy it as well:

Computer Sillies

This is what happens when I am given a flat screen monitor from my parents:

Yes, that's right folks, my husband took my old monitor and put it on his desk alongside his old one. Now, he has internet going WHILE playing his game.
*rolls eyes excessively*

p.s. thanks for the monitor mom and dad, I really love it, even though it has enabled my Love to take his gaming fetish to a whole new level. ;-)

Feet Friday

This is a picture of my nephew, Pierce's feet when he was less than one week old! He was born 5 weeks early and was SO tiny!
Below is a picture of him eating on that same day, and then a picture of him recently:

It is so wonderful being an Aunty! I sure love this little guy!

penguin

My grandparents sent down a package for David. Inside was a darling pj outfit with artic animals all over it. When David reaches the right size for it, he's gonna love it! Along with the pjs, was this sweet little creature:
David loves it, take a look:

It has all the components of a good baby toy: crinkly arms and beak, rattle foot, squeaker foot, ribbon "hair" and of course, the silly little book attatched to his backside. Not to mention all the bright colors. He's super cute, this penguin. Thanks ggma and ggpa!

Celebrating December 1st

we spent some time today celebrating the season, advent and the joy of being together.

Liam showing off his advent wreath craft we did together:
Advent calendars are so sweet, thanks Nana!

David sporting christmas duds:

More Thanksgiving Pictures

I just loaded all my pictures from the week onto my computer and I couldn't resist putting together another post of thanksgiving pictures. It was such a fun night!

Our beautiful hostess:
Nummy drinks, thanks to Daniel:

Brittany and David

TURKEY! Such delicious turkey:

Puppies wanting in on the deboning action, but obediently staying out of the kitchen: