Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day was great fun!  The night before, Anniston and I made Valentine's Day treats.  She got to do the sprinkles.

So we were set and ready to celebrate.  On Valentine's Day, Jake got to take the afternoon off which was the icing on the cake.  First he came home, and him and Anniston exchanged gifts.  For him- a card made with love.  For her- yellow daisies, the flower picked just for her.

Then all of us went to a romantic lunch at Mazzio's.  Benton and I on one side, Anniston and Jake on the other.  Anniston wanted to hold Daddy's hand all through lunch.  I love watching the two of them together.  

She loves her flowers.  She would continually point to them and say "Anniston's flowers".

They topped the afternoon off with a little snuggling and a movie in bed.  What a great day!

When evening came, it was our turn to celebrate.  Babysitter came and we headed out for a Valentine's date.  Just me and my man...

I am so incredibly grateful for the way that Jake loves us.  He is so extravagant in his love for us.  I love that Anniston's picture of the Father starts with watching her earthly father lavish love and affection on her.  

Valentine's Day- you did not disappoint.  A day spent with the ones I love.

Papa

On January 26, my grandfather, "Papa", passed away after a year long battle with pancreatic cancer.  He defied the odds and held on much longer than expected, and everyone close to him shared about how grateful they were for that last year.  I'm grateful for my grandfather.  I'm grateful that he married my grandmother and that, even in rocky times, they stuck together until the very end.  Until death do us part.  That's a gift I hope I never take for granted.  That I had two sets of grandparents and a set of parents that stuck it out.  What a legacy that I get to walk in.  I'm thankful that my grandparents had three wonderful children that would eventually become my mom, aunt, and uncle and would provide a network of family relationships that I am so grateful for today.  

At my grandfather's graveside service, the family got to tell stories about Papa and reflect on the man that he was.  There was talk of his intelligence, his independent spirit, his faith, his integrity, his work ethic.  I remember his love for crossword puzzles and I took on that love from a young age.  He used to have this little computerized device that would help him solve puzzles and I insisted on getting one as well.  That desire to problem solve must have come from him.  Another piece of me that I feel has come from my grandfather is his thirst for adventure.  He would grab his motorcycle and head out to Colorado on a whim.  I love spontaneity, living a life that is open and free and willing to change directions at a moment's notice, and I love the idea of being wrapped up in a great adventure.  My picture of that great adventure has changed over the years, but the desire to continue to run after it has not.  Once I moved away from home, I didn't get to spend as much time with Papa, but this last year I have so many wonderful memories and I am so grateful for that time.  Thank you Lord for that last year.  One memory that will really stick with me is that he really wanted Anniston to have a gift from his apartment when she came to visit.  He was adamant she take it home.  I was really touched by the way that he loved her in that moment.  Something strikes a cord in me when someone loves my kids...and I will never forget their interaction that day.    

Papa, I love you.  Thank you for the man that you were and for the legacy you have left behind.

Dress Up

We have officially entered the Dress Up stage.

Music School

This year we decided to put Anniston in her first preschool at Cochran's Music Preschool.  She loves to sing and dance so we thought it would be a great fit!  We were also thrilled because her best buddy Halle was also going to school there.  Here they are on their first day!

She had a great first day!  Jake wanted to go with us to take her and pick her up so he took the morning off work.  We were expecting a hard goodbye that first day, we thought there would be tears, both from Anniston and Jake...but nope!  Anniston walked right in and started playing and never looked back.  She had a great time!  After school I always ask her what she did and I always get the same response "kids"  "songs"...so here we are starting school, it all begins.

Christmas Eve

Since Jake and I have been married, we always have a Christmas family night- this year on Christmas Eve.  We eat pizza (used to be Hideaway, but now that we celebrate on Christmas Eve, Hideaway is closed and we settle for Marco's), and we pull the mattress out in the living room and watch Christmas movies.  Now that we have kids, the movies have changed a bit.  No longer is it Love Actually and The Holiday, this year it was Polar Express.  Since we were in Norman, we also got to go to our Christmas Eve service at church.  It was awesome!  We sang together and celebrated Jesus' birth.  They also showed a video of the kids doing a Christmas play.  Benton got his first acting role as Baby Jesus!  What a big role already in his young life.  He was a star!

Christmas Eve cuties

Christmas PJ's

Pallet on the floor- lots of snuggles

December

When it's winter, you spend a lot of time indoors...which is perfect when you have a new baby.  You get to snuggle up inside with the family and enjoy time together.  We had a great December....

Jake reading "Spoon", one of Anniston's favorites.

Anniston teaching Benton all about Cinderella and the Prince.

Anniston loves to "check on Benton"

She doesn't like her hair up, except when I put it in pigtails and she gets to look like Cinderella.  Here they are dancing together.

Not sure what is going on here,  but I like it.

He's so handsome.

I got to go to my friend Emily's annual cookie decorating party.  Some women have the most elaborate and beautiful cookies.  Take a guess which ones were mine.

Enjoying some chocolate chip pancakes.

In December, this was Anniston's favorite seat in the house.

This is my favorite baby outfit.  Benton wore this too many days but I sure got my use out of it.

Siblings playing together.

Anniston "changing Girls diaper"

 Love babies in jammers.

My dear friend Abbey and her sweet kiddos gave Anniston this book to read when Benton arrived.  She loves it!

I love babies in hats.

2 year and 2 month check ups for the kids.  So grateful for my healthy little ones.

This year I had Anniston paint Christmas wrapping paper for Jake's Christmas presents.  It might not be perfect and beautiful, but it was fun!

It was a great month.