Year 2011 In Review

This is so much fun for me to do. What a joy to look through my year. To think back at the beginning of the year wondering what we were supposed to do, how it would turn out, where we would be. And to think all in 1 year.
The only thing that comes to mind is Praise God, Thank you God. Thank you for providing for us, although we don't have much, we do not owe anyone. Thank you for Guiding us. Thank you for protecting us. Thank you for molding us a little closer into your image.
So here you go - Year in Review

January

Indoors with newborn. mostly all i did was blog and nurse I think :)

February

We were in charge of a fondue night at our church for Valentine's day. turned out great, but took a lot of planning. And hosted

a small Superbowl Party at our house!

March

Carson Turned 2!

April

Weekend getaway with the hubs! :)

(Mostly to celebrate done nursing :))

May

I ran 5K (first one since giving birth)

Memorial Day trip to lake beach with family
And Richard graduated with his Master in Biblical Studies

June

Aunt Becky got married

in Colorado. Decision was also

made to move to Fort Collins!! :)

July

Ran a 5K with my twin. Drank a lot of Iced coffee's b/c it was

hot and I knew there was none in CO. a lot of uncertainty

with no job or housing or anything

in our soon to be new home

August

We moved from Scranton PA to Fort Collins CO

yeah, that pretty much sums up the month! :)

September

Adjust to life in CO and loving the great weather

Celebrated my 27th Bday, and Landon's 1 yr Bday

October

October was a busy month, but highlight of month was 

meeting my new nephew in MN, and seeing my 

mom again.

But also involved, running my first 10K and

seeing my Gardner side of the family

and a lot of fall activities, like Halloween.

It was really hard to pick just one picture this month ;)

November 

Got 2 big snow storms, spent thanksgiving with the Gardners

and Richard and I spent 3 whole days

together by ourselves without the boys to celebrate

5 whole years of Marriage. :)

December

Merry Christmas

What fun to put this post together. I hope you have as much fun looking through it as I did putting it together. What a privilege to see what God has done in our lives. How he has changed us and loved us, and how much more I love Him b/c of it!

And a Happy 2012

Had Fun Linking up with

Hope you do too ;)

Also linking up with 

Sledding

Last winter Carson hated the cold/snow. He wouldn't even walk to the car or store. I was carrying a newborn and a 2 year old! :) 

This year he is loving it! He loves to pick up the snow, make footprints in it, and now he has learned the art of sledding. 

Monday we were in Denver with Richard's brother and family. They got dumped on with snow right before Christmas. So we took advantage of it! We went to a great place called Ruby Hill. What a perfect place. We only had one sled and we had to borrow some good snow clothes (which now that I think about it, that might be why he didn't like the snow too much last year. :) ) it was so warm and sunny out, which made it perfect for sledding b/c it wasn't too chilly. The kids loved it!

Carson's cousin Aspen was a good example
to really enjoy the snow! 

Christmas 2011

This was not a good year for Family pictures at all! :(

I'm so sad to say. We need a new camera and will probably get one

soon. 

But we did have some feeble attempts at good family pictures

Thursday evening:

Richard got off of work at normal time. We had a sorry excuse for a dinner

(mostly b/c I did not want to cook and was on vacation mode)

Then drove around Fort Collins and saw all the beautiful lights.

Boys in their christmas pj's :)

It's always fun trying to drive around town to find the coolest

neighborhood. And we have to pick out our favorite house. :)

We also got stuck in the snow. :) It was a beautiful night for light-seeing. Just snowed and the town

was glistening.

One particular street was not plowed well at all. and yes, we got stuck

What a fun memory of Carson scared to death in the back,

landon sound asleep,

and Richard pushing the car

while I try to gun it out. :)Only with our Alero in Colorado :)

The rest of the Christmas season was spent in Grand Junction CO

Woke up super early Friday Morning

made the 5 hour trek to Grand Junction

We had beautiful scenery. It had snowed a ton about a day before.

The mountains were just amazing

the wildlife along the road was so cool.

The boys were showered with gifts

and love from both sides

of our families.

Our day was filled, literally filled, with 

good food, skyping distant family, chatting with present family

and playing trains with the boys.

We did have a little bit of sickness.

Landon had a fever for like 4 days. Low Grade and no other symptoms

but momma was starting to worry

then, as fast as it came on it left. :/ What can I say?
Teeth?!?? i have no idea!

We are so thankful! 

And we had a great Christmas Season!

Now onto New Years!

Ziploc Bags

yes, Folks I'm psycho about my ziploc bags. For two reasons: 1. I grew up in Ecuador where we had to bring them back from the states, so we saved them all the time, b/c they were precious to us and we couldn't easily get more. 2. I like to think I'm frugal, and don't like to buy new ones. They are expensive sometimes

So I save my ziploc bags if they are not gross and haven't had meat in them. I wash them out and dry them like this. I've done it my whole growing up life, and grown up life. :)

So - if you give me something in a ziploc bag - please know you made my day!

if I give you something in a ziploc bag - know I think you're special! :)

 

WOW!

What a whirlwind of emotions going through my head. What a crazy last 24 hrs this has been. (or maybe a little more).
From being at church - being so encouraged by the fellowship of the body of believers that we have here. A family! Learning to live life together, showing that we are a community that loves each other and most of all  showing Christ to a desperate needy world. Showing this hurting world Christ's love that we celebrate this season. That he came as a baby, in human form to die for our sins so that we can have eternal life.

To - getting a call in the middle of the night that my friend is starting labor. Woohooo! I'm so thankful to help someone in the same way we were helped when we didn't have very much family nearby, and our second baby was born. It truly was a joy to me to finish out the night at their house with their toddler, and now spending the day enjoying my 2 boys and their boy, playing while I pray over the new life entering the world.

But as one friend welcomes a new precious baby, their own flesh and blood, into the world,
another friend - grieves the loss of their baby! My heart breaks at the same time today! For the pain and hurt and disappointment and expectations not fulfilled! for the long road ahead of grieving and molding and shaping.

I can't help but sing - He gives and takes away, Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name







it's Christmas! We celebrate Christ, who came to us lowly sinners

to save us. He suffered in our place

so that we can have hope, peace, grace filled lives. Be forgiven

So that we can bring Glory to God




And no matter the circumstance - Blessed be HIS NAME!!!

It's been a few days since I've updated. and I even missed my Random facts Friday. :( The reason for the lack of writing is b/c we've been doing a lot and it's been so much fun. But sadly I forgot my camera all the time so I can't document it.

Friday i drove down to Denver and we had a great time with our cousins making and decorating Christmas cookies. My sister in law had a great recipe for cut out cookies (it had orange zest and orange juice in it) and they are amazing!!!!! It was a great day out for me. The boys were amused for a short amount of time with the cookie decorating - but overall it was a great day. We made a mess of her kitchen and she was so gracious about it. :)

The rest of the weekend was filled with, baby shower, 40th birthday for our pastor, Christmas shopping for family and the boys.

My mother, even though she lives overseas, she has managed to always buy great Christmas matching outfits for my boys! I love to dress them up like this and they got lots of attention at church for their cute-ness. :) I'm pretty sure they will wear these outfits for 3 weeks in a row 1) b/c they are so cute, 2) so that I can get good use out of them.

Random facts-
-I had to get the boys ready for church today by myself b/c Richard had to go early -it was a kinda hectic morning b/c they also need baths!!! (Baths are not fun here in our house, mine cry all the time)
- I picked up literally a million cheerios off the ground today b/c for some reason every time I left the room Carson thought i was funny to pour them all over the floor! For some reason I kept leaving them within his reach
-Landon found bananas in the boys trash can (for some reason Carson has been taking one or two bites of his banana and hiding them in his trash can without be knowing) and was eating them! Who knows how long they had been in there and it was GROSS!!!!
-Thankful for God's forgiving Grace even though it was a frustrating morning and i did not react correctly to my boys! I'm a mother in desperate need for God's grace the whole day - and I'm thankful he has forgiven my sins and loves me despite my failings.

this really does still happen

Today was a day out for me with the boys. We only have one car so i try to plan my days to go out and only need the car no more than 2 days a week. Boys had a doctor's check up appointment, so we loaded the boys into the car on the chilly morning and headed out the door to take Daddy to work. I had about 40 min in between dropping him off and the apt. time, so I thought "What a perfect time for a nice cup of coffee". :) They have a few random drive thru coffee places, that are surprisingly decent.

(every one knows that a drive-thru is a mother's

best friend!)

I was taking a right into the place, but a car was turning in from the other direction, she was their first, so I stopped and waved her through so she could get in line first to get her coffee. Didn't think a thing of it, because after all, I did have plenty of time! As I pulled up after her to the window to order my wonderful cup of hot coffee, the kind lady told me that the car in front of me

WANTED TO PAY FOR MY CUP OF COFFEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

b/c I was a kind driver.

I was flabbergasted! So surprised and so happy about it. As i stumbled about what I wanted, I still just ordered the cheap regular black coffee (thinking, i should've ordered a big expensive latte :) ) But what a nice special treat for me to begin my day out with the boys at the doctor's. ( and we all know, a cup of coffee goes a long way on days we have to take the kids to a doctor )

So lesson learned: be patient, let other's go first - and maybe one day I will pay for your coffee at the drive thru coffee shop!