Annual Cold Camping Trip

John, Brent, Shane (my brother) and Trenton made the crazy cold camping trip last weekend. This was the fifth annual trip. Every year the group of guys that goes varies in size with this year being one of the smaller. They have a great time "guy bonding" which really means sledding, hiking, shooting guns and building BIG camp fires.

This year the temp over night was 10.2F. Brent slept outside in his zero degree bag while the other three slept in a tent.

The guys camped next to a big hill that was perfect for sledding. They all had some fun going down and there were some pretty amazing photos of each of them taking a dive off the sled. Check out Flickr for all the photos of the trip.

View all Cold Camping photos.

Sophia turns 5 months

What a big girls Sophie is getting to be. She had a pretty full month with Christmas, learning to sit, and playing more with her sister. She is doing really well sitting, still needs a little support sometimes to not fall backwards. We introduced the sippy cup this month and she is holding it really well and even gets some in her rather than just all over her.

Zoe helped her open presents on Christmas morning. She really likes her pal Scout - her puppy that sings her to sleep. Christmas night she got to take her first trip to Sedona and had mom and dad all to herself for 2 days.

New Years Eve she didn't quite make it to midnight with us but she did get to participate in our tranditional burning of the Christmas tree.

To view all her 5 months photos click here.

Zoe and the last three months

It is hard to believe Zoe will be 2 soon. The three months (months 18-21) since Zoe's last update have gone by so fast.  I had to look back at pictures to even remember all that we have done. I find with two children now the months are just a blur. We really have had a lot of fun the last several months. Here is just a sample....

October was filled with lots of activities starting with our return to Stroller Strides classes and a visit to Mother Nature's Farm where Zoe got to pick her very own little pumpkin. Later in the month John and Zoe had a day at the zoo together with our friends Marvin and Alexa. They did a lot of walking, some riding in the stroller,and even got to pet a few animals. Zoe also got to watch her cousins Kyle, Trenton and Ryan play football. She had fun watching the game periodically and exploring the bleachers. At the end of the month Zoe had an unfortunate fall on my Grandma's back patio and chipped her front tooth. We have really come to love the snaggletooth smile.
 

November brought a visit with Papa Broom and Mama Shar, who arrived just in time to head to Tucson to attend Lisa and Topher's wedding.  It was really good to see Bentleys, Coxes and old family friends and have them meet the kids.  Zoe also attended a "Beginning Movement" class thru the city of Chandler - learning how to walk the balance beam, turn somersaults, and controlled falling in general.  Apparently the class didn't take very well though, as a couple weeks later she did a face-plant off a curb and skinned her face up real nice. 

In December, Zoe started learning to help clean the house - she enjoys "cleaning" the windows with the feather duster.  She also loves to press all the keys on the organ at Grandma Buttons' house just like her mom and uncle Shane used to.  Kelly has started baking with Zoe - she loves using the cookie cutters and making sugar cookies. This month Zoe had a great time at her friend Amira's birthday party at Jeepers. She got to ride the carousel which she actually wasn't a big fan of. She did like riding the cars, playing in the big climber and sliding down the roller slide.



Zoe and Sophia are starting to interact a lot more - Zoe is always giving her toys, sippy cups and big sloppy kisses - she also somehow has a knack for getting her to laugh like no one else.


To view all her 18-21 months photos on our Flickr site click here.

Sophia turns 4 months

Sophie is still such a social and happy baby. She absolutely loves for people to talk to her. Her whole face lights up when someone is talking to her. 

She still is not a fan of being on her back and is tolerating being on her tummy more. My guess is because of her reflux issues. This month she was dedicated at church, had her first Thanksgiving, her first laugh, found her feet and loves to suck on her big toe, started blowing raspberries and is sleeping through the night. Wow what a great month! 

To view all her 4 months photos visit our Flickr site  - click here.

All dolled up

Zoe has recently started to notice mommy uses a purse, wears necklaces, and sometimes hats. While I was working on Christmas decorating the inside of the house, and John was working on the outside, Zoe found some items she wanted to use. Her "purse" is actually a door hanger, the "necklace" is really a head band and the hat is actually a hat of course. I am not sure if she is pretending or really doesn't know what these items are. Either way it is cute.

Sophia is dedicated

On Sunday the 29th we had the privilege of dedicating Sophia in church. She slept through most of it and then woke up at the very end. Zoe also got to be there which was great. She did so well in John's arms.

We chose the name Sophia for her not only because we really like the name but also because of the meaning - wisdom. Our prayer is that the Lord help us raise her with the knowledge that she is not ours but that she has been entrusted to us for a period of time. Our prayer for her is that she grow not only in physical stature but in her knowledge of the Lord and learn to rely on His wisdom, not her own.

Sophia got to wear a dress and booties that Sharon, John's step-mom, made for her. Thank you Sharon!

She is such a blessing to our family. She has a wonderful smile that always brings a smile to me as well as her sister. Zoe and Sophia already have a bond that I didn't expect to see so early.

Let the Christmas Party Begin

Last night we hosted our Small Group Christmas Party. It was a fun filled night with yummy food, great friends, a gift exchange, and lots of fellowship.

Our small group is really not so small - 15 adults and 16 children. Right now we have 4 infants under the age of 6 months. The oldest was born in May and the youngest two born in August. It is a common occurrence for all four to be nursing at the same time. It is quite a sight and so much fun to watch them grow together.

John and I have been so blessed by our small group over the last 4 years. We are so thankful to be a part of a great group of friends who stick by us through the ups and downs in life, always ready with words of encouragement, and constantly challenging us to grow in our walk with God. Thank you all!

To view all the photos from the Christmas Party click here