2 blogs in one day.

Has she lost it? No, but my stomach feels...funny, so I'm up. Lily came in and brushed my hair and we talked about life, and how she loves babies and that she dreams of having a horse. I love my little first-born. Today in the car she recruited everyone to grab the trash out of the car because, and I quote, 'I do not like a mess.' She is really becoming a lady, and I'm so proud. She takes care of Claire by comforting her after 'bad monster/alien dreams. She helps me babysit whenever there are kids in the house(very frequently). She willingly helps with chores-laundry, room, mopping, sinks and counters, and keeps us laughing.

My husband's creative genius.

We work at camp, and I'm a proud camp wife. Here's our wintercamp video.

Perspective.

I left on my snowshoeing expedition anxious. Thoughts-a-whirling about big decisions and doing the right thing, then I listened to this, and my perspective flip-flopped. I want everyone to know Jesus unashamedly, and at the end of the day that's all that matters. It doesn't matter if the house is tidy and cute, if my kids don't know Jesus. It doesn't matter if my zumba class was full, if they didn't see Jesus in my every action and deed. It doesn't matter if I made Andy's favorite meal and coffee on time in the morning, if I didn't love him like Jesus. I think you get the point, I know I did.

Snowed in.

Don't you love when weather allows you to do nothing? Schools close, businesses close, and the world(at least our little part) is quiet. My laundry list of excuses include, but aren't limited to; can't grocery shop or go any where-roads are too bad, can't clean- snowshoeing and sledding are way more fun. I don't remember when it was decided, but Andy's days off are every body's days off. No school, no chores, just being. Today for me looked like, catching up on Bible reading (while River napped and Andy played with the girls), games, sledding with the girls (and hanging out in their tree fort), praying, snowshoeing while listening to a sermon, and pizza with the family. My heart needed quiet today, and being snowed in made that possible. Thank you God for the little things.

Hide and Seek.

This was Andy's hiding spot for tonight's round.

Game days

We're on a good, long stretch of game playing and hot chocolate drinking. It's cold, but there's no snow, which means we stay in. We're loving our new, hand-made Memory from Grandma and Grandpa Warken, Farkle and Spot-it from Grandma and Grandpa Mette.

Instead of putting them away, they get pushed to the side at dinner-time. Loving winter this year.

New Year's Resolution.

Mine/Ours is to have monthly date nights. This does not include us putting the kids to bed, looking at each other and saying, 'You wanna play a game or watch a movie.' It's us getting a babysitter and having a plan.

This magic doesn't just happen, it needs tending. First date night was 'True Grit' and Potbelly's. Nothing spells romance like a good western.