Happy Valentine's Day!

I still can't believe that eight years ago today the man of my dreams asked me to spend my life by his side. So much has changed since that Valentine's day so long ago. Yet so much is still the same and feels just like it did then. There is no one else I would rather spend my life with. I wake up everyday and go to bed every night with someone who loves me unconditionally. Who sticks around even when I'm not so pleasant, who cares for me and would do anything for me! He has given me two beautiful  "extra" daughters whom I love as my own and who are growing into amazing young women. He has also blessed me with three absolutely adorable children... our blond haired blue eyed little heart breaker, our blond haired blue eyed little doodlebug, and our "turning" blond haired blue eyed little perfect baby girl. Life just couldn't be better.

Long ago I asked and prayed for God to show me what to do with my life. What His will was and His purpose for me. He gave me this incredible husband, a true example of a man of God. And He had planned all along for me to be a Mommy to these little gifts I have. I am determined to show my husband, my children and my family just how loved I feel by doing my best at what God has planned for me. This song by Steven Curtis Chapman  "I will be here" means a lot to Chris and I. The words they just stand out to us and we feel this way so much through life. Take it to heart and really hear the words.

Yes, I truly feel loved everyday. I don't need Valentine's or anything special on this day. I'm grateful for my life, for every minute of everyday that I get to spend with the ones I love. My husband, our babies, our families. So, Happy Valentine's Day to all! May you feel loved and special everyday not just today!

                                 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Thank you to my best friend and my partner for life! Thank you God for giving him to me!

Josiah & Savannah's Birthday Slideshow!

We've been so busy lately!  I feel so behind in sharing all of the special things we've done with the kids. I'm trying my best to keep up with the current activities we're doing and I'm slowly going to have "little blast from the past" and share older pictures and videos! So to catch up a little...the kids birthdays were great! During the late midnight hours of nursing Eliviah, I learned how to make a video slideshow and I finally figured out the best way to share and post them! I hope you all enjoy it! We've been so busy since their birhdays back in November and December. We had a wonderful "White Christmas", a very peaceful New Years and now we've just enjoyed a week of being "Snowed In"! (check out those pictures in previous post) 

My goal is to get Eliviah's newborn portraits up to share next! She is already 4 months old! Today! Happy 4 Months Eliviah! I worked hard on taking alot of great shots of her and I can't wait to share them! But for now the big siblings birthday party is what I have to share!

Hope everyone is enjoying the new year! Miss eveyone and love you all! Let us know what you think of the slideshow!

Snow Heaven 2011



Welcome 2011! We had so much fun in the snow today! We sure missed Daddy though. He is "snowed in" at work. We miss you Daddy, hope you enjoy the pictures!
Be safe and get home soon. We love you!
Love,
Mommy, Josiah, Savannah, and Eliviah!
  

Josiah, Savannah, Eliviah before digging in the snow :)



Savannah eating more snow!!

  



Our "Snow Angel"




Their favorite was to just sit on the sled and eat snow!




Our kiddos on the sled! I'm not sure why but our camera took the pictures with pink lines going through it, it may have been too cold for the lens, I don't know but our snow was just white, until....




I gathered what spray bottles we had in the house and filled them with colored water, and let the kids "Spray Paint" the snow!





They had a blast!!




He did this at least 20 times! Savannah took a ride with him twice and thats all she wanted! It was super fast!




She loved both times she went! It doesn't look like it though!





Josiah was awesome at sledding down our hill!




She said "My nose is cold Mommy, I done!"




Eliviah's already seen snow twice now and she's only 3 months old!




Our deck had 11-12 inches all over!









Most of our front and back yard was between 7-9inches in different places!





Okay, an update on our snow heaven ! Daddy finally made it home safe and sound! He was snowed in a hotel by his work for almost a week! The kids were so excited when he got home! We ran outside to play in the snow together! Here's the rest of our "snowed in" pictures. And a little note from me! ~Chrystal



Our babies ready to go out and play!

Just a thought, but instead of feeling frustrated or complaining because we're still snowed in, why don't we realize all those times we asked God to give us a break? He has answered. He has given us all one and we're complaining. Take the time to read a book to your kids, read it 300 times even if its the same one! Play in the snow like a kid, and come inside to drink hot chocolate & get warm! Sit back on the couch with your loved ones & play a boardgame, read the Bible together, act out a family play, there are a million things we can do, and when you run out of things to do, start them all over again...who cares that it has been a week!! Enjoy it,because next week I'm sure we will be complaining because we have to get out!



SnowMan Fred!



Eliviah's 1st Snowman!



Savannah LOVED the snow the first couple days, but then the ice came and it wasn't fun to her anymore! Such a summertime girl she's ready for the pool!

On the other hand Josiah could do this everyday!

Such a good big brother! Always helping his sister through the snow and ice!

Making snow angels!



Josiah in an Igloo! How cool!





We went on a  nature walk to see what little animals were coming out to play in the winter wonderland and I asked the kids to look for animal tracks in the snow. Josiah was so excited when he found "A really big snake track!" He was even more excited when he found another "Big snake track" right beside the first one! He couldn't believe how big they were! I had to let him down easy when I explained to him that they were actually 4 wheeler tracks in the snow :)



Daddy sledding is the best!

He loved that Daddy finally made it home!!

This is what happens when your snowed in and your brother does your hair!

SnowMobile ~ Werner style!

Winter Nature walk!



Showing off her snow boots!