Our Family Journal

Monday, January 28, 2013

Happy 2nd Birthday Jacobi!

The John Deere Pavilion in Molin, IL

Both mommy & daddy visited the John Deere Pavilion when they

were little so they thought it would be a fun birthday outing for Jacobi.

It didn't hurt that he loves diggers, tractors & anything that

has wheels that got "round & round & round".

He was a little stunned/excited when we first walked in:)

"HUGE wheels!"

"Big Digger!"

They even had a play area with little tractors/diggers.

Jacobi thoroughly enjoyed putting them on the floor &

lining them all up...just like he does at home:)

"Hi!"

Grandma, Mommy & Kaia take a break while

Daddy & Jacobi tour the rest of the place.

Kaia took a snooze while we shopped for souvenirs.

Party Time!

Somehow great-grandpa Dwain escaped before I took this picture.

His first remote control vehicle from Uncle Josh & Aunt Teisha!

Happy Birthday Jacobi!

We love you:)

Christmas in Iowa

Cousins!

Kaia & Grandpa Jeff

Kaia & Grandma Dodie

Miss Avery...she told me "I posed" after I took this picture;)

Jacobi & Grandma Dodie

Miss Alexa...seems like just yesterday she was the baby of the family!

Opening presents!

Snuggle time for Kaia

(she slept through the whole present opening process:)

**I'm a little sad I didn't get any pictures of my presents. My wonderful & thoughtful & giving husband consulted with my mom about what to get me for Christmas(apparently I'm difficult to shop for). I had told him that I would LOVE for someone to clothes shop for me(I hate shopping for myself!). He asked if there were people that you could hire to do that to which I replied "I don't know, that's your job to figure out". I figured it was only possible in Hollywood:) Anyway, my mom thought of my wonderful & talented cousins (who are the same height/size as me). Adam gave them a budget & off they went. I now have outfits that are stylish & coordinated beautifully, complete with accessories! And, all I had to do was try them on to see if they fit...they did...every single one...even the boots from my mom & dad! I can't thank my husband, mom & cousins enough for a great Christmas...I was totally surprised!

Christmas in North Dakota

Jacobi and his massive mound of presents

The older "kids" waiting for their turn to open presents;)

Kaia's is stylin in her new pink boots!

Aunt Ali helping Jacobi open his presents.

Jacobi trying out his new table & dinnerware

Jacobi's North Dakota Birthday Party

Aunt Ali asking if she should be excused from our family photo;)

Jacobi waiting to see his birthday present...

...a recliner of his very own!

He was a little excited:)

Kaia was tuckered out after 2 days of partying!

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Our Family Christmas

We had our family Christmas on the morning of Christmas Eve.

I made monkey bread the night before and we lit the candles in the centerpiece(pictured below) to enjoy while we ate our delicious and "nutritious" Christmas breakfast:)

Jacobi was excited to see the candles lit and to blow them out at the end of our festivities!

*the table runner was made by a lady at one of our churches...she is a very gifted seamstress!

**another church family member was inspired to give us the beautiful centerpiece when she saw the table runner adorning our table. We have never had such a beautifully decorated table!