The power of photoshop

I was trying to get a picture where all there of the kids were looking at me and smiling. NO SUCH LUCK. However I do have a little tool called photoshop that I have been learning how to use and I love it. So here is a picture where Daniel is looking at the camera smiling but the girls don't look so good....
And here the girls look good but Daniel's eyes look all funny...

so you take the best from both pictures, put them together and presto I have a picture of my kids who "always" sit so beautifully for pictures! ha! Oh the power of photoshop!!!

A few Christmas Pictures

This Christmas my in laws came for a visit. It was very nice having then around for the holidays. Here are just a few pictures from the last couple of days. I will try to post some from Christmas day soon. The top picture was taken at church when we went to the Christmas Eve service. The two of the kids were taken before we left. More to come... hopefully!

Blogging is so not my thing...

Well here I am after many many pleas trying to see if maybe just maybe I can keep up with my blog. I am sorry for not keeping up with it. I check my sister's blog all the time and I am very excited when she updates and tells stories about what is going on in her life. I have been denying my family the same privilege by not updating my blog.

Today is another normal day so far. Here I sit at the computer just finishing up a delicious cup of coffee. Coffee has become by jump start drink in the morning. It is nice to finally be able to have caffeine again! Olivia is fed and in the swing. Monica is getting to watch Clifford the big red dog on PBS. Daniel is off with daddy and daddy's friend Mr. Steve. They went to see "Fantastic Mr. Fox". We finished reading the chapter book to Daniel yesterday and so he is excited to go and see the movie. Later today my in laws will be in for a few days. The kids do not know they are coming and it should be a joyous surprise! It will be nice to have some family around for Christmas.

As everyone knows Olivia Leigh was born two weeks ago today. The last two weeks have flown by and I see so many changes in her already. He little face is starting to fill out and she is already getting longer. It is amazing how fast they grow. It is sad to me that my little baby is getting bigger everyday. Olivia looks a lot like Brandon. As a matter of fact both of our daughters look a lot like him. I am glad that my son looks like me! Here is a bit of comparison of Brandon and Olivia.


On a different subject it is just three days until Christmas. I love Christmas time. It is a great time to sit back and reflect on what our Lord did for us. Since moving to Grand Rapids our family has started celebrating Advent. Advent starts 4 weeks before Christmas. The purpose of Advent is so that Christmas does not "sneak up" on us. I find that it is very easy to go through the entire Christmas season with little time to reflect on what Christmas is all about. So I went out to hobby lobby and got the supplies and made an advent wreath for our home. We light a candle every Sunday and do a family devotion focused around Christ's birth. The point of the candles is each week as another one is lit it is a sign of our anticipation for the grand celebration on Christmas day. We have been giving Daniel weekly challenges and remind him about them throughout the week to follow through on his challenge. For example, his challenge last week was to be more like Joseph. When God sent an angel to Joseph and told him to marry Mary he did not question God but he trusted him and obeyed him without complaining. We challenged Daniel to obey his parents without complaining or questioning, and we ourselves were challenged to obey God in the same manner. On Christmas day we light the candle in the middle (as well as all the ones around it) and have a time of devotions, praise and worship, and celebration before we get to open our presents. I love this new tradition for our family.

Well I am signing off and hopefully not for months and months. I will not make promises that I will be the best blogger, but I will try to update so that other can see what is going on in our lives. But for now the shower is calling my name.