Friday, December 28, 2012

Christmas in Brief


Yes, I am still here.  Life has been very full over the last couple months.  Sadly, I am not going to catch you up other to say Makayla turned 8, we celebrated Thanksgiving, Brittney had a birthday, and then we celebrated Christmas.  Here are some pictures from Christmas.

The above picture is the one on our Christmas card.


We first spent several hours at Ted and Brenda's.  Here is Bailee with her cousin, Payton, who is 12.  She is so ready to be a part of the teenage group.


Sammy with Payton's little brother, Elias.  He really liked Sam that night.


Brenda made all the granddaughters purses, so we wanted to get a picture.  Brenda is getting them lined up.  Check Bailee out in the back.



It snowed on Christmas Eve.  Our kids headed straight outside.



The kids at Pam and Mike's on Christmas Eve.  I am taking this picture from a seated position, but do you see how tall Sam is getting.


I love this picture of Sam.


Sam and Aliah


Makayla got a great red dress.  I wish I had gotten a picture of the whole dress.


This is Makayla with Ava.  Isn't she cute?  And, oh my goodness, she is a character.  Just watching her was fun.


Luken with his Iron Man arc reactor.  He love it Uncle Jake and Aunt Randi - one of his favorite gifts.


Both these pictures are from Christmas Day.  We missed those of you who could not join us.


Sunday, November 4, 2012

Bumps and Bruises


I have to admit that we really have been most fortunate in regards to Luken injuring himself.  I am believing he has mighty angels protecting him, because it is not like he doesn't try.  He does have his moments and this picture proves it.

A few weeks ago, I heard a thunk and then screaming coming from the bathroom.  Luken comes running to me and already he has this big bump forming on his forehead.  It was a beauty.  All he would tell us was that he hit his head in the bathroom.  I am still not sure what happened.

I pray regularly that those angels would be on high alert because I have come to realize I do not handle blood, cuts, and bruises well.  Samantha and Makayla have each had painful bike accidents and if Jeremy is home, he gets to take care of it, because it grosses me out.  I can take care of it and do, if he is not home, but I prefer not to.  Thank you, Jesus, for watching over my children.



Friday, November 2, 2012

Winter Is Coming!!


We had our first snow last week.  My kids were soooo excited.  I could barely keep them inside when they saw it start coming down.  They wanted to get all bundled up in all their snow stuff.  We did get coats out, but kept the snow pants backed away.  It is not quite time for that yet.


Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Bentley Kyle - My New Nephew


On Friday, I met my newest nephew.  It seems that the Leister family just continues to grow.  

On October 23rd, Bentley Kyle made his appearance.  He was 8 lbs and 9 ozs and 20" long.  As you can see, he has dark hair and his mama says dark eyes.  I never did get to see his eyes.


I always forget how small they start out.



Brandi, Brandon (his dad), and Bentley stopped by for a bit on Friday.  It was good to get to hold Bentley and see my sister.  They both seem to be doing well.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

The Birthday Girl

17 years ago today Bailee was born.  Each year she gets older I get blindsided by the fact I am older.  I remember when I was a teenager and my mom would tell me she didn't feel old enough to have me.  I totally get it now.  When you have a child at 19, you just don't feel that old when they get to be in their late teens.


Birthday breakfasts are a big deal at our house.  Crepes are the most asked for item.  This morning we had crepes, bacon, and fried potatoes.

 

Saturday we had her birthday party.  Thank you everyone who came for it.  She felt very blessed by your presence.




Blowing out seventeen candles.




Thank you everyone for contributing to the iPod fund.  She is almost there.


Another year older - I cannot believe it.  Have I said that yet?!  I think I will probably just keep on saying.  I have yet to accept that they all just keep growing and getting older.

Monday, October 29, 2012

A Cascade Christmas - Book Review


A Cascade Christmas consists of four novellas with a Christian theme.  I found I really enjoyed three of those stories while find one very hard to get through.

Home for the Holidays - This was a cute story about being yourself.  Anna Wilkin is completely different from her older sister.  She is the boy her father never had and she is okay with that until she meets Jeremiah Tucker.  Once she meets Jeremiah, she wonders if being a lady would make him notice her as a woman and not just a pal.  In the end, she finds that being herself is more important that trying to be what others would like you to be.

One Evergreen Night - This was the story I had a hard time getting through.  I found that the writing style was very choppy.  It jumped back and forth between characters and different scenes way too quickly.  At times, I would have to go back and reread a section to make sure I was understanding the flow of the story.  The story line was good, but overshadowed by the writing.

All Ye Faithful - I would love to see this level of faithfulness happening in today's men and women.  I enjoyed this story, because the hero never gave up.  He thought about it, but determined to persevere.  I think this is an important lesson that has gotten lost in our "instant" society.

A Carpenter Christmas - This story was definitely my third favorite.  I found the story line a bit too much.  The heroine, Natalie Bollen, and the hero, Willum Tate, just seem to think too much.  I know our life experiences shape who we are, but this story just felt like they could see nothing else but their past.  I appreciate how the Natalie chooses to show her devotion my sticking with her man at the end of the story, but it was a bit much to wade through to get to that point.

Overall, I enjoyed this book.  I love reading novellas and having something I can pick up, read, and get all the way through the story in one setting.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Homecoming - Her First Official Date


Yes sirree, don't ask me how it happens, but they grow up.  I have to admit I DON'T LIKE IT!  Why can't they just stay 7?!


Everyone wanted a picture with Bailee the Beautiful.


Jace, the young man she went to Homecoming with, came to our house to have dinner.  I think I fed them too much.


She was a little nervous earlier in the day, but by the time Jace arrived, she was her silly self again.




High heels gives her one of the few opportunities to be taller than her mom.


A Wedding

Last Saturday, we were so honored to attend our girls' "Uncle" Largent's wedding.  It was a wonderful wedding, so Largent and Lori.  I loved it for that reason the most.  It was one of the most unique, personal wedding I have ever been to.


They set up a spot for kids with homemade coloring books and crayons.


Luken loves any opportunity to spend time with his boy cousins.  He loved getting to hang out with Caedmon.


Largent is my sister, Randi's, little brother, so that brought my brother, Jake, and his family to town.  It was so good to see them.


Anjahli giving her mama a bad time.  Then Brittney notices I am taking pictures.



They had this great photo booth.  The girls love when they get to spend time with Kyleigh who was also in town for the wedding.  She is actually Largent's niece.



Largent and Lori did a money dance.  Luken would not dance with Lori, but he did go with Bailee to dance with Largent.


The kids just loved the dancing.



Largent leading the "Cotton-Eyed Joe."


Bailee and Jeremy having a dance.  It was so cute.