Christmas Tree Festival

It was fun to begin the Christmas season with the Holiday Tree Festival in Akron. We enjoy seeing all the themed trees, and it's so neat that the whole event raises money for Akron Children's Hospital.

loving one of the Children's Hospital dogs

all of us with one of our favorite trees

Works for Me Wednesday- Gift Giving Ideas

Heart Beat Bear
I loved making these adorable bears for my mom and mother in law the Christmas that we were expecting Hannah. I went to Build a Bear and made a bear for each of them. I purchased a record your own voice box, but didn't sew it in. I brought it home, and recorded Hannah's heart beat on it. (I had her heartbeat on our ultrasound video, but you can also take the box to a doctors visit to record) I sewed the box into the bears chest, and then the Grandmas could hear her heart beat any time. Now as Hannah grows and goes to visit Grandma..she can hear her "heartbeat bear".

Fleece Blanket

Our first Christmas, we had a budget of $5 for our gift for each other...yes that's right $5. I was student teaching, and Seth was working shipping and receiving, so things were tight. It sure was fun to be creative. I found some fleece on sale at Joanns and went to work on a blanket for Seth. I used felt and puffy paint to decorate and put glued the decals on with fabric glue. A simple blanket stitch around the edges tied it all together.

A gift that Hannah LOVES is her fleece tie blanket. Her friend, Fiona, made it for her last Valentines Day. Simply put two pieces of fleece together, cut tabs around the edges, and knot. (For complete instructions go here)This is a great gift because the colors and designs can be changed to match the taste of the person recieving your gift. This has become Hannah's favorite blankie and goes everywhere with us!

For more gift giving ideas head over to We Are That Family.

A week long visit with Ethan & family too

What a joy it was to spend a week with my sister. She is a natural mother and is doing great with baby Ethan. We enjoyed lots of sister talks, changed diapers, gave baths, played with Hannah & Ethan, and enjoyed time with our family too. I thank God for a wonderful sister/best friend and for the precious time we had together last week.

I enjoyed going to church with Beth, Adam and Ethan. It was their first Sunday back to church with Ethan...aren't they a beautiful family!?

My dad enjoying some cuddle time with his grand kids...one grandson and one grand daughter...perfect!

Hannah is crazy about her Uncle Jeremy...and looks up to him so much already. He is a great piano player. It was neat seeing Hannah try to play the piano just like him.

this is my favorite thing about infants...I was able to enjoy lots of cuddle time with little Ethan this week!

having so much fun building with Pop

we all loved to watch "skating bear" when we were little...now Hannah enjoys him too!

adoring cousin Ethan

what's not to love about this sweet face?!

sporting the teddy bear hat I made for him.

Hannah quickly learned to be gentle with her baby cousin...and did a great job! She loves to rock him in his bouncy seat.

so much to be thankful for

Psalm 100
"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! We have so much to be thankful for everyday! I really enjoy a day to stop and reflect on all that God has blessed us with. WE have so much to thank Him for. I love a day to be with family without the worry of gifts. Just such a great day!

Here are just a few of the things that I have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving:

• I thank God for my salvation through His son Jesus Christ


• for my wonderful husband. For the companion that he is and the joy that it is to see God working in and through him.


• Hannah Grace...the precious little girl that he has blessed us with. She has brought so much joy to our lives! It so neat to already see God's gifts in her life...I can't wait to see how He will use her for His glory!


• my extended family. For my parents, brothers and sister, my new nephew, and in-laws. It's so neat to see our family growing! I miss them terribly, but am so thankful that they are only a car drive away.


• our church family who has been our family away from home. We love serving at FBC!


• my friends...God has blessed me with so many wonderful friendships!


• financial provision...I'm thankful for how God has provided for us finacially, for Seth's "job" and for our home.


• along the same lines, I'm SO thankful for the opportunity to be a stay at home mom. I love being with Hannah to be with her each day.

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods: cloudy and about 50 degrees

One of my simple pleasures: chatting with my sister about everything under the sun

On my bedside table: sleeping on my sisters couch this week :)

On my TV: John & Kate plus 8, so disappointing...

On the menu for tonight: Mediterranean chicken breasts & mashed potatoes

On my to-do list: grocery, fold laundry, sweep floors, dishes

New recipe I tried last week: Apple oat bars, crustless apple pie (served over pancakes...yum!)

In the craft basket: finishing a knit hat for baby Ethan

Looking forward to: Thanksgiving...I love thanksgiving! So much to be thankful for...wonderful food...wonderful family!

Homemaking tip for the week: always keep a packed diaper bag. When you get home from being out, replace used diapers, bibs, spoons, and clothes right away. Lay out clothes and pack the diaper bag the night before...this sure helps me to get out of the house quicker in the morning.

Favorite blog post of the week (mine or other): Managing the Home with a Cheerful Heart, I've been making good use of this free printable Christmas planner, teaching kids scripture, caught between two worlds....can't wait for the day, I love the ideas for mentoring teen girls in this post Never Go to the Grocery Store Alone (who wants to join me for a shopping trip next week?! :)) and finally I love this post about why we pastors wives peek...check it out :)

Favorite photo from last week: Hannah and her cousin Ethan

Lesson learned the past few days: just being reminded of the incredible miracle and joy of new life

On my prayer list: family and friends

Devotionals Scripture reading, Key Verses:
"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for...the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat." 2 Peter 3:10-12

Happy Birthday Carrie!

Coming home a little early for Thanksgiving put me in town just in time for Carrie's birthday. Carrie is a dear friend from high school and college. I don't get to see her much, so the times we are together are so sweet! It's been so long since I've spent a birthday with her...so this was a real treat too! It was also great to spend time with my friend Sharon, her husband Chad, their adorable children, and Carrie's parents who I spent a lot of time with growing up. I also enjoyed getting to see her fiance Chris and meet some of her other friends and family that I have only heard about. What a special evening!

We had pizza and salad for dinner. After dinner, we got to go out to the barn, meet the animals (all who were rescues of some sort!), and then we had the best cake from Tiffany's bakery in Akron...another special treat! It was fun to see Carrie open her gifts, and watch the children play together...what a great night!

Nathan and Hannah waiting for pizza.

are they cute together or what?!

Hannah loved the Billy goats!

Happy 29th Birthday Carrie!!

Handsome Nathan

and his sister sweet Jillian

enjoying some delicous cake

Sandy and Pat Norris and a cute pic of Sharon and Jillian too

Hannah and Jillian playing with the barn together, just after I got my camera Hannah stood up, so I told her to go back and sit with Jillian....but instead of sitting with her, she took a seat right on her...good thing Jillian's a tough cookie!

trying to get a good picture with the kids

so...we decided for one of just us. :)

Go Bucks! Beat Michigan!

I've been cheering on the Buckeyes all season and loving it! I'm starting to respond to O-H with and I-O. I also can make an O over my head for Ohio and I love to say "go bucks". Here's a short clip of me cheering on my team...who did it again and beat "that state up north"!