Visit to Santa Claus

No tears this year! Yeah! Amelia loved telling Santa all the Dora stuff she wants!

Merry Christmas!

Grateful

I have so much to be grateful for in my life...my family, my God, my job, the food I eat, the list goes on and on. This past weekend I was grateful for the time with my family. Jason & I were able to go to happy hour together on Wednesday since the kiddos were with my family. That was such a treat! We were blessed to have Grandma Betty, my Mom & Dad overnight Wednesday night and Thursday night. Thanksgiving was filled with lots of food, laughs and naps! :) Then, my very loyal, wonderful husband accompanied me in the 30 degree weather to the outlets which opened up at 11:00pm to start the Christmas shopping. We had a great time with the hundreds of other crazy people out shopping. Friday I was blessed with 7 1/2 hours of shopping with my Grandma & Mom. Saturday we took the kids to see Bolt, which are what the pictures are of below...Amelia wasn't being too cooperative, but we had fun! We also managed to get all our grocery shopping, Christmas decorating, house cleaning and laundry done in the one day that was left. We had 8 inches of snow on Sunday, so the whole family (except for Jake who was with Grandma Judy) helped shovel. We hope you had as great of a break as we did together. I am reminded everyday of the wonderful family, friends and blessings God has given me.

Blessings to you,

Rebecca

Encouragment

My heart is heavy, and I feel very moved to post my favorite scripture for those close to me in my life who are going through very difficult times right now. Many have lost the people they love, in different senses of the word, feeling disconnected, lonely, and hurting. For those of you going through the struggles of this world, my prayers and thoughts are with you. May God bring you peace and times of refreshing.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

Potty Training - Yippie!

Ok, I know this blog is really becoming about Amelia and the happenings in her life, but she is our life, so it ends up being about her! :) We decided she was ready to potty train. She just turned 2 in September, but she has been so interested, so I decided to go for it. Geneva told Deb about the Dr. Phil method of potty training and it worked so well for Cade, I decided to try it with Amelia. I won't go into all the details, but it was worth the read online! We started last Saturday and she had several accidents, but several targets too! On Sunday, we were down to one accident. Now it is Thursday, she has not had one more accident. She is so smart! I really was nervous about starting the process, was she too young, not ready, too stubborn (don't know where on earth she got that trait), but we must have timed it perfectly, and she is so proud! Here are just two cute pics I shot, the other's aren't appropriate for the blog :) I can't believe how fast she is growing! This is just another step into toddlerhood...guess it is time for another baby! :)

Teaching "Zippy" how to pee on the toilet

Ok, this it too cute! C'mon...it's cute!

God Made You All Girl

There are many different reasons why I love having a girl, the cute clothes, the sweet voice, the hair dos, etc. But, probably one of the top 5 is the way God wired her to be a mama herself. It has always amazed me how little boys want to fix things and play with trucks, and how little girls was to push their babies in strollers and feed them, but until you have your own and see them do those things on their own, you don't really understand the awesome power of God to hard wire us to be who we are. Amelia has received two babies in the last year. They have both been the same baby, but different clothes, courtesy of Grandma Linda & Aunt Kristine. She named one Sarah and one Maggie. We don't know where she came up with either name, but it is so sweet. Recently, she has REALLY gotten into taking care of Sarah...giving her milk, feeding her, putting powder on her bum...it is so precious. The other night I snapped some pictures of her "taking care of" Sarah and it reminded me of how truly amazing my God is and how he puts in our very being how to be moms at a very young age. It warmed my heart and I hope the pictures do the same for you.

XOXO,

Rebecca

One Proud "Mama"

This is what came to mind this past weekend when I saw my sister totally in her element at her first Craft Show. Now, of course I know I am not her mama, but I have never been more proud of my sis. It has been her dream for a long time to be in a craft fair, and not only was she in the biggest and most well attended craft fair in Colorado, she was amazingly successful. Now, let me just tell you that this woman had a baby in Feb., but that didn't stop her from starting to make her inventory. She has worked tiredlessly on all her crafts, mini albums, cards, calendars, etc. Now, don't get me wrong, I did a few calendars, some cards, etc., but nothing like what Deb created. I have always known my sister is amazingly talented, but what she absolutely astounded me with her creativity, and by the response she had, I was not the only one. I had a blast being with her all day, helping the customers, meeting new people, it was an event in her life I wouldn't have wanted to miss out on. I also want to mention our amazing friends and family who, without their support, she wouldn't have been as successful. So, to Denise, Michelle, Kristine, Dana, Mimi, Ali, LaDonna, Mom, Meredith, Kendra, Pat, and her friends at Cade's preschool, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your support and your presence at the show for Deb. Many of you took time away from your families, drove from as far as Lakewood, and brought your kiddos, and it meant more than you know. Deb and I got tears in our eyes later that night as we debriefed at the amazing support we felt from all of you. Our last customer of the day was Jayne Anderson, my Paulie's mom. It was so wonderful to see her, and it made me miss you, Paulie, even more. It just warmed my heart that she thought of us and came to show her support. And, certainly not least to our Jason's...you two are amazing. We are both reminded daily of how blessed we are to have such wonderful, supportive husbands. Jow worked so hard on Deb's set up and take down and spent lots of time with us and offered some much needed comic relief :) My Jason, brought the kiddos to see me when I needed it the most, brought lunch, and held down the fort so I could focus on helping Deb. Thank you to you both! So, with the mushy stuff out of the way, here are some fun pics from "Simply Thoughtful." I am so proud of you Deb, for seeing your talent, finding your dream and making it come to life. You have truly inspired me, I love you, sis!

XOXO,

Becca

Announcing Ella Grace

I swear it seems like just yesterday my cousin, Amy called to tell me she just found out she is pregnant, and then today she is born. My baby cousin (ok, not so much of a baby) had her first baby today. A little girl named Ella Grace. She arrived this morning, about 3 weeks early, weighing 5lbs., 3oz. and 20 inches long. I so wish I could be in Atlanta right now holding her, but since I can't, I have posted pictures of her below. Congrats Amy & Ryan...this is the day your life will change forever. It is a wonderful journey, enjoy and soak up every single second, it goes so fast! I love you both!

XOXO,

Becca

My Aunt & Uncle are Granparents!

An October to Remember

I have to say, this year I am very pleased with how the month of October went. Normally I look back and think, I wish I would have gone to more pumpkin patches, or decorated more for Halloween, or baked a little more...but this year I am happy with the happenings of the month. As a family we went to 2 pumpkin patches, baked cookies, decorated the house, took pictures in the mountains with the trees turning colors, and had a very successful, very large Halloween party. Yep, I now find myself at the beginning of November offically exhausted from the events of October. But hey, what is better than being exhausted going INTO the holidays. Well, here are several of my favorite pictures, out of hundreds that were taken, from the busy month. Enjoy!

The Perfect Fall Day

There is such a thing as a perfect fall day and our family had one on Saturday. Sorry if the details bore you, but all of them put together made it the perfect fall day. We started off getting coffee, I am after all addicted to my Starbucks and gradually making my 14 year old addicted too. (Is it bad that he asks me to order him "the usual?") We then drove to the Botanic Gardens at Chatfield. I must give credit where credit is due and tell you that Jason was the one who found out about the pumpkin festival and got all the information to get us there...thanks honey! We walked through mud all bundled up and picked out the perfect pumpkins, 10 to be exact. We went home and I put Amelia down for her nap while the boys made the best potato soup. After a yummy lunch, the boys headed out for errands and I got to work on my pictures, scrapbooking, cards, etc. It was heaven! When Amelia got up from her nap we made Halloween cards for all her little buddies, she decorated them herself with stickers and they turned out so cute! Then, Amelia and I got ready to go to the circus and Jason and Jake started out for their guys night. We had a great time at the circus with Deb & Cade & Kendra & Bryton. They were so cute to watch. Their little faces lit up with the animals and lights. It was so fun! We got home late to the boys hanging out with Uncle Kenny and we hit the hay. It was...the perfect fall day!