Family Gift Exchange

"After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." Matthew 2:11

We started our family gift exchange tonight with the passage in Matthew 2 concerning the birth of Christ and specifically the visit from the wisemen. We tried to explain to Carter (2.5 yrs) and Turner (11 mons) the significance of the visit and gifts they brought and how this was part of why we exchange gifts at Christmastime.

A friend had suggested to me using this passage and the three gifts of the wisemen (gold, frankincense and myrrh) as a model - so we started last year by giving 3 gifts to each child. This year the boys each got a pair of pajamas, a chair and a new toy. It was simple and fun!

I am challenged this year to remember who we worship and why we celebrate!

The Shoveling Teletubby!

Christmas Tradition: Decorating the tree

Growing up one of my favorite Christmas traditions was going with the family to one of the local tree farms and picking out a fresh Christmas tree then taking it home to decorate it.

We would get home, set it up (some years this was more challenging than others if I remember correctly...), turn on the Christmas tunes and get out the ornaments (we had LOTS of ornaments as it was my grandma Turner's tradition to buy us an ornament - or two or three each Christmas).

This year it was time to start Carter on the family tradition. So we loaded up and headed to Russ's market to buy a tree (much cheaper than the local tree farm and a bit quicker too!), got it set up fairly quickly and then after Turner was in bed we started decorating. It was a fun time. Carter loved getting the ornaments out of the boxes and deciding where they should go on the tree (which at times was hard for mommy to not what it my way - but I decided having all the tractors by each other and the planes together and the basketball players lined up was ok!) - but maybe more than that - Carter loved getting to eat popcorn and drink hot chocolate for the first time!!

The Pointer

Turner is all about pointing right now.
He points at lights, people, food, shoes, any and everything!
It is pretty cute!

Here he is pointing at momma!!

Snow Day!

Carter has anxiously awaited snow all winter.
These are some pictures from our first accumulation (Dec 3rd)!
He was SO EXCITED to walk around in it in his boots!!!
Then it snowed this week and it was too cold to go out - boy was he bummed!

11 Months Old

Our baby is almost one! Today he hit the eleven month mark!








New accomplishments this month!

-Standing up and letting go (no steps yet)
-Definitely can say Carter (Ca-ta) very clearly!
-Becoming a true Daddy's boy!
-Eating more and more real food.
-Saying and waving "nigh-nigh" and "bye-bye"!

Happy 11 Months, TW!
We love you!

Carter attemping "Away in a manger"

TAKE ONE:





We'll keep working on this one and see if we can get it by the end of the Christmas season!

Happy Thanksgiving!

love,
Carter
(and family)

Missing "Me-AN-da"

This weekend Todd's cousin, Amanda, came to visit. She is currently attending Grace University in Omaha and has made a few trips back to see us after spending 3 weeks with us this past summer. She's one of Carter's favorite people and he gets so sad when she leaves us. She left during his nap and he woke up saying "me miss Me-AN-da" as he fondly calls her. It was so sweet. Amanad is such a neat girl, she loves playing with the boys and is so good with them. It's always a nice break for mommy to have her here helping out (and fun to have some tough wii tennis competition too!).

Thanks for visiting Amanda!

10 Months Old

Yesterday our Turner hit 10 months! He is getting WAY too close to the 1 year mark - mommy is getting a bit weepy! Everyday he is learning new things and becoming more and more like a little boy. We are trying to cherish every minute of what's left of our baby!!!

New accomplishments this month:

• Walking behind your push-toys!
• More babbling - momma is insisting he can say "Ca-ta" for Carter =)
• Referring to "momma" & "dadda" by name!
• Eating "real food" in small pieces - pretty much had it with the purees!
• Dancing - he loves to move to music!
• Opening the kitchen drawers & cupboards - we are in need of more child-safety locks!
• Sleeping in later - woohoo for Momma!

Happy Ten Months, TW! We love you!

HE'S WALKING.....

well, behind the toy at least =)

Halloween in Lincoln

Decorating cookies for Papa & Daddy's offices!

At Papa's Office


Trick or Treating at Mamie's
Trick or Treating and Gpa & Gma Martin's
A couch full of cuties all dressed up!

The fireman with his firetruck!

**Note: No pictures at Daddy's office b/c I dropped the camera at Papa's office and BROKE it!!! Thankfully Papa has loaned us his old camera to use until we get a new one!

It was a long day for the fireman & his dog, maybe more so for mommy, but it was fun!

Urgent Prayer Request: updated

The memorial service for Major will be Friday morning at 10:30 in Stella. Please keep the family in your prayers for this day and the days ahead!

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I was deeply saddened to check my friend's blog this morning and read the update on her nephew. Little Major has gone to be with the Lord. Please continue to pray for his family! I can't imagine letting go - may the God of peace watch over them in these days.

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Please follow this link to the blog of our friend's and pray with us for this little boy's life....

The J Crew

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. " Eph 3:20-21

"Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge." Psalm 62:8

Pumpkin Patch

On Saturday our small group from church loaded up the kids and headed to the Pumpkin Patch! The kids had fun taking in the activities and the adults seemed to enjoy it as well (especially Brent- just ask him!)....

Omaha Zoo

A week ago we had the opportunity to join Mamie & Papa (Steph's parents) at the Omaha Zoo! It was a beautiful fall day! The boys loved it and were so well behaved - a bonus for any outing! The animals seemed to flock to Carter everywhere we went, especially a very friendly sea lion - which was his favorite of all we were able to see! Below are a few pictures - I will have to post more later when I get copies of all my dad took!!!

Harvest time in Hastings!

9 Months Old

Yes, he's really NINE MONTHS today!

Newest accomplishments:

Pulling up to standing on everything - including his crib!
Eating more foods - already can feed himself little pieces!
Clapping!
Waving!
Recognizing who momma is and wanting her more!!!
Saying Ma-ma, Da-da, Ba-ba, Ya-ya!
Tooth count is up to 4!

Seems like he grew up a lot in the past month, ah, my baby is no more!

Quick add: from 9 month check yesterday, TW is 23 lbs, 4.5 oz (officially bigger than Carter was at 12 months!!!!!) and 29.5 inches! He is a big boy!!! Had a very healthy checkup - praise the Lord!