Merry Christmas...late

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! We did. Caleb was home for the whole day and that was so great! Emilie was lots of fun, and Tom really enjoy playing with all the boxes and torn paper! It was so nice to be in our cozy house with our little family. I'm very thankful for for all that God has given me.

I can post the pictures we took in Oct now! I didn't want to put them on before Christmas and spoil my mom's Christmas present. :) So... here they are.

"Let me 'spain..."

Okay Bro. Ray... I feel the need to explain the whole "cupcake" thing. When Philip was 5ish I was holding him in my lap and he looks up at me and says... " Mandie you're my cupcake. And Cathy is my twinkie. And Tammy... she's my ding-dong". I will never forget that moment! He was so serious and had no idea what he just said. It was priceless. I will never let him (or Tammy for that matter) forget it. :) Love ya Tam!!
How is everyone? We are doing good. God has blessed us in church recently. On Tues night Bro. and Sis. Bock surprised us and came for prayer meeting!! It was great to have them. Paul led some wonderful worship songs and I really felt moved during my prayer time. Caleb was home and it always feels so much better to pray next to him. Can't explain it other than you truly become one flesh and when you are apart it's so hard.
I have a prayer request. Every winter BNSF (Caleb's employer) furloughs employees. Usually it's on for a few weeks and Caleb manages to work and make it through. This year he is going to be hard pressed to make it working through Dec. They are talking about laying off for a couple of months. I know that Gods is in control and He will provide no matter what. Please pray that His will will be done. I want to use this time to grow and be strengthened. Caleb works so hard and is such great husband and father, I hate to see him carry this extra burden. Thanks for all the prays! I love you Caleb!
Emilie and Tom are doing great! They are so much fun! I was talking to Emilie today and telling her how much I loved being home with her. I love having her wake me up and ask me to make her some "breksist", and sitting and eating our lunch together. I love playing with her in the bath and cuddling on the couch. I love you Em! I'm so thankful for my children and the happiness they bring us. Thomas has started giving real hugs. OH!!!!! Nothing beats it. To feel his little arms wrap around you. I love you Tom!
Well I'd better keep working. There is always something to do!
Mandie

This is a picture Daniel (Calebs cousin) took of Emilie and I at the beach in WA. I had no idea he was taking pictures...I love this one.

Here is emilie this last spring. Gotta love the piggy tails!

Here we are at the Grand Canyon on the way home fromAZ. Oh, you can't tell it's the Grand Canyon because it's dark? Us to. :) No, we got there at dusk, but were able to see a little bit.

He I am with my Philip. My first love :) Can't believe how grown up he is. I love you Phil! You're the greatest! Am I still your cupcake?

I'm back

Hey everyone! How was your Thanksgiving? Ours were great! Both of them :) We had Thanksgiving with Dave and Melissa and the kids last week, and then with the Alexander family yesterday. It was great! We had a great time yesterday eating and getting a little crazy over 3 Railroads, Marvin Gardens and New York Ave. It was... great :) No, really it was fun. Especially knowing that I'm the only one who can hold their head up high knowing I took the high road. (Yeah... you guys know what I'm talking about :))
Having Melissa and the gang here was great! I had a good time anyway. Everyone did end up sick with virus that we all had earlier. I felt bad for that, but it was short lived. Not real sure where the time went. We did play a few card games and a wii game or two. Emilie loved having everyone here! Just ask Andy :} The very last day they were here that kids were all getting a little done. Andy was being nice and trying to give Emilie a hug and she didn't want a hug. She yells at him "No Andy...go read your story!"
We thought it was funny. Really they all got a long great and Emilie wants to be just like Kari Beth now.
Not much else to talk about. We got our Christmas tree up, but not decorated yet. So far Tom has payed no attention to it! Thank you Jesus! I was so afraid he'd have it down on his head the first day. Emilie is very excited about Christmas this year! Although slightly confused after seeing Papa and Bro. Johnny in the Santa suit. We may have scarred her for life...too early to tell.
The other night we were driving in the car and listening to Emilie talk to Tom.
"I love you Tom...so much. You know that?". I just melted. He are some of the latest thing Emilie has said...
"Dad what is your favorite game? Caleb said "I don't know. I like lots of games" "Oh, you like lots of games... that's cool."

The night we bought our Christmas tree Emilie fell asleep in the car. We put her right to bed and set the tree up later that night. The next morning I heard her open up her bedroom door and come out. Then she stopped and we heard her whisper... "Oh a Christmas tree!!! Wow! I love it. Thank you Mom and Dad."
She was playing in the kitchen at Mom and Dads and was looking in a bag. "Hmmm what's in here. Nuthin... that's just terrible."

Thomas took 2 steps that other day for Papa. It was really cute. He's shaky when it comes to steps, but he'll just stand balanced by him self for a long time. Being able to do that I would imagine he'll be walking soon. We'll see.

Well I guess I'd better get going.

Catching up on pictures...

Never turn your back on Tom...


Sitting in the cart for the first time!

Last picture of Emilie sleeping in her crib. She switched to her toddler bed at 18 months

Bike ride!

Just chilling.

Mohawk Tom

Emilie sitting on the ice cream mans lap.

Emilie and my Mom last Sept

Emilie with the late great Sam Oct '08

Emilie cheering at the High School Football game

Best Smile!

Eating a ...stick

Styling Ema

Trying again...

Well I'm going to try again to keep a blog. No promises. I really want to keep up, but things are a little crazy around here. Let me "sum up".
Emilie and Thomas are great! They keep my smiling. Emilie is almost 2 1/2. She is sooo smart and witty. She is also very caring and loves to be helpful. Tom is all boy. He growls and jabbers. He crawls really fast and love to eat everything the fits in his mouth. His favorite things to do... tip over the trash can, wrestle with Dad and Em (Papa Kirby too), Eat, clap and dance and eat some more. Oh the life of a 10 month old.
Caleb and I are doing really good. He's working for BNSF still and things are going great for him! He is out elk hunting with Bro Johnny right now. He is the VLB leader here in Havre. I am cleaning, cooking, laundering, and fixing broken toys most days. When I'm not doing any of those things I'm doing church books ,writing for the regional church paper, or sleeping.
God has really blessed us and I'm so thankful for everything He's doing in our lives. I plan on putting up a bunch of pictures. Hope it works! :)