Kim Skavnak Photography

Wow!  3 years go by so fast.  This time last year I was waking Bryan up saying “today we are having a baby”.  After 3 months of strict bedrest and a very active baby, not to mention the super high blood pressure that made me so sick.  I was ready to meet our little one!  Was it a boy?  Was it a girl?  Who knew.  I always guessed girl but I think a part of me was thinking boy too, just so I wasn’t sad if it wasn’t a girl.  I still remember when they said “It’s a GIRL”  I cried so hard as I was shaking so bad on that OR table.  A baby girl.  Oh, I have always dreamed of having a little girl.  How did I get so lucky!  Well, Ella has blessed us in so many ways these past 3 years.  She is amazing.  She grew up so fast (faster than most would think, especially since she acts like she is 5 going on 15).  She is fun, loving, crazy, goofy, has her own mind and isn’t changing that for anyone, and can eat more than any other child I know!  I love her more and more each day (although I didn’t think that was possible).  I can’t wait for this next year to see her grow even more.  We have so much fun together.  Happy birthday baby girl!!!!

For those of you that know me really well you know that winter is not my favorite thing.  I actually can’t say I like it one bit.  It’s cold, it’s messy, and it just makes me want to stay inside under a blanket with a warm cup of tea (although that does sound good:)).  One of the many amazing things about being a mom is that our kids find ways to bring light to every situation.  Even the SNOW!  Usually I would be all bummed out with the snow…but not this year.  The kids were so excited to go out and play.  Ethan was out for 2 hours with daddy building snow forts, a slide, and a couple tunnels.  Ella is more like me.  She lasted for almost an hour though and she and I gathered snow babies (snow balls) and put them down for naps and with all their friends:)  It was a great afternoon outside as a family, especially on a day I wouldn’t have enjoyed at all 4 years ago!  Here are some of the favorites from today!

We enjoyed a pancake breakfast with Santa again this year.  It is so fun to watch the kids around Santa right now…..they are loving Christmas so much this year….even more than their mommy, although I am not sure if that is possible!

A family tradition is to go to Gerten’s every year and go on reindeer rides and look at all the Christmas decorations.  There is cider, cookies, and caroling.  It was so fun to bring our friends with last year and again this year!  The kids had a blast.  It was nice to have a little warmer weather than last year, although it made the lines a little longer:)

Happy Birthday to an amazing woman!   She had touched so many people in her life and brought so much joy to so many of us.  I wonder many times why she was taken so early from us, why she didn’t have more time with our babies (her and Ella would have been a hoot together:)), and why oh why would this happen to her.  The answers I may never know but what I am thankful for our the years we had together.  The many talks we would have.  The many many laughs we shared.  The joy she found from our Ethan and Ella.  I never saw such a smile on her face then when she was talking, holding or caring for one of them.  We miss you so much Sandy.  I hope she is looking down at us and enjoying a birthday full of friends, laughs, cards, and many many desserts!  Love you Sandy!