Happy Valentine's Day!

The girls wanted to make valentines for all the kids in their homeschool co-op, which is about 60. I found this idea online and the kids had a lot of fun making them. :)

Winter

In January, the kids and Chris all came down with the flu. I, miraculously, managed to stay pretty healthy and was able to keep a fire going in the wood stove! As soon as Chris started feeling better (a week later!), I pretty much lost all success at getting a fire going.

After all sharing a room and a very small living space for four and a half months, the kids are really enjoying the extra room! The friends we were living with had no bathtubs.

Whoohoo for baths!!

After a looong break, we're finally back to schoolwork again and...loving it! Allison is studying ancient Rome, while Abby has started the first grade and is learning to read.

I promised the girls that they could do some beginning sewing projects this year, so we did our first one today.

They both did really well!

My birthday is in January and Chris' birthday was last week so we generally combine the two. This year, we celebrated with our favorite pie (blueberry banana cream), presents, family and a day with just the two of us, complete with a massage at a spa - so fun!

We Moved!

December 31st we closed on our new house and started plowing snow (there was a blizzard...of course!). We started moving in on January 1st and now that it's February, I think I can officially say we're all moved in! There are still pictures and things to hang on the walls, but most things are unpacked or put away in storage. (I'm sure it will take me the rest of the year to sort through those things - hah!)

We have 5 acres now, which the kids love to run and play in. There are somewhere around 40 pear trees with four different varieties. Two roosters and a hen stuck around...soon to be one rooster and a hen, I hope! We're going to build a new chicken house in the next month and get us some chicks. I'm hoping to have about 10 good layers so that we can have enough eggs for our family and a few extra to sell.

St. Nick and the big 10

We began December with our new daily advent reading and candle wreath. It's been such a blessing to remember Christ's birth with purpose this year!

David helped me make cookies. 

He also helped himself to eating a few!

He wasn't very happy with mommy when she said "no more!"

The weather this fall has been unseasonably wet and warm - which makes for beautiful rainbows!

We celebrated St. Nicholas Day on the 6th. 

Chris took the day off of work and, after our morning together, we headed to my parents' house to see my grandmother who was visiting from up north!

A few days later, we headed back to my parents' house for another St. Nicholas Day celebration. My sister and her family joined us for a day of games and visiting. We stayed the night there and surprised Allison the next day by driving her up to Seattle for her birthday!

She had studied ancient Egypt last year in school and really wanted to see the Egypt exhibit while it's still in the states for the last time! We are so proud of our TEN year old and excited for all that is ahead of her in the next ten years. :)

We finally got some snow the last week - much to the kids' delight!

We are currently in the process of purchasing a new home just north of town! We should close this next week and are so excited to move in and get back into a regular routine! The house is on five acres with lots of room to play and lots of pear trees. Here is a link to some pictures: http://www.cbbain.com/Popups/PhotoTour.aspx?MLSLID=12009235&MLSID=2&ListingID=33460560

As we move into this new season of our lives, we reflect back on this past year and all the joys and trials it has held. We wish you all a merry Christmas and pray that you all have a wonderful new year in 2013!

November

November was a fairly quiet month for us. We played at home and got a lot of school stuff done. We enjoyed a fun Thanksgiving with both Chris' family and mine (sorry - the pics are on another camera!)

David loves to dress up!

A rare shot of "sleepy" David.

I finally baked some cookies this fall - gingerbread! The girls were excited to put their decorating skills to use. :)

October

In October, we celebrated David's 2nd birthday - twice!

We had lots of fun with family.

David loves cake...

and trucks...

and cake!!

Towards the end of the month, I headed to the city for a weekend with the girls! Chris had a great time with the kids, while I was gone, and even took them all geocaching!