Sunday Snapshot~ the events leading up....

to His birthday!

 this month flew i tell ya

 we have so many traditions we can't miss each Christmas season that we keep very busy up until the big day

 our tree was up and decorated a few days after Thanksgiving, the earliest ever!

 the boys packed meals one Saturday for Feed My Starving Children.....

 and got to hang out with some friends from church

 the hubs was proud of this photo of the First Lady, taken with his phone

 our first big snow, storm "Ceasar", dropped about 8 inches or more about two weeks ago to ensure we'd have a white Christmas

 since the Lil' Lady has trouble even keeping her step on dry ground, we let her out on the deck to play safe.

 she insisted on helping big brother shovel

 and her was very patient to let her!

 bottoms up!

 he even helped her make her own snowman

an orange crayon for a nose and chopsticks for arms!

 i'm sure we'll rack up lots of pics tomorrow morning, but until then.....

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family

here,

on the west coast...on the east coast...

down south, and everywhere in between!

Sunday Snapshot~ Names

{N. A. Noel}

I knew their names would come soon and though a part of me was dreading it, I wanted to know them. I read over each and every name carefully. One has a birthday on Halloween. One just turned seven a few days ago, and one was born on my parents wedding anniversary. One shares a name with my oldest and another a name with my youngest. One was born on my wedding anniversary. As heartbroken as I am, I just can't fathom the loss that each of those parents and family members is feeling. It's unspeakable, and my heart hurts for them. I feel like the only thing we can do is pray... and to know them and not forget them.

Charlotte Bacon, 2/22/06 (age 6)

Daniel Barden, 9/25/05 (age 7)

Olivia Engel, 7/18/06 (age 6)

Josephine Gay, 12/11/05 (age 7)

Ana M. Marquez-Greene, 04/04/06 (age 6)

Dylan Hockley, 03/08/06 (age 6)

Madeleine F. Hsu, 07/10/06 (age 6)

Catherine V. Hubbard, 06/08/06 (age 6)

Chase Kowalski, 10/31/05 (age 7)

Jesse Lewis, 06/30/06 (age 6)

James Mattioli, 03/22/06 (age 6)

Grace McDonnell, 11/04/05 (age 7)

Emilie Parker, 05/12/06 (age 6)

Jack Pinto, 05/06/06 (age 6)

Noah Pozner, 11/20/06 (age 6)

Caroline Previdi, 09/07/06 (age 6)

Jessica Rekos, 05/10/06 (age 6)

Avielle Richman, 10/17/06 (age 6)

Benjamin Wheeler, 9/12/06 (age 6)

Allison N. Wyatt, 07/03/06 (age 6)

Rachel Davino, 7/17/83 (age 29)

Dawn Hochsprung, 06/28/65 (age 47)

Anne Marie Murphy, 07/25/60 (age 52)

Lauren Russeau, 1982 (age 29)

Mary Sherlach, 02/11/56 (age 56)

Victoria Soto, 11/04/85 (age 27)

Isaiah 40:11

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

{N. A. Noel}

Sunday Snapshot~ the bob

 Lil' Lady got the bob cut today

 and as i always notice with little girls at school when they get their hair cut short, she aged a few years.

 i love it.

 not sure if she really likes it though. i caught her later in the hair accessory box experimenting with various headbands.

 this is the look we both liked

 we call it messy casual, with just a bit o' fancy!

we're so wearin' this to daycare tomorrow:)