January

Here are a few pictures of the kids.

Ethan and Hans playing in a tent.

Ethan and one of his creations

Ethan playing guitar and Hans being an angel!

Anya

cereal

Anya has entered the world of solid food. As of this evening I don't know if she has actually digested any yet, but we do our part by putting the stuff in her mouth! She tolerates it well. The boys continue to do well and are great big brothers.

I am doing well. I continue to feel fine. On Friday I went to see a surgeon and he quickly told me I have gallstones and inflammation and I need surgery to remove my gall bladder! Whhaaaa!?!?! I left there a little shell shocked. I have yet to schedule the surgery. With Anya still nursing and me still having a bunch of questions about my "condition" I want to take some time and get a second opinion before I lose an organ. We are praying for healing and for wisdom and taking one step at a time. I spoke to my Dr. today and they are going to arrange an appointment with a second surgeon. Hopefully this appointment will be more educational. We greatly appreciate your prayers at this time. In the midst of it I am very thankful I have no pain or discomfort. I am able to go about my normal routine. We will keep you posted!

Meanwhile, here are some photos!

The big cereal event!

mmmm, er, maybe . .

Hans: he has the guitar, the moves and the dimples to be a front man, WATCH OUT!!

Sunday afternoon: Introducing Anya to the finer points of decorating and gardening.

Winter entertainments

We are all doing well. It seems to be taking a while to get back in the normal swing, but it is coming. I think this week will be normal. Last week I had a gall bladder attack which was followed by a Dr. visit and some tests to find out what was going on. At this point I feel completely back to normal and the Dr seems to think it was rather random and I don't have much risk of another one. I will be meeting with a surgeon at some point here just to get their opinion. I am just thankful to be back to normal.

It has been very cold here, so we are finding fun things to do inside. Here are some recent photos.

Anya's bath on the kitchen counter

One day I made a tent for the boys.

Ethan thought Anya would enjoy being in the tent too:)

Becky came down one day

Anya in the Lego bin

Playing guitar

Hans has discovered that this is the best way to hear the guitar!

Christmas photos

Christmas was very good, but busy this year. We had a great time with our family and traveling to see my parents. Unfortunately we all picked up a bug and spent the beginning of the new year at home recovering. Now we are all on the mend and ready to start the new year! Here are some photos.

Sunrise on Christmas, we were done opening presents by this time:)

Hans opening his guitar

Anya and her new clothes

first guitar lesson

Hans inspecting the new kitchen Grandma and Grandpa Miller got for him and Ethan

The bakers hats and aprons from Aunt Becky

Cooking away

Anya in the Lego bucket

Grandma Martin with Ethan and Hans

trying out the new paints at Grandma Martin's house

New Years Eve

Making the volcano the boys got from Uncle Sam and Bethany

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas!

We are grateful for each of our family and friends, near and far. May you all have a peaceful and joy filled Christmas season! Blessings to each of you!

Now for a little catch up: Anya is almost 4 months old and doing very well. She is a sweet little lady. She loves her brothers and enjoys watching what they are doing. Their rough love doesn't daunt her in the least, which is a good thing! She is still waking up to eat at night and Jeremiah and I are hoping her Christmas present will be to sleep 6 or 8 hours straight on a regular basis!

Hans is 2 and a full blown 2 year old at that, with all the tantrums and sweet smiles and wiles to go with it! He is forever getting into mischief. Last week he ate a lady bug. This past Sunday, when we were to light the Advent Candle at church, he made a bee-line for the guitars on stage and I had to pin him to the stage because I was holding Anya and Jeremiah was reading the scripture passage. Fortunately we have an understanding church and they laughed along with us as we dealt with children being children. Everyone was secure by candle lighting time and that went off uneventfully:)

Ethan is 4 1/2 and doing very well with preschool. He is learning a lot and will definitely be ready for kindergarten next fall. He loves coloring and making up stories and games. He really enjoys building things and imagining a world to go along with what he has made.

Jeremiah continues to work as IT director and thoroughly enjoys it. He can't wait for Monday to come:) This is a blessing to us all. He does house projects on the side, as he has time, but this fall has pretty well been focused on adjusting to having 3 children.

I am busy keeping up with the house and kids. I do a side project now and than, but for the most part I chase children and keep the house in order and rest when I get a chance:) I know this season won't last forever, so I am savoring the special moments along the way. I sometimes have to remind myself more than once a day that there are things to be cherished here:)

We will be spending Christmas Day at home and traveling to my parents house for the weekend. It will be good to spend time with them again. The children love them. Hans has been asking for Grandpa Phil almost daily for the last couple of weeks. Ethan hopes someone will have moved into our house while we are gone so we will just have to stay near Grandma Martin's house!!

Blessings to you all and Happy New Years!!

kids

Anya and Ethan playing dress up: Ethan put the handkerchief on Anya. She just loves the boys and wants to be right in the middle of the action when she is up.

Ethan and Hans getting ready to play in the snow

December

We are doing well. The tree is up and the house is decorated and we are bustling our way towards Christmas. The boys were super excited about putting up the tree. They were wound sooo tight. It was amazing! Last Saturday when we went out to cut our tree we drove past the bank it the thermometer said 25 !! yikes! We had fun though:) There was free hot chocolate:)

Anya is 3 months old now and keeping us all entertained. She has such special smiles. That is the latest. I will do a full update . . . sometime:)

looking for a tree

Anya bundled up and cozy

Our crew!