Four Birthdays, a Shower and a Valentine

Since posting our 400th blog post on Christmas Eve, it has been a full start to 2012. As usual, celebrating all four of our birthdays in four weeks' time doesn't really allow for an after Christmas slump. We may have a go at celebrating half birthdays in the summer just to break it up a bit...

For Noah's 6th Birthday, we brought in cake pops at lunchtime! Noah loves it when our whole family eats together in the cafeteria. After school, we learned that Sweet Frog gives you free FroYo on your birthday! (c: The next day, Michael had some special deliveries made to him at school from his "girlfriend," and Noah's kindergarten class was sure to sing "Happy Birthday" to Mr. Salvatierra.


That weekend we had a party for Noah at Explorations Play Studio with friends from school and our neighborhood. What a delightful place for a party!

Right after Noah's party, we went to our Small Group's game night at the Duxbury's and also surprised Michael with a little birthday celebration, complete with special appearance by Virginia's Scrabble Champion doing The Worm.

Two weeks later, I celebrated my birthday with some girlfriends at home, while Michael had choir practice. I loved getting time with those women! They were so sweet to even bring flowers and some thoughtful gifts. You can see some of the flowers on our new mantle. My Dad hand-crafted it and gave it to us for Christmas this year! It inspired us to paint the walls and do a little redecorating.

The following weekend, Dottie and I went up for Kerry's baby shower in Chappaqua, NY. Their little guy is arriving in March and I have the honor and privilege of being their doula! We are all eagerly awaiting the arrival of little "Finnbar" (the womb name).

On my way back home from NY, I picked-up the Nelson's car in Northern VA. They are graciously letting us borrow it as they are abroad this semester in Oxford! Thank you, Nelsons!!

Then Ethan turned 3...

We had a little party for him, inviting only his "favorite friend," Katherine and her family (The Scharfs). They had fun with Play-doh, making pinwheels, playing "pin the pinwheel on the stick," and having lunch with his "Liting-Keane" birthday cake for dessert. We're not much for sticking with a theme for a party.



After the party we all went to Staunton together. We watched a glass-blowing demonstration at Sunspots before we walked to Fretwell Bass where Michael picked-up his Christmas present, a beautiful Eastman A-style, mandolin! He'd been waiting very patiently to find just the right one and the time for us to go pick it up together. We had dinner all together at Shenandoah Pizza before heading home.

My little 3 year old! (in his favorite place in the kitchen)


Then it was Valentine's Day...


A week later, I had the joy of taking the boys to see The Lion King in Richmond! This was Ethan's first musical and he loved it! He was in my lap and sucking his thumb for the majority, but paying close attention. They were both very familiar with the music which I think helped them enjoy it more. We got to spend a snowy sleepover at Josh and Annmarie's and had lunch with Kristen Purdy and her kiddos the next day before heading back.


This coming weekend, we're headed to Duck, NC for the first Rock House (Michael's college roommates) Reunion! Hard to believe it's been 10 years since they graduated. We are so excited to see a bunch of dear friends - and all their kids!! There will be 12 kids, age 6 and under. Noah's the oldest - it is so crazy to imagine him as the oldest in any group! Should be a blast. This is assuming that Finnbar decides to hang in there a few more days or weeks (he's due on the the 11th).
We're so grateful for the life we've been given to live.

Wants and needs.

Last night after saying goodnight to Noah, he called to me asking if we would be going to church on Sunday since it is Christmas Day. I said that we probably would to which he replied, "Then I won't be able to play with my new presents, but we don't really need presents. We can live without presents, but we can't live without Jesus. We get to worship Jesus on Sunday!" Obviously moved by my son's understanding of this fact, I asked a little more about his response and heard that in his kindergarten class they had been talking about the difference between wants and needs. Thank you, Jesus, for working in Noah's heart in this way. This is such a delightful reminder to me of exactly why we celebrate the birth of Christ.

Now we will attempt to sum-up the year briefly.
Ethan: Two. Talking. Mama! Curls. Energy.
Noah: Five. Tap. Kindergarten. Karate. Reading. Rubber-legs. Vocal-percussionist-in-training.
Michael: Loves. Teaching. Children's Choir. Grad School. Lessons and Carols. Road-biking.
Laura: Home. Sewing. Harry Potter. Birth-Educator. Spanish. Doula.
All of us: Expecting a nephew/cousin, good times with grandparents, Disney.
We love Cville: Friends, church, jobs, neighborhood.

Thankful.

Thankful for Thanksgiving in CVille with Michael's family the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Thankful for that smirky smile.

Thankful for this charming little man.

Thankful for Thanksgiving on the farm with my family.

Thankful for tractor rides!


...and pick-up rides.

Thankful that this boat is in the water and for all the hard work my Dad
and Uncle's family have put into it.

Thankful for the relaxation that we all experienced this day.

Thankful for an incredible day to enjoy it all together!

Thankful for the amazing man that I married.

so so so much to be thankful for....

Halloween Fun

Noah has just taken up Karate and is loving it! (Sorry, not Halloween related)

On Saturday before Halloween, we trick-or-treated on the Downtown Mall with the "Strawberry" and "Snow Queen" Scharf.

That night we carved the first pumpkin.

The next day, we traveled to Harrisonburg for the afternoon and on the way back we stopped on Skyline Drive to play in the snow that came down there. So amazing to see snow and autumn colors on the trees still!

S'mores by the fireplace. yum.

The finished Jack-o-Lanterns.

That's a lot of apples! Fourteen pounds made about 7-8 pints of tasty applesauce.
Ethan was my assistant, as usual.

Applying "Harry Potter's" scar....

....and "Woody's" star. Glad he decided to put the costume on for Halloween. In fact, the following 2 days we left the house dressed as Woody - at least with boots, hat, bandana, and vest.

As has been the tradition the last 2 years, Grandma came to visit for Halloween!
It's always such a treat to have her with us!

This was the first year that Ethan "got" Halloween. He walked the whole way on his own, would knock or ring the doorbell, shout "Trick-or-Treat," and prior to leaving shout "Thank You!"

Noah asked me what we're celebrating with Halloween. All I told him was that it was an excuse to dress-up in fun costumes and visit neighbors - really, that's all that matters to me. (c;