At Last

It's been a looong time since my last blog entry.  I finally have a minute or 30, that I can guiltlessly spend on blogging.  I can't explain what I have been doing, why I have been so busy....but this has just not been a top priority, until now and these nice free minutes.  

We had a wonderful time celebrating all of the festivities of Christmas.  We spent our time in Michigan visiting both friends and family.  The kids got totally off schedule and ate too much candy - I guess that would be true for their parents too!  Seriously, what is it about Christmas time that entitles us to eat cookie after cookie, throw in some fudge, Christmas candy, gingerbread this, gingerbread that...?  I miss it.  I'll be honest.   My body certainly doesn't!  Thankfully Jillian and I have reconnected for some much needed exercise time.

Bill was off of work for a total of 7 weeks since moving back from Texas.  His first day back at work was last Monday and although we miss him we needed the routine and schedule of normal life again!

In his time off, he built these beautiful bookcases in our study!

We continue to delight in our sweet little children, and at other times stand speechless at how sinful the same cute little creatures can really be... clingy, crying, whining, screaming, flailing, outright defiant.  Perfect for our sanctification, God working in us and our hearts.  Those times of their sin tend to really expose so much of mine!!  So humbling, and thankful that God is not speechless and surprised at my sin, only through the blood of Christ.  Thank you Lord!

Lets go back to the sweet part:  Claire is just a sweet little thing.  Obsessed with Elmo.  Her favorite phrases are:  "I want that", "oh no",  and "low-lu" (love you).   Sophie is just growing up right along.  She is learning how to write some letters.  That is fun, I love watching her learn!!  She also has a brother, ahem, a 16 year old imaginary brother.  His name is Andy, thank you Toy Story 3.  Andy sits between Claire and Sophie in the car (thankfully we haven't had to get a van since his addition to our family), he goes on playdates with them.  He does NOT like Elmo, Sophie has made that clear.  I hate to break it to her, but I am not old enough to have a 16 year old son!

And that is it for now!  I'm hoping to make this blogging thing a little more regular again.