Christmas Fun

We had a wonderful Christmas this year! It was so nice to be together and settled in our new home- that was the best part! We didn't just have 1 Christmas, but multiple ones- which was nice so that the kids had plenty of time to enjoy their new toys, spend time with family, and eat lots of yummy food- Al and I did the same! There were too many pictures to choose from- check out the link and see all the fun for yourself!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=351232&id=889535283&l=05219830fe

Our "family" Christmas was on Dec 22nd- the kids woke-up to a white Christmas, complete with gifts under our tree and full stockings! We had a yummy breakfast and enjoyed opening our gifts from each other, PopPop Old & MarMar Young and Grandma Jenny. It was nice to just have a relaxing morning together!

Dec 23rd we jumped in the car and headed to Long Island. Boy did we miss our 4 hr trip from DE! Christmas Eve was filled with laughter, food, gifts, food, hugs, food, playing in the snow, more food, and lots of love! Jen, Frank and Nate came and the cousins had a blast together. The Grandparents and Great Grandparents got so much pleasure out of watching the kids!

Christmas Day was a bit more low-key. Opening gifts in our PJ's we learned something unique about the kids- Addie ripped open her gifts and then set them all aside. The result- 1 huge mess! Alden ripped the paper off, threw it away, then looked at his gift and finally made a neat pile of them. A messy girl and neat-freak boy- what a hoot! We all had a great time with the family.

Dec 26th- ugh- we headed home in an attempt to miss the much anticipated gridlock.... We had smooth sailing until the Woodrow Wilson Bridge- just outside DC. I don't think for the next 3 hrs we ever registered how fast we were crawling. What would have normally taken 45 min to drive took 3 hrs. Thank goodness the kids and Kierke were happy campers! To say we were happy to get home is an understatement!

With Addie being old enough to "get" why we have Christmas, it was lots of fun this year! She loved Santa and still belts out "Santa Claus is Coming To Town" but in the same breath will croon "Away In A Manger". She "gets" that Christmas is because God gave us Jesus- the best gift ever! She also made her own connection that because God gave us Jesus and Santa gives us gifts, that Santa is copying God. Not bad for someone who just turned 4! We look forward to her "getting" more and more of the amazing story of Jesus' divine birth and what it means.

We are blessed with wonderful families, amazing children, and most importantly, The Ultimate Gift-Salvation that came in a form of a babe.

SNOW!!!!

We moved to Richmond just in time for The Great Snowfall! This morning, we woke-up to 10" of snow- and had at least 2" more fall during the day! I'm SO thankful that we moved last weekend!

The kids looking out Addie's window- they were in awe! We had a pretty big snowfall in DE in Feb, but it was too cold to enjoy!


What our backyard looked like- and more snow fell!



Since the snow was so deep, walking was a bit difficult for the kiddos- the stoop was perfect!


Snow Angels!

Alden discovered his inner Snowball-Machine!

Making another snowball!

Al got off early- yay!- and shoveled the walkway

Addie LOVES the snow!

Trying to find the stairs....

Going sledding using the sled some kind neighbors loaned us!

Walking 1 block over where the street is REALLY steeeeeeeep! Don't you just love how nothing has been done to our streets? The snow started falling 24 hours earlier!

Addie and Al take off down the street for Addie's first ever sled ride- she laughed and squealed the entire way!

Alden and I on his maiden sled ride- he laughed and squealed the entire time, too!

The final run of the evening- what a great Dad!

Christmas @ Bass Pro Shop

On Friday, we went to the Bass Pro Shop with our good friends, Karen, Hannah and Grandma Wasch. We had a great time- it's kinda like a free zoo where all the animals sit still so you can really look at them! After walking and exploring the store, we had a yummy lunch at their restaurant. It was a fantastic morning/afternoon!

We started off playing in The Winter Wonderland- Santa is there on weekends and evenings. The kids still enjoyed sitting in his chair and eating his candy canes!


Addie LOVED driving the remote controlled car- Alden did too- I'm VERY frightened for when they actually start driving...



After TWW, we spent some quality time with the fish!


This HUGE bear didn't scare the kids but for some reason made them want to pet him!

The bit of Texan that is in all of these kids, drew them to the shooting range- they all took a turn shooting and had a blast! Alden wanted Grandma Wasch to "help" him and she was gracious to oblige!

Addie's Trip To Disney

Addie was given an amazing 4th Birthday gift- a week at Disney World with her MarMar and PopPop! She called me during the various days to tell me about what character she had just hugged, what show she had just seen, what treat she had just eaten, etc. She had the time of her life! Since she has been home, she has been playing "parade", "show", "meeting the characters" with Alden and he is happy to play along!

These pics are all out of order, but I don't remember what events happened on what days!

A highlight- having breakfast with Cinderella! Notice she even put Dottie in a Cinderella outfit!


All the Princesses were at the breakfast- here is Snow White- Addie was a bit concerned that she had left the dwarf's at home alone...


Blowing out her special birthday cake candle- since she went the actual week of her birthday, this happened a lot!


Meeting her favorites- Goofy, Mickey and Minnie! She was a bit confused as to why Mickey talks on TV and at the shows they saw there, but he didn't talk to her when she met him in the parks... She's a smart one!

Swimming in December- only in FL!

Visiting the HUGE Gingerbread House!

Chef Mickey helped her blow out her candle!

Lovin' her some Minnie Mouse!

Getting a hug from Tinkerbell!

Modeling the special Birthday Hat

Enjoying the traditional birthday donut on her birthday!

Meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus- she LOVED them!

Loving her Mickey time!

The fireworks- she enjoyed them and the fact that the castle was all lit-up!

Taking after her Dad- driving race cars!

Finding Pluto pretty spectacular!

More Mickey!

The teacups- her favorite ride!

Her 2nd favorite ride- Cinderella's Carousel

Dumbo was also a favorite!

Her face says it all- she had a fantastic time!!

New Niece!

Today, Rudowashe Hannah was born! She weighs in at a daunting 6lbs and is 18.75" long. Addie is thrilled to finally have a girl cousin! Congrats Big Brothers Kuda and Anesu! We know you will take good care of Rudo and we can't wait to meet her!

Addie's 4 Year Stats

Addie was able to have her 4 yr old check-up with our old and much beloved Pediatrician, Dr. Cantor. She was as good as gold- answering all the Dr's questions, sitting still to have her ears looked in (this is what she remember doing here before, poor thing), and she only cried a little when she got her 4, yes, 4, shots. She actually made the nurse laugh a little- she cried, "Ouchies! Ouchies!" as she got her shots and the nurse said it was the sweetest thing she had ever heard- and she gives shots all day long! After this appointment, we went to McDonald's and she got an icecream cone. What a sweet girl- I am so blessed!

As of turning 4- Addie is 31.6 lbs (20%) and 37.5" tall (7%)- both of which her Dr is thrilled with! Hopefully she will get her picture taken soon and I will post that here then!

Until then, I love you Sweet Adeline!

We're Movin', Movin', Movin- Rawhide!

Yup- we have moved! In a span of 3 weeks- Al was offered a promotion at Lowe's, in VA, and we moved to it. Whew! It was crazy busy, but we could never have done it without our amazing friends and family. Here is our amazing story that only God could have written!

Saturday after Thanksgiving- Al is offered the job of Zone 2 Manager in the Prince George, VA store. He accepts. The following day Addie leaves DE to go spend a week at Disney World.

The following Saturday, Al and I are in Richmond, VA house hunting (thank you Mike and Karen for not only a place to stay, but for watching Alden). We look and look, and finally find a house that is actually owned by a man that Al had worked with when we previously lived here! He offers to let us move in asap! The house is wonderful- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, large storage shed, excellent schools, and SO close to everything!

6 days after looking at the house, we are unloading the moving truck there. During this week, Al has worked Inventory at his store in DE (meaning 11-12 hour days), packing at night, while Lisa and Alden were in NY "babysitting" the Great Grandparents while MarMar and PopPop are at Disney. Wed the Vactioners are picked up at the airport by me. Thur at 4am, I leave Addie, Alden and Kierke with the inlaws, drive to DE, and pack for the next 12 hours- finishing up the house. We load the moving truck Friday morning (in record time- less then 4 hours!) and then drive to VA. Our good friends, Steve and Jeanette helped us- what amazing friends! We unload Sat morning and that evening, Mrs. Wasch (who had been in NJ and met-up with the inlaws) arrives in VA and returns our kids and dog to us.

Sunday- 1 week after looking at "our" house- we are mostly unpacked, and together. On Sunday the heavens opened and it RAINED! We were so thankful to not have needed to unload the moving truck or drive hours and hours to pick-up the kids and dog!

Never would we have dreamed that 1)Al would get this promotion so quickly, 2)we would be coming back to Richmond- an area we love and know, 3)we could pack, move, and unpack in less than 1 week, 4)that we would have our children and dog brought to us from NY, 5)that we would have perfect (albeit cold) moving weather- everything fell into place to clearly and in only a manner that can be explained as God. We love that God is a God of details and are exciting to see what the future holds for us!