Painting faces and pottery

Whether

 Painting

 Faces

 or

Painting

Pottery

 Our imagination is always at work!!

5th Anniversary trip to York

This year my parents came to visit us over Christmas and Bryon and I took off on a weekend trip to York for our 5th Anniversary.  We had an amazing time and saw up close, my favorite city in all of the UK. 

 

 Bryon taking in York Minister

We had a wonderful time, strolling through the cobblestone streets and visiting all of the historic sites around the city.  

 I love this man! Happy Anniversary sweetie!!

  Our beautiful hotel and spa, our home away from home for the weekend.

  Downtown York at night. 

Underground Roman Baths, beneath the city. 

Winter Sun

 Winter Sun in the UK is a precious gift.  Even though it is very cold, sunshine is sunshine!!  And we are out in it!  

Laundry Memories

This post is humbling but real life, so here ya go! I let the housework/laundry slip over the holidays with my parents in town, so once everything settled, I had to catch up on the massive amount of overflowing laundry from the past month (no joke).  

As I looked very nervously at the pile of laundry, now clean but needing to be folded and sorted, I felt my blood pressure increase and anxiety start to creep up. "Why did I let it go for so long! This will take foreverrr!!" 

Just then, my two wonderful kids, ran full speed into the pile, started hiding in the clothes, building forts, you name it.  My initial reaction was frustration that they were slowing down my folding and that they didn't understand how much work I had staring me in the face.  I took a deep breath and felt my anxiety slowly turn into joy at the realization that my kids have it right!  So, I let go of control over the situation and we had hours of memory-making fun in the pile.

While this may not be rocket science, that day will stick with me forever.  I'm so thankful that I let the laundry build up.

Lesson learned: Lighten up!! Life is short, don't stress small things, like undone laundry.  Find joy in the everyday.

Molly's first violin lesson

Molly's First Violin lesson!

 Molly received her first violin this year for Christmas from my parents.  This was super special for me as I received my first violin when I was 5 years old.  She began lessons in January, 2013 with Miss Vanessa. 

 

 I was able to sit in on her first lesson, which was great because I could take pictures... and burst with pride :)

Learning how to properly hold her violin.  I thought it would be difficult as Molly is such a small little 4 year old but she picked it right up!! 

My sweet little girl.  

 This is cool!

 Learning to hold my bow.

Like mommy, like daughter.  

 

My first lesson is over! 

See again next week!

 

Smooches from brother after her lesson.  Well done Molly!!

Christmas Morning

Merry Christmas 2013!! 

Christmas morning opening gifts and time with my family.  Molly's big gift this year was a doll house and Daniel's was a large train track.  Molly also got her first bike with tricycles! Our Christmas pictures didn't come out too clearly, but here are a few.

More than ever, I was reminded that the best Christmas gifts are those that can't be purchased. May you all be greatly blessed in the upcoming year and may we all be great blessings to others!

 

Milk and cookies for Santa

 All ready for bed.  

Time to lay out milk, chocolate chip cookies (they are Santa's favorite you know) and an apple for Rudolph.

 We read the Christmas Story and other Christmas children's books and sang some carols.  Then, we discussed that while Santa was bringing actual gifts tonight, the true gift of Christmas was God's sacrificial gift to us.  The life of His only Son, Jesus Christ.  There could be no greater gift than to lay down the life of your own child.  Thank you God for Christmas and for the gift of your Son.    

Family shot Christmas Eve 2013

Reindeer, playing in mud puddles, whats the difference!?

Every Christmas Eve, Bryon loads the kids up in the car and heads to Hammerton Zoo just before it closes, to catch one last glimpse at the reindeer before they embark with Santa on their Christmas Eve journey to deliver gifts to boys and girls around the world.  

This year, Grandpa Hoke was able to join Bryon and the kids at the zoo, which was a special treat.  For the first time since being in the UK, we spent Christmas with family!  What a blessing for us!!

Unfortunately, they got there just after it closed for the day, so they weren't able to see the reindeer. As you can see, that didn't stop Daniel from taking full advantage of the flooding in the parking lot.  No doubt they loved this more than viewing the reindeer.  

Merry Christmas Eve!!