Thankfully Joyous Thursday Week #6

Well, this will be the last official Thankfully Joyous post, but in all regards, I hope that next year, I remember to always be Thankfully Joyous. For this week, I am thankfully joyous for all that has taken place in 2009, but also for a new year. Look out 2010!

To say that 2009 wasn't adventurous, challenging, full of hard decisions, new experiences and always lots of smiles would be an understatement.

I'm sad and happy that Gavin has gone from being a baby to a little boy in the blink of and eye. It's sad because it's happening all to soon, but we're so abundantly blessed to witness this transformation. Parenthood is not without its challenges, but the rewards are so satisfyingly awesome. There have been first crawls, first steps, first tantrums, first busted lips, first birthdays and first words- each of which I am thankfully joyous.

We've had our share of rough roads and foggy pathways, but I'm even thankful for those. Without them, there wouldn't be growth. And the more I get older, the more I'm pretty sure I'm okay with change. I've realized that the joy lies in the challenge and newness that come with it. I'm hoping that 2010 will be a year of enlightenment into why we've felt called to make the decisions we have in 2009. Though it hasn't been easy, I've firmly believed that God has a plan for our lives and isn't going to leave us stranded.

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" Ecclesiastes 3:1

We're leaving behind an interesting season called 2009 and are looking forward to what lies head in 2010. But before I say adieu to this past year, here's a look back at some of the highlights.

Valentine's Day

The Rodeo

The Zoo

International Festival featuring Ireland

Astros Game

Gavin's First Birthday

Shuttle Launch and Landing in Florida

Disney World (although someone doesn't look very joyous. And yes, all of our pictures in front of the castle look like this.)

Dave's Gallery Opening

Gavin's Baby Dedication

Dressed as Yard Decorations for Halloween

State Fair

Pumpkin Patch at the Dallas Arboretum

Christmas

Happy New Year!

Good Tidings

From our family to yours-
Merry Christmas!

Thankfully Joyous Thursday Week #5

I just reminded myself that the hustle and bustle of getting ready for Christmas shouldn't mean buying/wrapping presents, baking/eating cookies and writing/scratching off lists. It should mean preparing our hearts year round for Jesus. I know we take this special time of the year to celebrate His birth, but I'm realizing more that I should always be preparing for His coming. I'm definitely not prolific at it by any means.

To most of the world this is simply known as the nativity scene. (I picked this one because it's very similar to the one we had growing up that was lovingly unwrapped each year.)
But to me I am joyfully thankful about it and everything that it speaks volumes of. It means life and death and life anew. All of the characters play such an important role from the angels to the wise men and shepherds, even the inn keeper. Joseph is never quoted in the Bible, but his obedience and care for Mary and Jesus say enough to his character. More than what Mary said, I wonder what was going through her mind. To be so young and to have such responsibility and obedience is beyond me. And Jesus to be God and become man is incomprehensible.

And yes, I am joyfully thankful that this scene did not play out with Jesus living a wonderful life and dying as an old man. He died as a young man and for us so that we might have life and life abundantly. I truly hope that you and your family have a very Merry CHRISTmas.

You Never Know

The mayhem that exists when "the cousins" get together can never be predicted, planned or prevented and that's just the way we like it. Don't let their serious faces fool you.
Last night we had Christmas with my side of the family. We've kind of foregone the gift exchange for white elephant presents except for the littlest ones and even I don't think they would mind not getting gifts because there's so much fun being had from being together.

We did celebrate a birthday or two. We sang Happy Birthday Jesus, although I think Gavin thought we were singing to him. This was special because it's something I remember doing as a kid and of course it's celebrating the real meaning of Christmas. Then we sang to this guy.
Was it your 30 or 32nd birthday Cory? Just kidding! He just so happened to also be the subject of target practice upon picking the bulls eye during the white elephant exchange. Nice way to use the envelope and bulls eye as shields. My mom will probably find foam darts in her house for the rest of her life.

We laughed, some sang and most tried caviar- no pictures, but you might find it on You Tube. You could say we had a pretty good time. Just take a look at what I found on my camera when I got home. All is fair game Jonathan.

A Classic

D. and I took Gavin to see Santa mostly to see what he would do. After an hour and a half we found out. This picture shall be titled,"Who are you and what did you do with the real Kenny Rogers?!!"

Alternate titles:
"Someone smells and it's not me!"
"Where's baby Jesus? I thought it was His birthday!"
"Why aren't you wearing your hat?!" If you know our son, you know that's important.
"I want my mommy!"
"You're in my personal space!"

Thankfully Joyous Thursday Week #4

This little goober was technically part of last week's Thankfully Joyous Thursday post, but since Gavin turns 18 months today, I thought it would be appropriate to expound on just why I am thankful for him.

At 18 months Gavin:
>Is walking/running everywhere;
>Can stand up without any assistance;
>Mimics our actions and sounds;
>Favorite word is ball, but we think he's trying to say new ones every day. Today it was "whoa."
>Still wears size 3 diapers and basically size 12 month clothes although he's starting to get too long for his pj's;
>Weighs about 22 pounds. We won't find out until next Monday;
>Finds great joy in sitting in a kid-size chair as well as getting in and out of it constantly;
>Likes to find our tickle spots;
>Holds his hands up when we say,"Where is ______?";
>Pats his head when we say, "hat."
>Stuffs food in his shirt;
>Likes to put foam letters under his chin and walk around with them;
>Amazes and keeps us laughing with his personality.

We're (I'm speaking for D. too.) so thankful for our happy and healthy little boy. We love you to infinity and beyond times infinity.

'Twas Ten Nights Before Christmas

Because I can, and because he's just so cute, here's a few pictures from tonight. Gavin loved this chair we borrowed from Me Me.He would constantly stand up and try to sit back down on his own.

Santa

Santa's elf

And a Who from Whoville?

Conversation with a Candy Cane Cutie

Gavin: Hey Mom.

Me: Yes Gavin.

Gavin: I have a question.

Me: Okay. What is it?

Gavin: How many days until Christmas?

Me: Just eleven. (That was last night.)

Gavin: Oh good!

Gavin: Hey mom. Do you know how to make a Grinch grin?

Me: No. How?

Gavin: You give him a kiss.

Gavin: Is it still too late to hang my favorite blue ornament?

Me: Nope. Go right ahead.

Gavin: But where, oh where, do I put it?

Gavin: Ah, here's the perfect place!

Me: By the way, did you know you sat on a gingerbread man?

Thankfully Joyous Thursday Week #3

Thankfully, I'm still in thankful mode. In this post, I talked about the women in my life and this week I would like to say I am thankfully joyous for all of the men and boys in my family - the fathers, grandfathers, brother, brother-in-law, nephews, cousins and especially these two.

This is an old picture, but I just love it that Gavin will always have a photo of him and his two Papaws together- one from each side of the family.

And I know it was a special Father's Day last year for D. to have Gavin with us.


My brother wasn't there in time for the photo, but here's the cutest picture of when Gavin was about 4 months old. I guess it's okay to be thankful for brothers. Just kidding Case!

These guys are such a blessing to me and to every member of my family. It's awesome to be associated with men of such caliber.

Our Little Helper

Deck the Halls with Bowls of O's. Fa La La La La La La La La La.
That's not easy to type without singing. You try it.

Mr. Man decided our tree needed a little extra trimming when he placed a Cheerio, known as O's around here, on a lower branch.
He understands and listens to us telling him to "just look" when he reaches up for something off the tree. I guess putting ornaments on is a different story.

Like Father Like Son

D. loves his jukebox and apparently Gavin does too.
Happy
Not so happy.
There's only room in this family for one jukebox. Well, if you were asking me about a year ago, there wasn't even room for one then. I guess we've all grown to love it.

Some of us too much.

Baby It's Cold Outside

Yesterday, we broke a record in H-town for having the earliest snow fall ever recorded. The fact that it snowed is probably a record. My mom picked up Gavin for me and I met them for a little fun in the snow. Someone wasn't all too excited about the cold weather, but he did like throwing the "balls" of ice.


I would now like to introduce you to someone - The Claw. Gavin didn't have his mittens over at Nonna's and she found one smallish mitten. Gavin had fun shaking his one hand around.

We went home to meet D., but there wasn't that much snow sticking there.

We did spot Ralphie's brother Randy from the Christmas story.
In all, I think Gavin might be a warm weather creature. He seemed to enjoy watching the fire and snuggling better than anything else.