celebrating five years

As I alluded in my last post, Stewart and I just celebrated five years of marriage.  Our anniversary was just before Christmas, but we just celebrated with two nights away.  The first time we've ever had two nights away from our kids!

Our highlight was definitely the time we spent hiking in the snow around a frozen lake. 

 
It was so wonderful to spend time outdoors, in the snow, with my husband, and yes, without my children.  Love those three, but it was so good to have a break!  It's hard to even believe it, but we managed to sneak away for 48 hours with no cooking, no cleaning, no getting up at mealtimes, no changing diapers or wiping poopy bums.  I really cannot thank my parents enough for taking good care of our kids and letting us get away!

 

I can honestly say that despite--or maybe because of--the many adventures we've had together in these five years, we are more deeply in love than ever before.  We have more fun together than ever before.  We laugh more than ever before.  I cannot wait to see what adventures await us in the coming years!

today

Today we have snow.  Our playgroup Christmas party this morning didn't happen, due to said winter wonderland outside.  But, that did give me time to finally upload pictures off my camera and thus, update you.

My kids this morning were very excited about the snow.  Micah wanted to play outside as soon as he saw the snow -- at 6:30 this morning!  (I made him wait until he had breakfast and was dressed before venturing outside.  If it was up to him, he's have been out there immediately in his PJ's!)  And Halle too, was excited, but it turns out that she prefers to enjoy it from inside the house.  I got her all bundled up to play, and once standing in the snow she was quite unimpressed.  It is the first time she's seen snow, at least that she remembers.  So I still have hope that she'll grow to enjoy it.  She'd better, because the rest of us love it!

35.5 weeks pregnant (and I look so tired!)

This past Saturday was my birthday, making me a whopping 27 years old.  :)  And tomorrow is our 4th wedding anniversary, meaning that we've managed to have (or almost have) 3 children in 4 years of marriage.  It's quite a feat, let me tell you!  Not one we'd planned, but we love our life, and are so blessed by each of our children.  They really are blessings from the Lord, each one.

(And since when did Micah reach the "cheese" smile phase?!)

Since our playgroup Christmas party didn't happen this morning, I am left with a whole pan of Salted Chocolate Pretzel Toffee.  I made it with sucanat instead of brown sugar, and part dark chocolate instead of all semi-sweet...oh my!  It is delicious and I am happy to eat it (all) but I'm quite sure that my waistline (and baby's waistline) will not be thanking me if I do.  Must be self-controlled... but oh my, you should try some and then you'd understand!  I'm such a sucker for anything sweet and salty.

And now to end, a few more photos of my adorable children.  Just because.

yes, it's true

This little peanut

is a big sister!!!

Baby is due to make his/her appearance in January.

Belly photo to come soon.  Because yes, I already have a belly.  :)

Children really are a blessing from the LORD.

So excited to have 3 little blessings running around our house!

3 years, Baby!!

Happy Anniversary, Stewart, my Love!  

December 19, 2008

December 12, 2009
Micah was a newborn, thus we have no photos of us on our actual anniversary!

December 19, 2010
in West Africa

December 18, 2011

This past weekend Stewart and I left the kids with my parents and had a wonderful night away!  I love our kids so very much, but it is also such a treat to leave them and have some time with just my husband.  It is so nice to just be together and care-free for 24 hours.  We had an amazing gourmet dinner, a couple trips to Starbucks, shared a delicious breakfast, and finally found a product to heal my horrible dry skin (nothing I've tried until now actually works effectively)!  I am now a big fan of the Rocky Mountain Soap Company and their Unscented Body Butter.  Seriously.  I wish I had before and after photos of my hands, except that would be gross.  Besides, this post was supposed to be about my anniversary!  :)

Anyways...

This is now the second year in a row that we've been able to get away for a night without kids to celebrate our anniversary.  I think it's so good for our marriage to be able to get away without them once or twice a year.  So a great big "thank you!!" again to my Mom and Dad for taking such good care of them.

Stewart, I love you.  I am so thankful to God for bringing us together.  Happy anniversary, my Love!

a little getaway

Stewart and I took off last night for a little anniversary getaway.  We left Micah with friends of ours overnight.  It is the longest we've ever left him - about 22 hours.  I cried and cried as we drove away from him!  But I was very thankful we left him.  We had a very lovely, restful time together, without a little boy to care for.

 

We enjoyed spending time together reading the passage we chose for our marriage: Ephesians 4:32-5:2.  It was a good time reflecting and evaluating how we're doing in light of Scripture.  (You may have noticed, these verses are posted on the bottom of this blog.)