December 2011

Well, I have to get caught up one way or another...I can't skip December b/c so many important/fun things happened. so here is a hopefully quick update!




Dec. 5th-It was my 30th birthday....I was not too excited about turning 30, but it turned out to be a fun day! I took the girls to story hour at the library that morning (always fun for all of us as I get to talk to other moms, and Megan gets to see her friends!!). Then a wonderful friend invited another friend and I over who shared the same birthdays for lunch. It was very thoughtful of her to do this, and I very much enjoyed the food and fellowship! Tim had put in a roast when he got home from work and so we were able to have roast beef and potatoes for supper with my parents and sister. It was a great b/c I got to spend it with people I love! (I thought we took one picture on my birthday, but I can't find it??)



Dec. 5th -This day was also Emily 11th month birthday...just can't believe that she was getting so close to a year. Here are a few highlights for her in the last month....
-First trip to Florida as well as on an airplane. She got to meet her aunts, uncles, and cousins for the first time!
-She started signing please and more (finally!!)
-She started blowing kisses as well. Well, she doesn't blow them, just kisses her hand and smiles!
-She learned how to do touchdown with her hands! Uncle Dave taught her that one!
-She went on her first carousel ride with her Aunt Talitha (She was fine standing in line, but when she got on the ride, she saw me and cried the whole ride.)



Dec. 24-25th- Merry Christmas!! We actually did our Christmas festivities on Christmas Eve as Tim had to work on Christmas night. We had mom, dad, and Karen over for pizza. Then Megan and I read through our advent calendar story. (This was such a special time for Megan and I as we did an advent calendar for the first time this year. I will try to get the video of it up so all can see!). We said Luke 2 and sang some Christmas carols, and then opened presents. The girls have enjoyed playing with their gifts so much this last week. On Christmas Day, we had a church breakfast and then a church service. Grandpa and Grandma Varner came to share this day with us! A great Christmas dinner by my mom (although Tim went right to bed after church as he had to work so he missed this). We love celebrating our Saviour's birth. "And you shall call His name Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins." Just a few pictures....








Dec. 27-30th- Grandpa and Grandma's 60 wedding anniversary. What a special time for us to be able to get together and share this special time with such special people! My grandparents are truly an example of what a biblical marriage should look like and examples to all of us in their following of Christ. It was so fun to see my aunts, uncles, cousins and their kids who I haven't seen for so long. The Lord was so good in helping my Grandpa have some good days during this time. We made many good memories. And again, just a few pictures...










Dec. 31st...New Years Eve...Goodbye 2011. I think back on this year and the thought that comes to my mind is God is faithful. I am so undeserving of his faithful love and forgiveness as I am so unfaithful to him and struggle keeping Him first in my life. But God has remained faithful to our family. He has been so good through all of our ups and downs. Praying the Lord gives us another wonderful year in 2012 to love and serve Him. Happy New Year!!

Emily-10 months

Now that Emily is 3 days away from 11 months, I better get this posted!!



Emily enjoyed walking in her walker, but would run into walls, etc and get frustrated...
Emily is watching her first parade.
Emily LOVES her big sister (Although sometimes, she get very frustrated by Megan's tough love to her!) Here they are watching a movie while Megan holds her.

Emily and Megan enjoying reading books together.

Emily got to go to her first Pumpkin Patch! Of course, she won't remember it, but we have some fun pictures of it!



Emily was able to enjoy the big slide at the Pumpkin Patch. She loved it!
Emily with her mama and sister!
Emily picking out her first pumpkin. We got a small one for her!


Emily spends a lot of time in her stroller as we do different activities with Megan (such as the Pumpkin Patch, etc.). She normally does well and doesn't complain!


Other things that she has done in this month (that I can remember!):

-She says dada all the time. She loves her dada, and when he gets home from work in the mornings, she gets a huge smile, laughs and wants him to hold her!

-She gives kisses. One of the cutest things is when I ask for a kiss, she will lean over to kiss me and then lean over to kiss Tim, then laugh and then do it all over again!

- She said bath for the first time this month...sounded like ba. She loves her baths!!!

Megan's 3rd Birthday!!

Can't believe we celebrated Megan's 3rd birthday a couple of weeks ago (So far behind on this blog, but still want to post so that I will have memories here!). It such a special day for us as we really used the whole day just trying to enjoy her. Here is a rundown of her day!

This is taken at 8:57 am...the time she was born 3 years ago! She is sitting on a tinker toy bucket and being silly. She spent the night at her Nana's house the night before her birthday so that was very special!

Megan got to eat a donut for breakfast on her birthday!!



Megan making her cupcakes with Dad!
Megan helping put the sprinkles on the cupcakes!
Tim made a cool fort for Megan. She loves making forts!

Megan enjoying playing with her baby.
Auntie KK came over in the afternoon to spend some special time with Megan. Megan loved opening her gift which was a play dough set!

Auntie KK took the girls outside so I could get some stuff done. Of course the girls loved that!



Auntie KK playing with Megan with her new play dough.
I came into Megan's room to check on her while I was cleaning and found her coloring so sweetly with her wonderful headband! I love it when she plays so nicely on her own!
Enjoying Megan's birthday meal together! We had homemade mac & cheese (Thanks to my mom!) and meatloaf (which Tim actually made!).

Megan enjoyed playing downstairs with her friends after dinner. She loves it when friends come over to play!
Opening gifts is a fun time for everyone!
Such a special birthday for Megan as her best friend Katy got to come!! Here Katy is watching carefully to see what Megan's gift is...
The littlest two enjoying each other's company!
Megan had lots of help opening gifts! She did not mind!!! This one was a harder one to open...
Megan's friends who she was able to celebrate with!


Megan blowing out her #3 candle!


The little kids' table. They were enjoying their cupcakes (especially the frosting!)
Megan loving her cupcake!

We had a very fun day on her birthday and are so thankful for our 3 year old! We pray that the Lord will save her at a young age and that she would love Him with all her heart, soul, and mind.

Emily-9 months

Emily is now 9 moths old. I can't believe she is 3/4 of the way to one year old. These months sure do fly by! Here are some pictures and updates of her from the last month!


Emily wanting to help Tim drive!




Emily loves getting pushed on the swing by her sister. She just laughs!

Emily's first little bruise/mark on her eye.
Emily is now pulling herself up to stand. She loves being able to do this!
Mommy and Emily enjoying some time together!

She absolutely LOVES her baths. When we go in to get the water running, she immediately gets so excited!
Emily sporting Tim's hat.


Emily's first time at the Kansas State Fair with her mom, dad, Megan, Papa, and Nana

-Emily said bye, bye for the first time this last month. She was talking to Tim and the phone and when Tim say bye, bye, she said it right back to him!

-One last thing that Emily does which is just adorable is that when Megan wakes up in the morning or from her nap and calls for me, Emily always looks toward the direction of her room, makes a little noise, and just smiles and starts crawling to see her! She is excited to go and see her sister!

The BIG 3-0

Tim turned 30 yesterday!! When I asked him how he felt to be turning 30, he told me that he liked being in his 20's:( Unfortunately, he had a very busy day yesterday as he worked all day and then we had Awana at night. The girls and I were able to meet him at Old Chicago for lunch where he and his co-workers celebrated his birthday. That was fun to do as we normally never see him for lunch. We ended the day celebrating with a birthday cake after Awana at my parents' house! We were thankful that Grandpa and Grandma Riffel were able to join us for that.

A family picture....Megan and I made the cake together! Megan of course loved helping. It was an easy box cake so a great one for her to help with. She helped me frost by dipping her fingers in the frosting and licking them! Tim picked a great frosting out in her eyes!Yes, you do see a heart balloon behind! Megan had it in her head that she wanted to get a birthday card with a heart on it. We couldn't find one at Dollar General so we got one with balloons. Then we spotted balloons, and of course, she had to pick out the heart balloon! At least Tim knows Megan loves her!

Tim lighting his many candles!





So thankful for grandparents to celebrate with us! My wonderful parents (wish Tim's parents could have joined us too!)
Of course, Megan has to help blow out his candles!

Emily enjoyed eating her puffs since she did not get cake and ice cream! Megan ate the chocolate frosting off the top of the cake, asked for ice cream, and when finished with that said she was done!! She was a little messy, but she thoroughly enjoyed so much sugar!



Tim, I want you to know that you are LOVED so much by the girls and me! I thank the Lord for you leading and loving us. You work so hard every day providing for us and allowing me to stay home with the girls (I REALLY appreciate that!! I know there are days that I complain about how my day has been, but I would never change staying home with them!) You come home after a long day at work and help with supper, play with the girls, go grocery shopping with me, play games, etc. The list could go on and on with your selflessness you show to us. You are my best friend and I look forward to celebrating many more birthday with you (since we aren't able to just stay in our 20's!) I love you!