MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Many blessings sent your way from our family to yours!

kids

sometimes they are just sooo silly!

let it snow!

You would think it was 80 degrees outside! The kids wouldn't come in from playing outside! So much fun!


our first "little" snowman of the season!

Playgroup Christmas Party

Tonight we had our yearly Playgroup Christmas party. It's crazy to think that this is the 4th year that the kids have spent together. The group is QUICKLY expanding... and the homes are getting more packed with each visit. However, the laughter and fun they have together is awesome! Once again... we are so blessed!
This year, the kids exchanged books! Another great success and another great year! Thanks for hosting again Audra!



picture of most of the group from 2006:

four Christmases

It is hard to believe that this will be Will's (and Aidan's)4th Christmas. We were a little saddened that this would also be their 1st Christmas apart... HOWEVER... miracles do come true! We are SOOOO excited that Monika, Arnold, Aidan and Andrew will be coming back up to OHIO for another Christmas season!!!! 1300 miles is a long way... however, I really am blessed to have such a great relationship with my sis (and brother-in-law) that distance has not kept our kids from knowing each other, and sharing memories of special events. Despite the distance, the kids see each other at least 5 times a year (if not more) and we LOVE it. We are REALLY blessed. Even though we constantly say we wished we lived closer...we really can't complain. The Lacayo's have been up for almost every one of the kids birthdays (they only missed Will's 2nd birthday because Andrew was just born). They have not had a Christmas season apart (and this I guess was NOT going to be the first one). We haven't told Will and Isa yet (we hope to surprise them with their arrival, but we can't be any more excited!

We are also so lucky to live and share so many memories on a daily basis with Gramma, Bapa, Abuelita, and all those that live close. You won't understand how much this means to us (and the kids) until later when we look back at all the memories we make TOGETHER. And we are so blessed for all those that come from close to far to spend time with the kids... YOU will never know how BIG of an impression you make on them (we hear it from them often... when they ask to call you, skype, or tell us about something silly they remember about you). We love you all, and can't wait to see you all SOON!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS! As Isa says "if you just BELIEVE!"

St Nicholas Day!

This morning we were up bright and early so we all decided to attend mass with Evan for his Confirmation Service. We came home to find that "St. Nick" had decorated the kid's playroom and filled our stockings with care! What an awesome morning we had.

There are so many little things that the kids say and do on a regular basis, that I don't ever want to forget, but I don't blog about. Some of the things that I am SO loving about this Christmas season with the kids is:
- the way Isa prances around the house saying "if you just believe"
- how they both LOVE singing the "hot chocolate" song from The Polar Express movie.
- how all Will wants for Christmas is "candy corn, and 2 more engines"
- the way they LOVE playing with their Fisher Price nativity and kiss Baby Jesus!
- how much they both enjoy singing Christmas carols... this doesn't get old with me!
- how they love pointing out every house with Christmas lights.
- how they keep asking "when will Baby Jesus be born"

Merry Christmas season!!!!

outing!

Last night we met up at Tower City to invent! The kids went to Kringle's Inventionasium. They had a blast and even uncle Paul showed up for a surprise visit!

Given how Isa is with "costumed people" this will be the best pic of Santa we get this year =)

Amazed!

While the kids were stamping tonight... Will asked to write his name. Normally I help him with this, but since I was cooking... I handed him the crayon and heard the following "down, up, down, up...I... L... L." I looked over and he had in fact written it BY HIMSELF. I was even more amazed when he wrote Isa (I helped with the "s", per his request... I drew it and he traced it).

I love these moments!

our Christmas countdown...

Just thought we would share a special picture and some thoughts as we countdown to Christmas! love, T&V

"And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country, shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold and angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them. And they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said, fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign to you, you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace...good will toward men!"
~Luke 2:6-14

Jesus truly is the reason for the season!
looking back...

perfect weekend

Blessings in abundance. This Thanksgiving weekend we took an opportunity to spend a little quality time together, just the 4 of us. We had planned to go visit family for Thanksgiving, but when plans didn't work out, we booked a weekend in Hocking Hills and realized God truly does work in mysterious ways. We set out for our mini retreat early Thursday morning, arrived at our cabin the "Lincoln Log", and put our turkey in the oven. A few hours, and naps later, we sat down for our lil family Thanksgiving dinner. Although it was a little non-traditional (we missed our extended families), it was sweet and peaceful. We literaly had NOTHING on our agenda but be with each other. The kids LOVED the undivided attention from both of us, and WE loved how adorable and loving they were all weekend.

Will has been talking about Thanksgiving for weeks, and kept asking people what they were thankful for. He insisted he was Thankful for "Everybody" (with a family as big as ours... this was a GOOD answer =). He really understood what we were praying for and what we were thankful for this year.
On Friday morning the kids both slept in and Will awoke shortly after Isa. This was a PERFECT morning. Will came out of the room with a BIG smile and a Huge "GOOD MORNING." There was snow softly falling outside and both kids rushed to the window to see. Tobin headed out there to start a campfire, which was followed by another dip in the hot tub (or as the kids called it... their "swimming pool." We spent the rest of the day relaxing, building cabins out of Lincoln logs, and exploring. On our final morning, we packed up and headed to the state park for a little hike. Both the kids did amazing! They hiked the Old Man's Cave trail and it was so neat to see their faces exploring each new turn. They climbed rocks, went through tunnels, explored the cave, and admired the waterfalls. Will made the entire trip on foot... and only asked to be carried once we were near the car, saying "carry me, my legs won't walk anymore!" It was adorable! Isa kept wanting to do things "by myself", but we stayed real close (just in case!). They were both asleep in about 10 minutes once we started our ride home. The weekend ended on a perfect note, spending time with Gramma and Bapa, picking out our Christmas tree, and singing LOTS of Christmas songs! What an adventure!

I know I use the word BLESSED many times in my entries, but I have found it to be a great word describing what God has put forth in our lives. I don't often talk about our time in the service or our deployment (unless asked), but BLESSED really does summarize what we have. We were blessed to come back, alive, well, and with a wedding to attend! We were blessed with the birth of 2 beautiful, loving, spirited children after thinking we would never conceive. We are blessed to have parents who live close enough to experience all the little moments that are so special to us and their grandchildren. We are blessed that the kids have some aunts and uncles (close and far) who truly make an effort to know them and be part of their lives. We are blessed to have a marriage that is perfectly un-perfect, we help each other through the days and fly high during the moments we cherish. And mostly we are Blessed with the opportunity to be here and help those around us when needed.
Happy Thanksgiving!

prayers please

A friend from our mom's group sent this out. Please keep Tommy and his family in your prayers. Thanks. -Veronika

Hi Ladies,

I learned yesterday that a close family friend, Tommy, was admitted to the hospital with bi-lateral pneumonia. He tested positive for H1N1. Today he is critically ill, right now he is hour-to hour. Our families are extremely close; Tommy just moved to Texas this fall to take a teaching job, he's 25 years old. If you could please keep him and his family in your prayers during this time I would really appreciate it.

Thank you,
Cheryl

24 weeks 6 days

what a special evening we had. Gabriela is already so special and beautiful in our eyes, and it was only more apparent by Will and Isa's love for her at today's ultrasound!

it's official!!!

another cousin is on the way!!! We are SOOO happy for Kateri and Paul... they are expecting lil Baby Vincent on the 11th of June! YAYYY!!!!
C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ! ! ! ! ! !

(these are the shirts they made to share the great news!)

our mornings...

Isa almost always insists on walking with Will to the bus. On this particular morning she insisted she needed "her backpack" too and asked the bus driver "may I go a bus?" how we wish they could stay little... we love these moments!

Gabriela's journal...

11/3/09: Tonight was another special night. While mommy was laying down talking to your big brother Will, you started moving around. Will put his hand on mommy's belly and almost immediately you kicked right in that spot! Will's eyes WIDENED and he had the BIGEST smile ever. He was so surprised to feel you move! He (and Isa) love you so much already. Isa calls you Baby Gabi and Will always refers to you as Gabriela Rose =). We know they are anxiously waiting to meet you!

here are some pics from tonight!!! Will was totally in the Halloween spirit, it was SOOO cute. They both had soo much fun!






Our family wishes everyone a WONDERFUL, FUN, and SAFE Halloween!!!! Enjoy!!!

school halloween party

some pics from Will's school parade and party =)

halloween fair

tonight (although another cold one), we layered the kids and took them out to Lagrange for their annual Halloween Fair. Uncle Joe and Uncle Charlie's band was playing (despite freezing hands)! The kids were in matching outfits and it was a good thing Tia Monika got them a "lil" too big so that we could put LOTS of layers underneath to stay warm! Gramma also joined in on the fun! we LOVE FALL!!!!