'Tis the Season

Ever since Jadon’s arrival and especially now that we have Arrielle, I’ve fantasized about decorating for Christmas and having the kids help us. In my fantasy, we’d have hot cocoa, a nice wood-burning fire, and Christmas music to accompany our decorating activities. Well a few weeks ago, my dream came true minus the hot cocoa, and wood-burning fire. We (rather David) pulled out all of our Christmas decorations from the attic and we began decorating the house.

Here the boys strategize how to best accomplish the task at hand.

Let the decorating begin!

Arrielle, was such a sweetheart while watching all of the commotion. I can’t believe that next year she will be almost 18 months and will be able to physically help with the decorating. This revelation has just made my heart skip a beat…my goodness that is a crazy thought…

This year, Jadon was completely fascinated by all the sparkly ornaments and garland.

He helped David put the star on the top of the tree. And he helped me put up the stocking --or "socks" as he calls them.

Christmas is my most favorite time of the year. I love the hustle and bustle ofholiday shopping; I love the music; and I love the special memories we make with our loved ones. I clearly remember decorating the Christmas tree with my mom and dad. I also remember and loved watching all of the Christmas movies that come on TV during this season. I hope to develop some wonderful long-standing traditions with Jadon and Arrielle in the years to come. My hope is that when they’re older they will reminisce and think of this season fondly too.

The finished product!

The night ended with reindeer antlers and us singing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” over, and over, and over again!

Thanksgiving!!

We have so much to be thankful for this year. Although we’ve had a few setbacks, God’s grace is upon us and I know He always has our best interest at heart –know matter how hard the lesson may be.

I am thankful for my wonderful husband, my two healthy children, and my family and friends. My heart couldn’t be more full of thanks. I love this time of year because in the midst of the life moving full speed ahead, it reminds me to take some time to reflect. I always promise myself to be thankful and reflect throughout the entire year but somehow the daily grind gets to me. So now, I take a special moment to say, “thank you Lord for your many, many blessings.” Here are some pictures of our time with our family in Fresno. We missed seeing TT this year!!

Jadon and Arrielle with Pog and G-mom


Arrielle with Aunt Charity

Christopher and Jadon having fun on the motorcycle!

The Shabaglian/Thonesen clan--taking over Me-N-Eds

The boys were pretending they were on a boat in the middle of the ocean. Jadon had so much fun playing with his cousin.

Jadon, Arrielle, and Grandma

Shabaglian/Penner cousins together. The newest addition is baby Jed --he was only 10 days old!! (I love Jadon and Christopher's facial expressions). We were sad little Aubrey Rose wasn't in the picture.

Thanksgiving Day

Jadon and Daddy watching football

Four Months

I can’t believe that so much time has passed since Arrielle’s arrival. She’s already four months and it seems like yesterday, I was going to the hospital in horrific labor pains. It’s been amazing to see this little girl grow and develop a personality. She is such a sweet little girl-- she's constantly smiling. She LOVES to eat and watch her brother play. And although she’s not as “cuddly” as Jadon was (she likes to sit straight up to see what’s going on), she loves to be held. She talks A LOT –I can’t wait until she actually forming words. We’re going to have to little chatter boxes in the house.

She is also very assertive –she knows what she likes and has no problem letting us know. This afternoon I put her down for a nap. There was a pacifier in her crib that she doesn’t like very much but I thought, “hey, it’s here let me put it in her mouth”. I left the room and returned three times to reinsert the paci becaue she kept spitting it out. Each time she spit it out she cried louder, and louder. By the fourth time I went downstairs and got her favorite paci (it was in her car seat and I was too lazy to go down and get it before her nap.) I put it in her mouth and –no kidding—she began sucking on it and immediately began drifting off to sleep. Her name means, “lioness of God” in Hebrew and we think she’s going to be a firecracker!

It’s amazing how God has expanded my heart to love her so much. As and only child, I wasn’t quite sure how to love more than one and I hadn’t seen it demonstrated in my home because there was only me. But it is crazy how soon your mind and heart adjusts. I don’t really remember what it was like to not have her around the house.