Katelyn didn't get anything for Christmas...

Ha ha ha ha ha. Katelyn didn't get anything for Christmas. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Apparently this child hasn't been naughty a moment all year because Santa was VERY good to this little girl. The great thing is she's really been playing with all of her new toys.

Books, dvds, dolls, a vanity, stuff for the kitchen, puzzles, a Barbie laptop...I must say, I've been liking the new toys. They're pretty fun.

We've let her open a handful of presents a day for the last few days and then she's been really happy to spend the rest of that day enjoying her new gifts.

Her dad got her the Barbie laptop and that's definitely a hit. She'll be able to grow into all the fun games and activites it can do.

After all of the playing, Katelyn needed a little down time with grammy while they watched a new Dora movie. :) Katelyn LOVES her grammy. They're best buddies.

We pray that everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!! Ours is still going on here. Mike and Niki get back tomorrow and the fun will continue for a couple more days.

It's Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve! We've had such a fun day. Mom, dad, Katelyn and I went out to the lake to check on the house, went out to lunch, came home and Katelyn took a nap and then went to church. On the way home I told Katelyn that we could open some presents after dinner. She was so excited she kept saying, "All done eating. Rip open my presents." Needless to say, we did presents first, and then dinner. :)

Of course Grammy and Papa didn't spoil Katelyn at all. We have to do Christmas in three rounds over several days to get through all the loot. Katelyn thoroughly enjoyed round one.

Ummm...I really love my girl.

Katelyn is really cute...just in case you hadn't noticed.

This year is so different than last year. Katelyn's 2 1/2 now and she is really into ripping her presents open. She fully understands how it all works now.

Mike and Niki are up in Fort Wayne with Niki's family. It was strange not to have them here...but we are excited that Christmas will be happening tonight, tomorrow, Sunday and Monday.

Christmas adventure....

We had so much fun tonight!!! Mom and dad are here for Christmas and we went to Southern Lights out at The Kentucky Horse Park. You drive through and see all the lights and then at the end you park and you can go in to see Santa and they have a petting zoo.

Katelyn was so excited. She was talking a mile a minute. She loved the lights but she really wanted to see Santa.

Katelyn LOVES having Grammy and Papa here and they've all just picked right up where they left off in October.

We waited in line forever to see Santa and Katelyn walked right up there and climbed on his lap. It was about the greatest thing ever. She was so excited to visit Santa and get a piece of candy from him!

The petting zoo was of course a big hit. She got to feed all the animals.

She was so wound up when we got home. I think she officially fell asleep around 10pm. :) What a great Christmas adventure!!!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

We woke up this morning to several inches of snow and I had one VERY excited little girl on my hands. She couldn't wait to go outside and play. So we bundled up and ventured into the backyard. Katelyn said, "Mommy, I love the snow!!"

She was an expert snowball maker. Good thing she can't throw it very far. :)

We built a fabulous little snowman and decorated him with the leftovers laying around in the garden.

Even winter is fun with Katelyn around. She had such a good time playing. She was soaked through and didn't want to go in.

My little angel making a snow angel.

Every morning when Katelyn comes downstairs she shouts, "Christmas tree!" It's like she forgets it's there or something. Christmas will be so much fun with her this year!!!

We are having a great time and our lives are full and blessed!!!!!!

My kiddos

Being an inner city children's pastor is challenging for sure...but it's really rewarding also. We started an after school program this fall and although it adds a lot to my plate each week, it's been really great to be able to have time with the kids everyday instead of just once or twice a week. I couldn't let Thanksgiving pass by without saying that I'm really thankful for my church and for these kids. The kids I work with are kids that would most likely be overlooked. I'm so thankful that I'm at a church that welcomes people that wouldn't feel welcome at most churches. The picture below is of me and some of the kids with the craft project they did the last day we were all together before Thanksgiving.

The other thing I'm really thankful for is our local Christian high school. I have students from Lexington Christian Academy that have been coming and helping with our kids after school. Our kids love having all of these high schoolers around and for me and our staff it has helped ease the load.

It's really awesome to get to do something that you really love doing....for this, I am thankful.

A day at the beach...

I really love western Michigan. If it wasn't for the winter, I could live here. My aunt, cousin, Katelyn and I went out to Grand Haven today on Lake Michigan. This is one of my favorite places ever!

Katelyn had a great time playing with the sand, running and jumping on the big rocks. Such a happy baby.

Here's Adrianne and Kateybug. They're a great team! Katelyn likes getting to play with her cousins. (I do too.)

Here's Katelyn looking at Lake Michigan. We didn't walk out to the lighthouse because I was rather nervous having this busy little girl on the section of the pier without railings...and it was freezing!

Here's Aunt Shirley and I. This would have been the perfect picture if it weren't for the wind giving us peacock hair.

We're heading home tomorrow and I'm a little sad to leave. It's been such a great weekend and I'm so thankful for time to relax and spend great time with family. We're so blessed! Really we are...

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!! Katelyn and I came up to Michigan to spend a long weekend with family. I must say, I love my crazy family. We laugh all the time and when one of us needs something everyone rallies. It's pretty amazing actually. Katelyn and our whole family are at the top of my thankful list this year! Here's a picture of my aunt, three of my cousins and me!

Katelyn loved hanging out with everyone. A day of lots of food and activity. Perfect for this little one.

Two more cousins! (I have lots of them.)

We can hardly be serious for five seconds. Getting a "real" picture is next to impossible. :)

Katelyn loves my cousin Billy. No one can figure it out really. She goes right to him and sits on his lap. I mean, I tried to tell her that he used to bite me when we were kids, but she just won't listen. I think he was bribing her with candy.

Jen and Billy really love each other...can't you tell?

Joey loves his mama...as he should!

Katelyn loves Adrianne. Adrianne is awesome with kids and she's found herself a little buddy.

Aunt Diane said that yesterday was the 40th anniversary of her and Uncle Ed's engagement. Uncle Ed really was excited to hear that. Nick was not helping... :)

Janna made an apple pie and a pumpkin pie. This picture is for my dad. I was told I had to rub it in that we ate apple pie without you. (Sorry, I was forced to post this.)

We missed grandma for sure, but we really did spend time counting our blessings and we know she would have loved that. We all missed my mom and dad who are in Arizona and my brother and sister in law that are down in Kentucky...but Christmas is right around the corner and we can't wait!!!!

A house full

My pastor and his wife had a conference to go to in Tennessee, so their boys came over after our kid's program tonight at church to spend the night here with Katelyn and I. These two boys are so sweet to Kateybug. They all love each other. Katelyn loved having "brothers" around. They drank chocolate milk, read stories and said their prayers together. Then they all snuggled in the boy's bed for a few minutes before everyone went to sleep. So cute!

I love having a house full of kiddos.

Night night!

Beautiful girl...

I know I'm biased....I know this...but really, my daughter is gorgeous. (Again, I can say this because she's adopted so I had nothing to do with this genetically.) She smiles and her whole face lights up and you just can't help but smile with her....Look at these pictures and just try not to smile...I dare you.

So big...really she is just getting so big....

I smile every single day....no matter how hard the day is...I always smile. How could I not?

The Target toy catalog is here...and Katelyn's been pouring over it....very intently. Christmas is coming!!! It's going to be so fun this year.

She spotted the Super Why computer...she loves Super Why.

I brought Katelyn into my room for a while this morning because it was still a little early to commit to starting the day. :) She climbed into bed with me and laid there with her little face right in front of mine and she said, "I wub you mama. You my best frwend eber eber." I'm not lying...and my heart melted. (I would like this documented....ten years from now when she's screaming that she hates me while slamming a door, I want to be able to read this...)

Happy Birthday Holly!

Katelyn and I are SO blessed to have Holly and her husband Brandon as our neighbors. In the last year especially, they've become like family to us. Holly is one of the most genuine, thoughtful and caring people I know. It's really easy to celebrate her life~!

Katelyn loves Holly. Holly loves Katelyn.

Katelyn loves cupcakes...so Katelyn really loves Holly's birthday.

We all play and laugh together a lot. And someone spoils Katelyn a lot (I'm not naming any names...HOLLY!)

Silly girls.

Happy Birthday Holly...we love you!