Some Christmas Pictures Part I

Since I left my camera at our friends' house, I don't have pictures from Niah's first Christmas, but as soon as I get copies from people who do, I'll post them. Plus, I am going to redress her in her Christmas dress and take pictures since she didn't have her bow from Aunt Kristin yet :). 

One of my most vivid memories is when, every year, Santa Claus would come to our house. This was the REAL Santa. Everything about him was real. He even knew our names, activities we were in, how we were doing in school, everything! And, every year as Santa left, we watched from the back door and REALLY saw Rudolph's red nose in the sky. I couldn't believe he had come to visit us! Well, this year, Niah met the SAME real Santa. He still makes rounds every year and this year we went to my old youth pastor's house (Kyle's new boss) and Santa came by. It was so fun having my baby sit on the lap of the same Santa I saw growing up!

She wasn't so sure about him, but she didn't cry :)

We also went to an "It's a Wonderful Life" party. I had never watched the full movie from start to finish and it was so good! I have been missing out! But Niah and Josiah got to play together and take some pictures. They don't get to see each other too often since we moved so it was a lot of fun getting them together. 

Niah and Josiah eating in their matching "his and her" bibs.

More to come as I get them...

Inconsistent!

I know, I know...I am not a consistent blogger. I have some events to blog about, but unfortunately we left our camera at our friends' house so until I get it back I can't post any pictures. More to come soon!!!

New House

As promised, here are a few pictures of the house we are in the process of buying!

View from living/dining room

Pool!

Master Bedroom

Family Room

View of living/dining room from front door

No Words Needed...

This is our daughter...

So Much to Post

I have pictures from a few different events to post. Yesterday Niah had her first Manley Tree Farm Adventure. Even though we didn't pick out a tree this year, we still went and had a good time. It was Niah's first time out in the cold for a long period of time. I brought everything "just in case." I was so excited to put her jacket, boots, mittens and hat on her and then, it was hardly even cold! O well. Then today we went to a local tree farm to help my dad pick out his tree. Santa was there so I took Niah to get her picture taken. She didn't know what to think and, consequently, didn't smile. I brought her back a second time, with Kyle, so he could get a smile, but she caught on and wasn't having it. As soon as Santa picked her up, she started crying. So she has the traditional, non-smiling, 1st picture with Santa.

New House

The day before Thanksgiving we heard that one of the houses we had put an offer on had accepted. It was exciting, but it was our least favorite house. We went back and forth about what to do and Tuesday our realtor said we had to decide then. Kyle and I talked and decided that we had left the situation in God's hands. We put offers on 4 houses and left it up to him to open and close doors accordingly. So with that said, he was opening a door and we weren't the ones who should shut it. It wasn't our favorite house, but we knew God was saying, "Do you still trust me?" We said yes! So we went ahead with it. Oddly enough we didn't get in to sign paperwork Tuesday and Wednesday morning our realtor called saying the house we REALLY wanted had accepted our offer! Wow, how God works. You ask him to be in control, he asks you to trust him, you trust and he provides. If we are in God's will he will give us the desires of our heart...the house we really wanted. We are so thankful to live a life where we don't have to worry because we aren't in control!

We are officially in escrow and are praying that God will continue to work out the details. The house is perfect for us. It's 3 bedrooms, 2 bath. It has a living room/dining room and a family room and there is a fireplace that looks into both rooms. The kitchen is spacious. The backyard has a pool, not something we were looking for, but a bonus! God has really remained faithful to us. As soon as we go over there again I'll take some pictures to post the inside!

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving this year! It was exciting to celebrate Niah's first big holiday! She loved being around out family, and even ate her first turkey wing! Here are some pictures from the Turkey Bowl in the morning to the end of the evening.

Matthew's girlfriend Erica and Molly with Niah

Niah wanted to play in the Turkey Bowl too!

But she just couldn't make it!

She loved Thanksgiving dinner just as much as all of us!

Niah and GG before she went to bed

Niah and Daddy Play Time

It would be so unlike Kyle to let his daughter grow up without giving her a hard time. The other day we were just laying on the floor watching Niah play so peacefully. Kyle decides she needs to be decorated in toys and have a "toy belt." He covered her in toys and laughed as she struggled to move around the room. She had no clue and actually, found her toy covered self very amusing. When she was done with one toy she could pull another from her person and keep on playing!

Come on Dad, really?

Updates

I am going to try to be better at posting regularly. We have been busy lately with a lot of exciting activities. I have a lot to catch up on so here goes!

I know Halloween seems so long ago, but I didn't get to post pictures of Niah in her costume. So here's one for ya!
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I've started feeding Niah some foods beyond fruits, veggies and cereals. A few weeks ago we gave her a slice of sourdough bread to chew on. She was so happy with it! By the end of dinner it was EVERYWHERE...even in her hair!

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Kyle and I have taken Niah to the park a couple of times here at my parents' house. It's right down the street and she LOVES swinging! Here are a few pictures of that.

Niah in her stroller on the way to the park
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This last weekend I went on a Middle School Girl's Conference with our church. It was so much fun getting to know the girls in our youth group. I found 25 new babysitters here too! The conference was a great time of worship and getting to learn more about our Savior. I led two seminars on the characteristics of the Bible and did a prayer activity with the girls called Lectio Divina. Everything went really well.

Voting

Being that Kyle and I just moved out of our county, we hadn't reregistered to vote. So I applied for a vote by mail ballot for us and thought we were good to go. Well, having a PO Box, we didn't get it until Monday morning. That was not enough time to send it in. I thought we could turn it in to any polling place, only to find out you have to turn it in in the county it came from. So, Kyle and I drove back to Placer County (1.5 hours) just to turn it in. We debated on it, but came to the conclusion that this was a really important election and we didn't want Niah one day learning about it and asking, "Who did you vote for?" only to have us say, "We didn't." We got up there at 7:15, 45 minutes before the polls closed, dropped it off and were on our way. At least we got to have dinner with Molly and Eric...that part was good. And now we can say we voted in this "historic election." One cool thing is one of the things we voted for was literally at 50/50 with only about 400 votes in favor...so our vote did count :).

What Do You Do?

I love that as Niah gets older and more interactive, more people talk to her in the stores. Today we were out at Safeway and someone said, "Hi, what's your name?" They weren't talking to me, but Niah. Does she know how to respond? No. Is it hypothetical? I don't know. So I say, "Her name is Niah." I am assuming that's what they are looking for? At least she's getting good practice waving :)

On another note, we went to the pumpkin patch last week...something you HAVE to do once you have kids...who knows why, but it has to be done. We didn't even buy a pumpkin :), but I think we are going to go to another patch so we'll get one there. Here's a couple of pictures.

Here We Are

Well, we have made it down to the Bay Area. We are staying in a room upstairs at my parents' house. It's funny because we are using this one room for all of us, Kyle, N, Silas, Chula and me. It hasn't been too bad though. Kyle and I pushed the twin beds together and now we sleep in two twin beds next to each other. There's a big hole in the middle of them! We plan to go house hunting as soon as we are approved for a loan.

N's doing well. She finally ate (and liked) peas! She's a sweets girl like her momma. Right now as I type this I can hear her on the monitor playing in her crib...she should be napping! She is a very active little thing.

Well, I hope to update this frequently...even adding pictures!

Here's N on moving day!

At first it was fun...

But then it got tiring...