The Real Christmas Story

We took Molly to the Real Christmas Story at Crossings Church earlier this month.  

She loved the live animals.

We sat on the "first row" (floor) to get as close as possible to the living nativity.

We iced cookies.

We made crafts...putting the red paint on Molly's hand caused her to go into hysterics.

She ate the frosting off of the cookie.

She might never remember it, but we sure will...with joy, nostalgia, and love.

Hi.

Well, one day, some day, I'd love to feel good enough to write a lovely post on this new baby.
But, as I am still not feeling great, I'll limit this to just a few details.

* I'm 13.5 weeks!
* The baby is due in June!
* We are ultra thrilled!
* I've been sick (all day/all night), and quite honestly, I'm sick of being sick and exhausted!
I was sick with Molly, too, and I eventually felt better.  I'm praying with all my might that I will get better this time, too.
* We will find out whether we are having a girl or a boy this time around.  After all, I did make a promise to Aaron, that if he let us be surprised with Molly, we could find out with Baby #2.  Although I'd still choose to be surprised at the time of birth (as it is quite possibly the most awesome surprise ever) I'm actually excited to find out this time...doing things a bit differently.

Okay, it is nap time for Molly and ME!

Our Secret...

Orr Family Farm

On October 20, Molly and I went with our friends down the street to the Orr Family Farm in south OKC.  I wasn't sure what to expect, and although I wasn't sure what an 18 month old would enjoy and couldn't imagine spending $10 to go to a farm when I grew up on one, and my parents still live on one, we went.  It was terrific.  Molly loved every second, and she cried when we left.  The weather was gorgeous.

The hay ride

During the hay ride, they stop at a pumpkin patch and each child gets a pumpkin.

Molly and her friend

Molly loved the animals...goats, sheep, pigs, horses, alpaca, chickens...the funny thing is, we had all of those, minus the pigs and alpaca when I was growing up.  

The train

P.S. This post is dedicated to Becca, who threatened me if I didn't start blogging again and whose birthday was yesterday.

Cozy

Fletcher has been our only dog for over two years, and he finally has a new friend.  Aaron made Molly the happiest little girl in the world when he brought home Cozy.  She is a doodlekin (labradoodle/boykin spaniel), and she is terrifically sweet.  Our whole family is happy that she came to live with us.

You can see where Aaron is getting ready to pour concrete on both sides of our existing patio.

Walsh, Co

Aaron grew up in Walsh, & it has an extremely special place in our hearts.  He kissed me for the very first time in that little town.  Aaron loves the people there, and the people love him. It was terrific to return for the first time since we've been married.  Aaron's grandfather started the Walsh Baptist Church, & Aaron's dad was the minister there for many years, too.

The church just celebrated 50 years, so we went to join in the celebration.

Molly got Maci Quinn from her Nana and Aunt Jordan.

We got to meet Bella for the first time!

One of the highlights was seeing Aaron's Aunt Sis, Uncle Troy, and their granddaughter, Emma.
Troy had been Medevaced (Medical Evacuation) to Denver just a few days prior to their visit.  This was the first chance they'd had to meet Molly.  Both Sis and Troy mean the world to Aaron, and we'd give anything to have Emma live close to babysit!

Aunt Sis and Aaron's dad...both were present at the dedication of the church 50 years ago. 

One of the highlights for me, I mean, Molly, was playing with the Care Bear collection at Debbie's house.
Debbie and Steve were so nice to let us crash there. (Anyone have a collection of the vintage miniature sized Care Bears you'd like to sell?)

Playing with Brody

Molly loved Bella and her Aunt Jordan.  We wish she lived closer to babysit, too! 

Papa, Nana, and their three grandchildren

These two crying in a photograph seems vaguely familiar!  Anyone remember this just 9 months ago?

Walsh, we love you!  We'll be back!

This was the last time we were there!

I Like to Ride My Bicycle, I Like to Ride My Bike

Molly is a bike rider.  We bought her an iBert bicycle seat.   She wasn't quite sure what to think of it all at first.  She had a complete screaming fit while we got the helmet on her and got her into the seat, but the second I took off pedaling she stopped screaming and loved every second of the ride.

I had not ridden my bike since the first couple of weeks that I was pregnant with her.  I LOVE my "super cool pink cruiser bike" as I named it when I purchased it with my first paycheck the first autumn I coached soccer in Gilbert.  I can't count the times I rode it to the pool in the early hot mornings in Arizona.  I filled my basket (which has now been replaced with a baby) with a book, towel, phone, keys, and water.  I wanted to get there before the kids invaded, and I read many books beside the subdivision's pool.  In case you have ever wondered how hot Phoenix can get in the summer...it literally melted the binding glue in a book that my brother let me borrow.  The pages just fell out.  True story.

Anyway, we are blessed to live a hop, skip, and a jump from Hefner Lake which has awesome biking trails, and since Aaron is really into road biking, a bike seat for Molly was in order.

It must be relaxing.  It melted our hearts.