Time in the snow!

We took Selah outside for her first experience of snow back on the 8th of this month. She loved it. It was quite cold to say the least so this last all of about 15 minutes and then she had snot running down her nose so we went in. We had a hard time finding a spot for her to walk on since it had snowed about 8 inches but we finally ended up on the driveway where she walked back and forth all by herself.


Of course she could barely move, so a lot of the time she looked like this because she would fall down and couldn't get up :)

But she loved it and threw a fit of course when we made her go inside.

The week in review

The week started off with a visit from Phillip, Joe, and their mom. Phillip was Tadd's "little brother" in the Big Brother program. They met when Phillip was 5 and now he is 15! We were so excited to see him and his family. We can't believe that he is almost as tall as Tadd now.
Phillip with Selah.

Tiff, Tadd, Joe (Phillip's brother), Phillip, Selah, Jill, and Shawne (Phillip's mom)

On Christmas Eve we had some special visitors. My brother Brian's 3 boys came to see us. We were hoping for the whole family, but my newest niece Katie was in the hospital over Christmas (born a week earlier and having a few complications) and they were unable to come. We tried to keep our spirits high. We really missed having the rest of the fam here, but we had fun nonetheless with all the boys. Christmas Eve was spent entertaining the boys and then mom and dad came over to eat.
Quinton, Andrew, and Brett showing off their lincoln log fort they made with Tadd...

Selah had fun with her cousins and stopped to read a book :)

Then we made turtles together...mmm mmm good!

And in order to make things fun for the kids we each got to make our own personal pizza for dinner.

My mother whom I love with all my heart!

That evening we let Selah open her gifts and stockings from us and the boys got to open one gift each.

Selah and her cheesy face with Grandpa and Grandma L. They gave her this bookshelf for Christmas for her bedroom.

She also got a tunnel.

Taking time to snuggle with Grandpa. Many of my fondest memories are crawling up into my dad's lap and I love seeing that Selah can do it now too!

Selah opens a present with daddy. Not quite sure what to think, but enjoying it!

Then on Christmas Day after church we got to go to Mom and Dad Gerst's. We ate loads of food and opened presents. It was the first year that we didn't have extended family there too, but Mom made it extra special for the rest of us. We really missed seeing all Tadd's cousins, but hopefully we can get together soon!

All the girls stopping for a picture.

Selah got a kitchen from both grandparents for Christmas and she loves it! Can you say SPOILED!

Here she is! She definately was getting worn out by all the festivities but didn't want to miss a minute of it. She is enjoying two of her favorite things - hiding/crawling under things, and snuggling with soft things :)

Selah and her cousins Brooks and Addy!

Then on Saturday we got together with Adam and Kristen and my mom and dad. We had an awesome breakfast and then opened presents together. That night we got together with all of my Leman cousins for another meal!

Selah with mom and dad.

Mom L made a softcover scrapbook for Selah that had our trip to Kansas City last summer. It was great getting a scrapbook as a gift that I didn't have to make :)

Overall, it was an amazing week filled with family, love, and many memories. We are truly a blessed family. My heart overflows with gratitude that I have for all that God has given me. An amazing husband and my love Selah. We had food galore and presents all over! It still seems different not to have Laynie here to share in the joy and I have to confess it was a little rough at times, but as we were putting up her ornaments and remembering her first Christmas, I know that she is at peace enjoying Jesus's birthday party in heaven! To all of you that have lost loved ones and feel that piece missing, we pray that God's love will fill your hearts with peace and you will take joy in remembering the good memories you shared with your loved ones! Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year!

Puff balls and presents

Well for a little fun I decided to put Selah's hair into little puff balls (as we call it). Her hair is getting quite long lately but still remains soft and super curly. If you wet it down it gets into tight curls and then the longer she goes without getting it wet again it loosens up and the curls get bigger. So... it didn't take but a few minutes and Selah could have cared less what I was doing and voilah! Puff balls :)

The side view

The top view

Then Selah got a big box of special gifts in the mail from "T" and family :) We were so excited with her that we let her open them a little early. She wasn't quite for sure how to unwrap them at first or what to do, but towards the end was getting the hang of it. The first gift was a puppy who sang Merry Christmas to the tune of "Shout". She loves it! You push the hand and its ears go up and down and it dances. She joins right in. She is not quite sure when he first starts singing (she runs away actually), but then after a few seconds she is dancing right along. Totally a Selah gift :)

Her reaction to all her gifts..."oooooo"

Here she is showing off her special bracelet she got to daddy

Giving the puppy a kiss

Thanks for all the fun gifts "T" and family! We all love them. I don't have a picture, but she also got shoes, an ornament, and a bunch of CD's which she loves. We had to play the CD's right away so Selah could hear them! She is enjoying each and everyone one. Thanks again!

Catching up...

Here is a little catching up from last week...

Selah in her Christmas dress.

We got to take Selah to see the Festival of Lights in Peoria. She loved it! She was continually ooo'ing at all the lights. Grandma and Grandpa Gerst and Aunt Tiff came along with us.

We got to spend a weekend with great friends, Tim and Jessie, in Chicago. We went to Woodfield Mall and IKEA on Friday and then spent the night downtown that night and did Michigan Ave. the next day. It was really neat to see Chicago during Christmas time. A first for me! We did leave Selah at home, but she had a fun time with Grandpa and Grandma Leman :)

The guys really did well shopping, but we had to keep moving them along towards the end :)

Well, it has now snowed. I have to confess I haven't updated in a long time because it seems like the week starts off not being busy and then time gets filled. We are almost done with the Christmas shopping, the decorations are up, stockings are stuffed, presents are wrapped. I love this time of year and looking forward to spending time with family. It is amazing to me how sentimental we get at this time of year. Maybe it is the music playing or the weather outside... Either way, it makes me think of our angel in heaven wondering what she is doing. Missing those who have passed, grandparents... We are a such a blessed family though! I hope that you each can enjoy every minute of this Christmas season and not get stressed by the "things" you have to do, but take an extra minute to do something for someone who doesn't have what you do, hug your child a bit longer than usual, and take in the joy of remembering our Saviour was born on Christmas day. What hope was born that day! And how much different our lives would be had Jesus not been born in that little manger. We love all of you and hope you have a very Merry CHRISTmas!!


Selah loves her kitty cat. We are a relaxed house around here. So any given day if daddy is working out of the house and Selah and I are home, you just might find all of us in our jammies till noon :) Selah takes her kitty cat to bed with her now. She never cared about falling asleep much with a blanket or carrying a blanket around, but her kitty cat...that is another thing.