Pots and Pans

Here we are tying to enteraitain the babies. Don't you love the noise!

Innocence

I was having fun looking through all the pictures and videos that we took on our trip back home to Minnesota. I remember taping this darling video of Avery and it struck me as I re-watched it how beautiful and redeeming is the innocence of our dear children. I find myself getting so caught up in the mainstream of this society's living that I often times need to stop and pray that God will give me a child like faith and and innocence like dear Avery has.

Christmas and New Year's

Brayden is excited about his new farm

Or maybe....Dad and Darin are just as excited to set up the farm!

Daddy Dan helping Avery display her Christmas gifts

Breanna is all ready for dress up, but we think Brayden will play with the heels before Breanna!

Chaos or fun...you decide

The brothers and sisters were able to get out for a night alone. Thanks mom and dad for babysitting!

Kylie showing off her new outfit

Avery doesn't know what to think of the crown

We called them the "triplets" all week long

Nathan taking a big swing of water from his sippy cup

Ella showing off the new radio flyer bike

Here we are with our sick babies

Nathan and Ella loved the new toys that come with visiting other people's homes

Ella and Nathan trying out their new rocking chairs.

Who needs a toy when you can have a box

Perfect size Nathan

The Stuive Grandchildren



Well what a whirlwind of events over these last couple weeks. We celebrated first year birthdays and first Christmas's and New Year's. I had to work Christmas and so the twins and Tim spent the day by Tim's parents and enjoyed watching the "tornado" of gift opening that has become a tradition of the Stuive grandchildren. We had to say goodbye to Tim's parents who are now "snow-birding" in Florida for 3 months. We cannot decide who is going to miss who more. Grandpa and Grandma missing Nathan and Ella or Tim and Alissa missing all their great babysitting and the attention the babies get from Grandpa and Grandma Stuive. On Dec 30th, we made a trip to Minneapolis to celebrate Christmas with my immediate family. Of course, relaxing used to explain our get together's before kids. Now we have learned to talk amongst the children, eat in shifts (in order to feed our children), try keep these kids quiet while other kids are napping (then vice versa) and realize staying up to watch the ball drop is almost impossible when you get up with your children at 5:30 on that morning!!!!! But all in all, we wouldn't trade a minute of the chaos as we watch the cousins interact and play together. Unfortunately, Ella and Nathan got a small case of the stomach flu on New Year's Day evening. What a hard thing to watch as your children dry heave and almost learn to lean over the bucket. Luckily, it didn't last long and they were eating the next day. Needless to say..they did still have diarrhea for a week after that. I feel bad for the garbage guy who picked up Darin and Tricia's garbage because those diapers were, well let's say, powerful!!!!!! The girls were able to get in a good day of shopping, the guys were able to watch a Viking's game, and us kids went out to eat without the children and actually had adult conversation. Thanks mom and dad for watching the kids so we could go out. We were also pleased to be able to witness Avery's baptism on Sunday. All in all it was a great trip and Nathan and Ella did great on the trips to and from Michigan. We are now home and back in a routine again. We miss family and wish we all didn't live so far away. I have realized how much more I cherish our time together and realize that I don't take it for granted as I probably would if we lived close to each other. We pray blessings in 2009 and thank God for all that he has blessed us with in 2008.