Merry Christmas!

Troy and Ashley joined us via Skype from Seattle. We won't mention that it was 3:30 a.m. their time! We're looking forward to Baby Tiberi joining us in one month!

A Russian gas mask from Uncle T & Auntie A :)

"Lydia, show me your excited face."

A special present from Pop and Grammy: season tickets to Kings Island for Mike and Jonah!


And now I sit. It's quiet. I needed to relax.

I'm always asking the kids, "So what was your favorite gift this year? What gift are you most excited about?" I got a new camera from my husband. That makes me smile.

"But [He] made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father!"

Thank you, Jesus.

Merry Christmas!

Let it Snow!

friends

I'm working on some friends' pictures tonight-- the pictures I haven't had enough time to edit during the busy fall season! My friend, Jana, is pregnant with her first child. This shot just made me smile:

Silent Night

What a fun night on campus!

boys.

Lynn and I became friends when we were 14. I wrote about her and our friend Leann here. After all the history, we entered the world of motherhood within 11 days of each other.


Although they're getting older and developing their own interests and personalities, it's fun to see them enjoy one another. Okay, perhaps Jonah enjoys Aidan a little too much!

Lydia's First Christmas Program

Adorable.

TF Photography

Wow. I'm ready to be done with this photo season. I feel like a definite business owner and am ready for a break! I have three more sessions before Christmas and then I'll be relaxing without my laptop in front of me!!!!

I'll be taking the month of January to work on marketing, advertising, imaging, pricing, etc.

I thought you could help me get a boost on a few of my January goals:
1. I want to make better use of Facebook as an advertising tool.
2. I want a tagline.

Are you my "fan" on FB yet? Do you have any ideas for a tagline?

Thanks, friends!

Our Thanksgiving

a few more halloween pictures...

cousins:

Do I know these people?

Halloween 1978

Halloween today

nostalgia

It's only been a little over two years. It seems like it's been longer than that--

We drove by our old house this weekend. I've been missing it recently-- the leaves, the yard. I have many precious memories of that place.

For Your Enjoyment

I just received this from the Director of Graphic Design and Photography at TU.

The joke doesn't get old.

I'm still laughing.

the apple orchard

Our Paleontologist

Thanks, Uncle T & Auntie A for the awesome present! Look at that concentration!

Seriously??

Are you kidding me? Gee whiz.

I ran my 13 mile race last week. We were more than prepared. We trained well. We fueled our bodies, and we had a great 12 mile run the week before. But doggone it, it was just a BAD day for me.

I've been struggling with allergies for a while, but when the course led us through miles on a running path in humid woods, I couldn't breathe.

Then my knee hurt for the first time this season, and I couldn't stride out the way I wanted.

Then I needed to vomit.

Then I got distracted from the other runners and just couldn't stay in my zone.

Then I just had nothing left.

My great running partner tried to encourage me, but my body just wasn't cooperating.

So around mile 11, when I physically couldn't put one foot in front of the other, I decided that I was going to finish with a good attitude, despite the fact that I couldn't run.

It worked. I was happy.

I had a great training season. I had a great run last week, and MY GOODNESS, I was running 13 miles! Who cares about my time, right?

I said on the car ride there that I wanted to have nothing left at the end.

I had nothing left at the end :)

The absolute best part about the race was seeing the kids at mile 10. They were so genuinely happy as they held up their homemade crayon signs.

The race ended in the new baseball field. We ran around the perimeter of the field before finishing at home plate. It was a joy to look up and see Mike and the kids cheering and blowing kisses from the stands!

We'll hope for a better race next time!

Jonah's sign said, "Go Mom Go Mom Go Mom Go Mom Go Mom Go Mom Go Mom Go Mom......" Lydia adorned her sign with her infamous scribble "letters."

Watching a Miracle

Jonah named them: Joe, Isaac, Jason, & Tommy. They were our caterpillars for a few weeks. We anxiously watched them get bigger and bigger. They were our friends. We loved watching them grow.

It was such a miraculous process! I'll let you read my friend's account of the metamorphosis we witnessed.
...

We welcomed the last two butterflies into the world a few days ago.




Bye, Tommy!