Happy New Years!

From our family to yours, Happy New Year. We wish you all the richest of blessings in 2011. God was especially gracious to us in 2010, and we can't wait to see what next year holds!

Just in case you aren't sick of seeing our pics yet, here are some of my faves from the photoshoot we had in November for our Christmas picture. I'll spare you repeats of the ones I have already posted or that appear in the side columns etc. All pictures were taken by Ben & Joy Hallock (comment or contact me if you are interested in having them do a photo shoot for you - I'll hook you up. They are amazing!!). They are pretty much ALL my faves, sooo, these are just some highlights:-)

Makin' that chubby boy smile!

Kiss!

My handsome boys

This one has "future facebook profile pic" written all over it:-)

Current facebook profile pic. Love it!

*Heart*

I love how Grey is just peeking over Brian's shoulder

Love that baby!!

*Tickles*

Caught in action, dancing. This was the fancy spin part. They make me smile

Tarzan Baby - Video

Well, we've noticed lots of changes in our baby the past few weeks. He's not so much a baby anymore (sooo sad!). He's growing up quickly! On December 22nd we noticed his FIRST TEETH popped through (2 bottom, middle). Finally!! You still can't see them, but you can feel them. He was 9 months old on the 21st.

He's become very fast at crawling too, and also pulling up. Brooks got Disney's Tarzan for Christmas from his cousin Vienna. The very first time we saw it, we said, that's Grey! Doesn't he look just like him?

Awww, it's Grey, all Disney'd up!

Brian has always called Grey the Vanilla Gorilla, ever since he was born.

And the pièce de résistance, incase you had any doubt. This is how Grey crawls! See the videos for proof!

Like I mentioned, Brian has called Grey the Vanilla Gorilla ever since he was born. Just today I googled it, to see just what Vanilla Gorilla actually means. Here's proof that Brian is up on all the hip terms these days, and I am a clueless housewife. The urban dictionary describes it like this "a caucasion male, who is large in stature and body language. Actions are sometimes brutish but considered favorable in popular culture. females find the vanilla gorilla's actions and persona to be attractive. other males wish to emulate the Vanilla Gorilla. He is often found in muscle car and motorcycle circles as well as at auto racing events.The vanilla gorrilla is often the hub of activity at any event; considered to be cool and the man on the scene." LOL! Now isn't that just our big little man? Aside from the muscle car thing, however, he really does like to chew on toy versions. Hmmm. He certainly has the large, attractive and cool thing down anyway. Cutie.

Crawling on his feet, like his alter-ego, Tarzan. He's never used his knees. He is wearing 12mth pj's...almost too small!


And he's pulling up like crazy now too! One thing about Grey - he is not easily enticed. You can dance on your head, and if doesn't want to come, he won't. He only seems to move when HE wants to.

Man up, Canada

What I hate...about snow.

It takes no less than 3 hours to bundle up 2 children. And we don't even have snow boots or snow pants. Super annoying. Plus, they only want to play for 5 minutes, and then track in mountains of snow, which the baby tries to eat.

When there isn't adequate plowing, sand, or salt, the driving is horrible.

It seems like it's harder to keep the house warm than it is to keep it cool. Open the door one time and it takes hours to warm up again. It would really help if we had a house that was insulated well (or at all!), and if we had an alternate heat source, like a fireplace.

Yesterday Kenna had a complete meltdown because her mittens weren't pink or purple (to match her coat). And even though she prayed it would snow here (prayer, answered!), she told me she thinks she really likes the beach. The novelty wears off fast.

I'm really glad I don't own a shovel...I then, don't have to shovel...I can just wait a few days until it melts!

On the plus side, it's so pretty. And I do love skiing, sledding and skating...and reminiscing about the worst storms we've driven through.

A friend commented on my facebook status a few weeks ago (I was complaining about the weather:-), and he told me to "Man up, Canada"...laughing!...but I don't wanna!

Winter Wonderland

Well, last year we spent Boxing Day (Canadian holiday, Dec 26th) pinning down a screaming Brooks while he got his chin stitched up. This year we spent Boxing Day...buried. There was no snow on Christmas, but it started snowing sometime in the evening. And did it ever come down! This was a storm that uniquely came up from the south, instead of down from the north. And it dumped on us! Much more snow (twice as much!) as we got last year in a storm, which was a record in this area. We skipped church...for lots of reasons. 1) We don't own a shovel (we used our kitchen broom, lol). 2) We own, but can't find our car scraper. 3) We can't afford to replace our car right now, should someone hit us. 4) Church comes too early...it was still snowing big time when we would have had to leave. A state of emergency was declared (naturally), and they had snow plows etc sent down from the north to help clear the roads.

Around 11am. The tree is weighed down to the ground, heavy with snow

11am. We have 10 inches in normal spots, more than that in some areas. By the end of it all, there was well over a foot of snow everywhere.

This bush normally goes all the way up to our big window. It's literally ground level now, under heavy, wet snow

Aw. Cute!

Brian was itching to get out and drive all day. Finally around 7pm he decided we were too low on milk, and he wanted a movie, so he *must* go out. I told him everything would be closed. He didn't believe me. Guess what? EVERYTHING was closed. He tried 3 stores:-), and redbox was virtually empty, so he came home defeated. He loves to drive in the snow! He got stuck for 30 mins on our own street on his way home. Haha.

Snowy day activity - We found our xbox...it'd been awol since Brian was the youth pastor at church...he left it in the youth room...that was like 2 years ago or something. We recently tracked it down, and got it back. Brian was teaching Brooks how to use the controllers and play some simple games like Mario Kart (it's a modified xbox, it has TONS of games on it, ones not even for xbox, and old *awesome* ones from the 80's)

A dusty controller. It's been YEARS since Brian's played video games. Father & son bonding now. Brooks loved it, but was not very good at it. Still a little young!

Housekeeping

Please excuse some of these posts. They are for archival and housekeeping purposes, I don't really expect you to read them:-) Just cleaning and organizing my blog for the new year! Love to all - Darla

Along the Road 2010

 Along the Road - posts from 2010

Corn syrup and peanut butter mixed together tastes amazing - from my Papie Kennedy/my Dad

Knowing how to use Excel well is a very necessary and useful skill - from my Dad

A beautiful centerpiece is essential for the proper presentation of a table at nice meal - from my Grandma Shantz

How to cut in butter without a pastry blender - from my Mom

Usually, it's just better to do things properly the first time - realized from my own do-overs, over the course of 30+ years

Washing windows with vinegar and newspaper cuts down on streaks - from my Mom

When people make mistakes that cost you money, count that as the cost of training them. Why turn over the responsibilities to a new person, who could also make that exact mistake. - from a former boss

A wife can throw more money out the back door with a teaspoon, than the husband can bring in the front door with a shovel. - from my Grandma Shantz/Great Grandma Shantz

Calling gross food by a special name and forbidding it will entice children to eat it happily - from my Grandpa Shantz

Learn wisdom when you are young. Others have paid a high price for it through their experiences, and they will give it away for free - from my parents

Expectations ruin a lot of life's potential joys. Learn to be grateful and content, whatever situation you encounter - from my parents


Milk in Campbell's tomato soup is way better than water - from Grandma Kennedy


Always keep a clear conscience - from Bill Gothard


Think about a subject and everything you know about it, and then consider this: you might be wrong - from my husband


Work harder, and more efficiently, than everybody else - from my Dad


Never use sour goats milk as a replacement for sour cows milk - from my Mom


Don't sit on the counter tops - from Grandma Shantz

Best Posts of 2010

Brooks' Stitches
The first REAL snow we've had in VA since we've lived here!
Kenna turns 4
Lleyton Gregory David is born
A little shower for Grey
Brooks turns 3
Triplets
Going to Ontario to visit Grandma Shantz
Grandma Shantz passed away on Oct 1
Halloween's Fall Ball
Growing kids, Dr's statistics
Our Christmas Pictures - Video
Thanksgiving
Grey's Dedication
Christmas Letter & Picture 2010
Kenna's performance in the Christmas Play - Video
Quiet Christmas 2010