A Great December!!

It was a fun-filled busy-as-usual December this year but different in a few ways...

For starters, a fun early Christmas present was finding out that we are going to have a GIRL in May!! This pregnancy has definitely felt different than the other two, I'm carrying lower and was a lot more sick the first trimester, but didn't want to 'guess' that it might be a girl (although Rudy was convinced since we found out we were pregnant)! The boys are super excited and Tucker told us at the ultrasound that he thinks her name should be Rosie (the only female train on Thomas and Friends! :) At least he got the concept that it was a girl! We're all very excited!

The next big change was this was our first year doing our own thing, not going back to visit family. It was a mixed bag of emotions and lots of missing family, but also really fun to have our own little Christmas and create some little traditions.
Tucker had his preschool Christmas party and was the loudest shepherd to say, "LOOK AT THE BRIGHT STAR!!"

He's somewhere up there... :)
Another great part of the December scene was getting our first snow. We don't get a lot out here, but when we do we are really excited. A good part of our acre and a half of land is a steep hill in our backyard. Not much use most of the year, but when it snows...
so fun!
Tucker getting big and cute!
And making some pretty good snowmen!
Christmas was a blast this year! Besides missing our families, our little family had a great day with two boys who started to get the concept of Santa, and presents, and the excitement of it all. We actually had presents to open for them this year...yay for a job! :)

I have to say the sweetest experience was Christmas Eve after we had talked about what Christmas was really all about. Tucker said the bedtime prayer and he thanked Heavenly Father "for His son that he gave us and and who died for us...and that we can have Christmas because of Him...and please help Santa to give Him a present too!"
The boys got tracks, trains, blocks, and cars...what more do boys need? :)
ALL boys!



HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
This new year celebration was fun because we were able to bring the new year in with good friends. We had the Smiths and the Scotts come over (great friends we've made here in Goode) and the Martins, our good friends from back in Richmond, come stay the night. Tucker and Cooper were having a blast with their favorite buddies over and the Martins brought their 'newest addition' to play as well!

Her name is Molly, the cutest little capuchin monkey...she was the life of the party!SO nice to have great friends and good food to celebrate fun times!
Happy New Year!!