Crazy Adults!

While we were in WI for Christmas, we were trying to get a picture of all of the kids -- Jon captured the crazy adults trying to get the kids to smile. What a bunch of freaks! :-)

Christmas 2010

long overdue, but want to document it nonetheless...we once lost a lot of pictures off of our computer (we are terrible at backing things up) and our blog saved the day as I had posted many of our favorites on here.

Christmas Eve w/ the DiCos...

DiCo cousins!

I guess every family insists on taking pics of all of the kids even though it's practically torture! :-)

Christmas Eve service (the first time we've been able to go in several years - it was so special and I don't think we'll miss one again - so great to take time out of the busy-ness and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas - it's really not just a cliche!)

Christmas morning at home...

think they're excited to get a Wii?!!!

The day after Christmas, we made the long trek (15+ hour drive) to WI!

so exciting to meet our newest nephew & niece - Ezra & Naomi - born on October 12th!

the awesome chefs of our family!

My awesome Grandma Lowery was there!

Even Grandma got into it with the help of her walker! :-)

Our (short!) time with our best friends, the Martys:

the kids were coming out of their skin w/ excitement!

I ♥ Ornaments!

Early on in our marriage, I decided that I didn't want to go out and just buy a bunch of ornaments, but collect them over the years. I try to get one from every place we visit and for special life events. I also love getting special ornaments from friends. Putting my tree together every year is a reminder of so many loved ones and great times. Here are many of my favorites...

Our First Christmas Together ornament - given to us by my Mom.

Sophia's 1st Christmas.

Anthony's 1st Christmas.

5 year anniversary trip to Vermont

10 year anniversary trip to Hawaii

Trip to Dominican Republic with Bethany & Q - 2007

Visit to New Orleans - we've actually been there multiple times, but bought this the last time we were there in 2008

Pinocchio from Rome! From our visit to Italy in 2009

Venetian glass also from our visit to Italy in 2009

Trip to Washington DC with Edd & Paulette - 2009

Romantic Holiday getaway to NYC with Bethany & Q - December 2007

Mary Poppins umbrella to commemorate our family gift from Christmas 2008 - - Seeing Mary Poppins on Broadway with Aunt Lizzie

Family Vacation to Rhode Island - Summer 2010

Special ornaments from friends:


From Bill & Lori Browne - our cousins - we spent so much time together in 1997!

The "love" ornament - From Edd & Paulette Lipscomb - our dear friends in Alabama who took us in as their own when we were away from both our families while living down South.

Christmas of 1997

From Kelly Nastase - given to me the first Christmas we were friends in 1998

From Greg & Tricia Skowronski at their Christmas party in 1999

From Bethany & Quenton Marty from their time living in Ukraine - they're are actually 6 of these cute little Santas!

From Lizzie (Jon's sister) - she gave me ~30 of these and they just add so much to my tree!

From Nancy Bast, my dear friend - 2009

From Bethany & Q - polish pottery from Poland! 2009
My current favorite!


and what tree would be complete without the sweet handmade ornaments from the kiddies?!

While not an ornament, I also want to share a shot of my angel - this came from my best friend Bethany who has given me many special ornaments over the years. I just love this angel because it is so my style and I always wanted an angel on top of the tree, but didn't like any of the fancy ones I always saw in stores. Bethany sent this to me the Christmas of 2000 and it's been on top of our tree every year since then.