Merry Christmas 2013

I decided to throw together a Christmas card with no time to send it by snail mail. Oh well, I love it anyways and want to wish you a Merry Christmas! This year I am feeling especially blessed. My life is so full of love and happiness. It may not seem like we have a lot, but we have each other and that really is everything. And we have the most wonderful thing of all- a loving Savior. He brings light to the darkest corners in our lives. I love this season because it helps me remember Him more often.

Recently our family has received some anonymous gifts that have been a huge blessing and helped to ease the stress of Christmas. I want so much to thank those people. I have no way of knowing who they are but I need to say a big THANK YOU. You have brought so much happiness to us.

Thank you to those who gave us money making it possible for us to buy gifts and to soon take a trip to see Phillip's parents without worry. Your gift is soooo appreciated here. It is huge to us, and we think it was so selfless of you to do it anonymously.

Thank you to the family who dropped gifts and food off on our doorstep. We are blown away by your generosity and are so excited to open the gifts. Thank you thank you thank you! You have made for a very merry Christmas here.

Thank you to the man who paid for our dinner the other night. Lola has been sick and spent the whole time whining, tipping over water in my lap, making messes, and refusing to eat all the while we were supposed to be celebrating our Anniversary. We were exasperated and I felt bad that the people around us were probably annoyed by her crying. You didn't know anything about us but your act of kindness had me in tears all the way home. I'm already imagining how much fun it will be to pay it forward to another family some day.

There are so many good Christ-like people in the world. We really have been touched with the Christmas spirit this year because of others. May you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Love,
     Lydia

The day of hearts and love and cookies

Happy Valentine's Day! I love love love this holiday! There was no Easter bunny at our house (I still remember how weird-ed out I was when a classmate told me about the Easter bunny in Kindergarten) but there were always pink pancakes for V day, or something just as yummy. When I was little it was all about the candy. And then in high school there was the suspense. Will I get a delivery?!? I remember in 7th grade I got an anonymous rose. To this day I swear it was my sister but she would not fess up. And now I have my two favorite valentines to share it with. Of course we had pink pancakes and heart shaped eggs for breakfast.

I had fun making these cookies yesterday. They turned out really good :) I gave away all but a couple.

My two sweethearts this morning. Lola is getting pretty good at sucking her thumb. 

Adorable in her heart diaper. Stay tuned for a post about cloth diapers. 

Tis the season for Christ

Reminiscing on last year I remember being so focused on our wedding that Christmas was pretty much overlooked. Wedding day was a thousand times bigger then Christmas day. It was such a relief when the semester ended and the Big Day went beautifully. We spent Christmas soaking up rays of sunshine on the beach in Mexico. For that reason it feels like it's been two years since Christmas. I'm in love with Christmas music! Yum hot chocolate! I helped Phil hang a string of lights on our little house even before Thanksgiving. It probably helps that I'm not in school so I have a lot more time to think about it.

Also, I work at Pier 1. They've had Christmas stuff up since before Halloween, which makes it a long time in coming. They have hundreds of ornaments, decorations, wreaths, and holiday candles. One thing that seems to be missing though is Christ. Like... where are the Nativity sets? They have Santa, Reindeer, and Snowmen galore, but nothing about Christ. I guess that works if you want to have a "Happy Holiday," but it doesn't fly with me. I'm an old fashioned believer in a "Merry Christmas."

What a beautiful sight. Lately I've been thinking about what kinds of traditions I want to start in my family for Christmas. Do you have any favorites? What do you do to help remember the true meaning of Christmas?

Happy 25th birthday to the love of my life!

There's a reason this man's birthday is on Summer Solstice aka the sunniest day of the year. Phillip is one of the most optimistic and fun people I know! He makes me so happy.

Phillip, I'm so glad you were born. Love you, babe!

These pictures show off a few of his many talents to honor him on his big 25th. Pay special attention to the one of him and the mushrooms hehe :) 

The day to eat at least half a cake

That's right. Today is my half birthday!!! At least I thought it was until I read this. I'm not entirely convinced though. But this is what the half birthday calculator said:


Enter a birthday:                     1989 November 4 

Quick! The half birthday is on Thursday, May 5th, 2011 -- thats TOMORROW!

The next birthday is 184 days from now.

November 4th, 1989 fell on a Saturday and was 21 years, 6 months (a total of 7,851 days) ago.

Which is better? Sharing my half birthday with "Star wars day" (May the fourth be with you!) or Cinco de Mayo? If it means I get fried Ice cream, i'll switch to the 5th! (Maybe.) Anyone else upset at the thought of their half birthday being changed? Or have you been thinking, "um, I never cared in the first place?"