Hey, everybody! It has been a long time. Too long, I know! I could make excuses, but that would be boring. Plus, I know you all get it. Life happens!
So instead of making excuses, I will just fill you in on a few things that have been going on. My, my (as Reed likes to say now- don't know where he got that) do we have things to talk about! Tons of new recipes to share, travels to describe, adventurous Little Outdoorsman stories. This is going to be fun!
But first, a recap. My themes here are old and new. Where shall we start...
Goodbye, 3; Hello, 4!
Of course I am going to start with Reed! He is doing great. We celebrated his fourth birthday in November with a big McDonald's themed party with plenty of balloons (by request).
Only the most sophisticated fare for The Little Outdoorsman.
Only the most sophisticated fare for The Little Outdoorsman.
Four hasn't been much different than three, so far. The only major difference I can pinpoint is that he has started negotiating quite a bit. I think we have been watching too many episodes of American Pickers. But truly, I love our conversations. He still has a guitar strapped to his chest whenever he is not outside.
And we bought a drum set.
And we bought a drum set.
Whose idea was that, anyway? I think the guitar is still his love, mercifully. We spent the fall baking and cooking WAY too much, taking a million walks outside, visiting the pumpkin farm, and reenacting the Crowder concert we saw in Toledo.
The season just flew by.
The season just flew by.
Four was just another (unnecessary) reminder of how quickly time goes by with this little one. I often wish that I could bottle up all of the moments we share. I guess that is one of the reasons I chose to blog!
Family
Fortunately, when it comes to our family, we have had the opportunity to embrace new rather than let go in the past few months. Jacob loves his new job in the hunting industry and the hunting and communication opportunities it brings. He spent plenty of time in the woods, mountains, and fields this fall and had a several successful hunts.
I am so proud of my handsome man! Our freezer is full of steaks, roasts, sausage, burger, and brats from his various hunts this fall.
The new job requires quite a bit of travel. I know he feels guilty about traveling sometimes, but honestly, I could not be happier for him or for us! I don't know that there are many blessings greater in life than getting to do what you love every single day. What a dream come true- to see the world and pursue your passion at the same time. It has been a wonderful change for our family.
The Little Outdoorsman is pretty proud of his daddy, too.
The Little Outdoorsman is pretty proud of his daddy, too.
In terms of "out with the old", we have packed away the holiday decorations and settled into the rhythms of ordinary time. Christmas was wonderful; I felt we were able to keep Christ at the center of our hearts and minds through the season. Overall, our holiday was peaceful, filled with joy, and abundant with memories. Although this was our first Christmas after losing three of our precious grandparents (Reed's great-grandparents), we couldn't have asked for a more blessed holiday season.
One of my favorite things we did this Christmas was a "Shepherd's Meal". I invited my sister and her boys over and we acted out the shepherds in the field story from the Gospel of Luke (with extreme creative license, obviously). It was a blast! The boys really soaked everything in. I grabbed the idea from Sarah and Sally Clarkson's The Lifegiving Home. It will definitely be an annual tradition in our home, too.
My neice and nephews are growing like crazy, too! Cha-cha and Poppy, Jacob's parents, celebrated New Year's Eve with us over buffalo wings and fries. They are rocking out the grandparent thing, as always. Boaz is nearly two and absolutely adores Reed. The boys play this game where they steal all of Cha-cha's spices and hide them around her house.
I know who is in charge of this maniacal scheme, but I'm not telling. I know better!
I know who is in charge of this maniacal scheme, but I'm not telling. I know better!
My parents, Nana and Papa, are also doing well and spend every moment possible loving on their four grandchildren. Reed (far left) and Matt (far right) are still basically attached at the hip and spend almost every day together. Cousins are the best, aren't they? Little Rose (next to Reed) has the most amazing smile and is SO close to crawling. Isaac (the chunker next to Matt) has my heart wrapped around his chubby little finger. He is a conversationalist and has two dimples. Also, he sleeps on me. Game over!
There are a couple of other "new" surprises coming on the nieces and nephews front (not with me!), but I will announce those as they come along...
There are a couple of other "new" surprises coming on the nieces and nephews front (not with me!), but I will announce those as they come along...
Old Oliver, New Echo!
Finally, we have added something new to our family, too! Oliver, our dachshund, celebrated his tenth birthday in the fall. Ten! Sniffle! How can it be?! We decided to add a new pup to the family now that Reed is a bit older. So... (drum roll, please).... I would like to introduce Echo!
The above picture shows Echo when we first brought him home. You may have noticed him in the Daddy-Reedie camo picture earlier, too. He is hidden in the bottom-right corner. Here is a more recent picture:
Echo is a German Shorthaired Pointer. He was a big handful when we first got him at 8 weeks, but now, at almost 6 months, he has calmed down quite a bit. To be honest, this little fuzzball has sucked up most of my time this fall and winter. It is hard work to train a dog!
But totally worth it!
But totally worth it!
Echo is very energetic, so TLO and I have been spending even more time outside than usual! He is super friendly, a little mischievous, and very clingy to me ( I love it). Woman's best friend, as they say.
Jacob hopes to train Echo as a bird dog in the future, but for now he is a momma's boy. That tends to be the trend.
January is such a wonderful time to reflect on the old and new that frames the present season. Amidst these dreary, short days and cold, long nights, take time to evaluate the new and old in your life, and find the blessings in between!