Congratulations Ben and Ross!

This is about 2 months overdue, but well deserved--- Congratulations Ben and Ross on earning your Eagle Scout!! We are so proud of you!

(ok, so I had to slip this adorable cousins picture from the weekend in...)

Happy New Year 2011!!

We spent the New Year in Indiana with Chris's family. (With the Pfeils returning to Japan soon, we want to capitalize on every opportunity we have to be with them.) Our other agenda was to hopefully meet our new nephew :-) The Lord treated us to this special memory--- Sarah went into labor on New Year's Day and Gideon Kirk Pfeil was born on Sunday, January 2nd.

Uncle Jon brushes us on his newborn skills--- little did he know, the next day he's be holding his newborn son

Mark loves his cousin Calvin!! The time they have had to play together this year has been such a gift. We will miss them dearly when they return to Japan in the next month, but will treasure the memories God gave us with them this year.

Annabella and Olivia bring smiles to our faces with their sweet dance.

Calvin loves babies. He wanted to hold Lillia as often as we'd allow :-)

all 6 cousins

meet Gideon Kirk Pfeil -- Is he not amazingly adorable??

Christmas 2010

We are so blessed by Chris's job; however, every job has it's unpleasant sides. For Chris it's not being able to take off work around Thanksgiving or Christmas. With family out of town, it makes it difficult to be with them when Chris can't take off work. That said...my family has been super sweet and accommodating. Almost every holiday since we've been married, they have packed their car to the brim with luggage and Christmas gifts and made the long trek to Ohio (usually during a snow storm). We really can't say how grateful we are for their sacrifice. This Christmas was extra special--- they met Lillia for the 1st time!!

Christmas Eve Mark kept looking out the window for Poppie and Grandma. He couldn't wait!!

Lillia was introduced to Poppie, Aunt Beth, Aunt Kate, and Uncle Jon for the 1st time. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of her with Aunt Beth :-(

One of my favorite Christmas Traditions--- Christmas PJ's!! Grandma spoils us all with Christmas PJ's that we get to open Christmas Eve. Thanks Grandma!! We love our PJ's!!

We started Christmas morning with "Frosty"--- Frosty was Mark's first and favorite movie. I hate to admit it, but there were many times during the early weeks after Lillia was born that we'd watch "Frosty" a couple times back-to-back. Frosty taught Mark how to say "Happy Birthday!"

a regretful stocking stuffer :-(

Daddy's slippers are too fun!

Aunt Beth spoiled Mark with his 1st train set.

Uncle Jon & Mark playing "trains" on Christmas Day

Poppie made Mark's day and took him outside to play in the snow. Way to go Poppie!! This was Mark's 1st "Good Thing" that he shared on his own.

Christmas Traditions

In our home, the Christmas season is kicked off with a few family traditions...

#1- breakfast at our favorite cozy little restaurant in Chagrin Falls, Yours Truly

#2- from breakfast we head over to hunt for the perfect Christmas Tree

#3- for lunch we warm our bellies with Chris's homemade chili and cornbread

#4- then when little ones are asleep Chris and I (and whoever else we can recruit) string popcorn and cranberries for our Christmas tree while we watch a Christmas movie

This year our second child joined us in these traditions. Chris suited her up in the snugly, then zipped her warmly inside his coat. I think what I love the most about these traditions is the memory of unknowingly beginning them our 1st Christmas together as husband and wife. Only God knew that 4 years later, we'd be bringing home our Christmas tree to our house and organizing our lunch around nap and feeding schedules of two children. I know we've only been married for 4 1/2 years, but we've been married 4 1/2 years! It truly does feel like we blinked and we're here as parents praying by the minute for help raising these sweet (and at times, not so sweet) little ones. I wonder what the Lord will bring into our lives over the next four years of Christmas trees and popcorn strings :-)

Thanksgiving 2010

We had the pleasure of celebrating Thanksgiving as both a family of 3 AND a family of 4. A few days before Lillia was born we went to Chris's family's house to have an early Thanksgiving feast with them. Then on the actual Thanksgiving day our sweet friends, Curtis and Jess Penick, invited us over to share in their festivities. I must mention that Jess is a fantastic cook ---and I was completely amazed at her seemingly stress-free attitude towards the very daunting task of Thanksgiving dinner. Great Job, Jess!!

Thanksgiving at Mimi & Papa Harrington's...

All the grandkids making Reunion Rolls with Papa
It was amazing weather, so we let Matt open his Christmas gift early :-)

so sweet

And I have to include this next picture for Lillia when she's older... Here you are in my belly, just 1 week before we got to meet you---35weeks pregnant. We had no idea you would surprise us with your arrival in just 8 short days!!!

Thanksgiving at the Penicks...

Daddy and Mark making reunion rolls Thanksgiving morning

Here we are--- our family of four!!! :-)

Mark was empathizing with Mia the puppy-- usually he's the one being gated in!!

Curtis: practicing parenthood-- they are due to meet their first little one in just 8 short weeks!!!

Lillia Mae

Our sweet little surprise was born on November 16th. She came into the world a month before we were anticipating, but thankfully was a healthy 7lb 11oz. Chris and I are still in shock that we are cuddling our new little GIRL!! Our transition to a family of four has been smooth and exciting. Mark is a fantastic big brother! He loves kissing and hugging his little sister and he's getting pretty good at pronouncing her name. Praise God for his graciousness to us!!

Ben's GCC Interview

A couple weeks ago we had the pleasure of a quick visit from Mimi, Aunt Emily, and Uncle Ben while they were on there way for Ben's interview at Grove City. We woke Mark up for the occasion. It was especially exciting to see Aunt EMILY because Mark had just learned how to pronounce her name-- "L" and all!!!

33 week belly shot

33 weeks pregnant with our second little one. Praise God!!---only 7 weeks left until we get to meet this baby!!