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!!

Happy 30th Anniversary, Mom and Dad!!

We had the joy of visiting my parents for their 30th wedding anniversary. It was a quick weekend, but there is nothing like getting to all be together.

49, 48, 47...

49 Days to go...

We pray that this baby will seek to glorify God with his or her life.

48 Days to go...

We pray that baby Harrington will be a prayer warrior.

47 Days to go...

We pray for a bond of love and friendship between Mark and our new little one.

50 Days

50 days (give or take) until we meet this child we've been dreaming about. Chris and I are both second children. We joke about how there are only 1/2 as many baby pictures of us than there are of our older siblings. I always joke about how I got the blue clothes and the Kid Brother doll while my older sister got the pink clothes and the Kid Sister doll. (You do remember the Kid Sister and Kid Brother dolls don't you???) There probably isn't much truth in our joking but it makes us laugh so we do it any way. That said... we've been particularly sensitive to this baby, our second child. We want to celebrate this pregnancy as much as Mark's, but I have to admit it's much more fun to post pics of Mark's new adventures than it is to post pics of my belly expanding. I do want to document this child's effect on my belly, but I thought a more meaningful celebration of these last 50 days of pregnancy would be to try to post a prayer for Baby H2 each day.

50 days to go...

Lord, we pray for the health and safe arrival of this new child you've blessed us with.

First Masterpiece

For the first time Mark colored more than he ate the crayons. Here is our boy showing off his masterpiece. I'm glad we got a picture when we did --- shortly after this photo was taken he crumpled his picture and politely asked if he could throw it in the trash. His new hobby is finding garbage, showing me, then standing in front of the trash saying "Peaze, Peaze, Peaze"--eagerly awaiting permission to throw away his little treasure. I hope we never forget these sweet moments :-)

Visiting Aunt Molly

During the summer months Chris gets to participate in what his work calls "summer hours." He works an extra hour each day of the week and gets a half day once a week. We have loved this special schedule as it allows for longer family day trips during the work week. Our last summer hours half day was spent visiting Aunt Molly at GCC. We all had a blast together going shopping, feasting on Mexican food, and catching up on all the details in each others' lives.

We love you Molly!! Thanks for a fantastic evening!!

Mark couldn't get enough of Aunt Molly--- lots of hugs and kisses :-)

I Like my Men Clean Shaven :-)

Daddy's Little Helper

Chris likes to take work and turn it into a game. It's remarkably smart because #1: It makes the work fun and #2: It's a great way to recruit people to share in the labor. Here's his new recruit for yard work...

Have I mentioned lately how much I love the boys in my life??

"You are the Light of the World..."

Our sweet little boy is repeating new words every day so we decided it was time to get some Bible verses on CD playing through our house. Yeah for Steve Green's "Hide 'em in Your Heart" CD's!! The song for Matthew 5:14 & 16 has been the prayer of my heart for Mark (and our family). Mark, this is why Momma and Daddy want you to share and to be kind....

"You are the light of the world. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

I couldn't decide which picture was sweeter of our little light :-)

Family Fun Fest at Patterson's Fruit Farm

If you live in the Northeast Ohio area and have kids, you MUST visit Patterson's Fruit Farm for their Family Fun Fest. It is a child's wonderland of fall activities: hay bales, mazes, tree forts, crazy long slides, pony rides, pumpkin painting, pick your own apples, riding tractors, etc. etc. We had an amazing Saturday morning!!

a tractor ride takes you back to all the activities

Mark in the tee pee

one of the several tree forts

one of the many crazy-long slides

For $2, we shared an apple fritter as a family---it seriously was bigger than our heads!! And it was delicious.....mm mmm good!!!

Who's that in the pumpkin??

horse drawn carriage ride

Dad and Mark go to get their second round of fresh apples

We let Mark pick out his own pumpkin to bring home. We quickly had to let him know that it was NOT a basketball and should NOT be thrown.

one very worn out little boy