oh 2015....you were awe-some.

when i look back at 2015 i am filled with awe. 

it was a good year. 

filled with so many amazing things and a few challenges. 

i can definitely see God's hand guiding us along. providing. answering prayers. showing us great joy that we alone could have never imagined. working in our hearts. blessing us. growing us. 

His great love for us was clearly evident. 

that is something amazing to cling to. 

and we do.

winter brought the arrival our best boy jacob james, lots of snuggles, volleyball tournaments, a birthday for miss cece, cheering for our cyclones, and too much love. 

spring brought smiles from mr jakers, a national championship for a cyclone wrestler, full hands and full hearts, a very long, cold, and wet soccer season for ellie and cece (read: lots of time spent sitting in the van for momma, mags, and jake), more cuddles, and getting back outside. 

summer brought birthdays for ellie and maggie, a baptism for sweet jake, 13 years for mom and dad,  A FINISHED BASEMENT!!!!!, lots of pool time, and playing outside. 

fall took us back to school....middle school for miss ellie, to the softball diamonds most nights of the week, cheering for our cyclones, a trip to the apple orchard, turtles for halloween, and crawling and cruising for jake. 

i love taking a look back at the year. and i look forward to what 2016 has in store for our family. 

good bye 2015, hello 2016!!

check out previous year in review posts

{2014}

{2013}

{2012}

{2011}

{2010}

more Christmas....

christmas notables plus a whole lot of pictures

1. it was jake's first christmas! he did well. got lots of great presents and he was somewhat interested in them. however, he was much more interested in the wrapping paper, bows, and boxes. now that we have his presents home he is enjoying all the new cars, trucks and boy things. he is a great "sharer" and has graciously (read: been forced without knowing) to share his new presents with his big sister maggie. she is in heaven. she loves tractors. who knew.

2. this christmas was full of joy for miss cece. she was so happy with all the gifts she received from pjs to books to new underwear to boots to her barbie dreamhouse. she is a happy girl.

3. maggie had a great christmas. she loved everything she received plus is also enjoying all of jake's gifts.....

4. when opening gifts we usually focus on the opener. and we often miss the reactions of the gift giver. when i look back at pictures those reactions have been captured. our girls were very into gift giving this year...probably the most they ever have been....and it shows in the pictures. their reactions as others opened their gifts warms my heart.

5. we received enough christmas candy in our stockings to survive for at least a week.....if not a month.

6. ellie received a elephant phone case from santa and was oh so happy. middle schoolers!

7. i also posted a ton of pictures from our other christmas celebrations click {here} and {here} to check them out. i love photographs. :)

enjoy all the christmas pictures