Bear Valley {Christmas 2013}

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November 23-30 {thankfulness}

Nov. 23 - The mountains. We see Mt. Rainier everyday. It's breathtaking and majestic. Actually being on the mountain is even more amazing. It makes you feel like an ant. God is so creative with his canvas.

Nov. 24 - Grace. The free and unmerited favor of God. What an amazing free gift we have. Thankful for friends and family who give me grace as I have made mistakes, been harsh with my words and acted out of impulse. Still trying to fully understand it but am thankful for what I can wrap my mind around.

Nov. 25 - Friends. I treasure them even if I don't get to talk or be around them enough.

Nov. 26 - Doctors and Nurses. They are the best. So smart and so giving of their knowledge. Our family has ridiculously benefited from the health professionals and I seriously couldn't be more thankful. I'm pretty sure none of us would be alive without them. We like doctors and aren't afraid to find them and ask them questions. Thank you all who are in medicine and for being so smart. We appreciate you!

Nov. 27 - Peace.

Nov. 28 - Fuzzy socks. Not just normal socks but the oversized fuzzy ones. The ones you wouldn't wear out in public. I have many of them and wear them everyday. They are really ugly but so amazing on my feet...especially with our hardwood floors. Who invented these things? I thank you, whoever you are.

Nov. 29 - My mom. I'm thankful for her. She is the sweetest. Calm and collect. Thriftier than anyone I know. She loves her children and checks in with all of us daily. She is a huge supporter of my dad and will always stand by his side no matter what his endeavor is. She sacrificed a lot to be the mom she was. Driving us from one sport to another and opening up our pantry to whatever kid came to our house after school. A day of school did not go by that I didn't have a brown sack lunch with my name written on the front. She even made them for my friends that for some reason spent the night on a school night. She trusted me (maybe over trusted but trusted which meant a lot). She taught me a lot. Thanks mom for being you!

Nov. 30 - My dad. He turned 60 on this day. I am thankful for him and all that he has taught me in 29 years of life. From finances to athletics - lots of knowledge and hard work were shared and taught. I am thankful for him. Pin It

November 16-22 {thankfulness}

Nov. 16 - Mail. I love mail. Who doesn't?! Tis' the season for Christmas cards - my fave! Justin always gets the mail when he arrives home from work but he ALWAYS let's me open the special mail like handwritten notes, cards and invitations. Can't wait for the first Christmas card to arrive...

Nov. 17 - MOPS. I love my MOPS group. I absolutely love the women at my table. I am thankful to get to hear little slivers of their stories every other week and encourage each other in our journeys of motherhood.

Nov. 18 - Life group. Monday nights are my favorite and have been for a couple years now. We meet with a small group of people from our church and eat a meal together and then study God's word. Monday night friends have become family to us.

Nov. 19 - Church. We have been blessed with a wonderful church. The people that attend are just unreal. Truly a generous, kind, loving and gracious bunch. Our gospel community has just blessed us to the core. We love our pastors and their families and their focus on Jesus.

Nov. 20 - Good people. Justin broke down yesterday right off our exit. Our Honda's alternator apparently had enough. A man and his daughter pushed Justin in the freezing cold weather to the gas station, called a tow truck for him and waited with him till help arrived. Talk about kind. I am so thankful for people willing to set themselves aside for a moment to help another. Wish I had their number and address. I am so thankful for them.

Nov. 21 - Baby hands. They are so sweet. Chubby fingers and dimples for knuckles. I could kiss Capri's little hands all day long. It's the little things...

Nov. 22 - Dates. Dates with my husband and dates with my kids. I am thankful for the time carved out in our busy schedule to spend one on one time together. I took Boone on a date today to get ice cream and get to date my husband tonight with dinner and a movie. I am a big fan of quality time. Thankful for dates today...and that my mom and dad will graciously watch our children so we can date each other 8 1/2 years later!

{Headbands and drool for days! She discovered warm air coming from the vents. I adore her}

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November 10-15 {thankfulness}

Nov. 10 - Good phone conversations. I am not a huge phone person. I actually really don't like being on the phone. I much rather sit in a coffee shop face to face for hrs to have a good conversation but that doesn't always get to happen. Friends and family move so you gotta do what you gotta do. I am thankful for a good phone conversation. I had a great one this week with a great friend of mine. She blesses my soul. If only I could have all of my favorite people in one place. Now that would be ideal.

Nov. 11 - Decorating. It is therapeutic for me. I love to create and re-create. It makes me happy.

Nov. 12 - Coffee. I could survive without it but I sure do love the smell and taste. I am thankful for coffee. All types. Give it to me iced, hot or black and I will enjoy it. Favorites are an iced vanilla latte from Starbucks, a Kahlua kicker from Dutch Bros and an iced honey bee latte from Two Teaspoons. YUM.

Nov. 13 - Justin. Saying I am thankful for Justin just doesn't seem like enough or fitting for this blog post after I say I am thankful for coffee and decorating but I AM thankful for him and it just so happens to be on my mind. He is wonderful. I could probably write a book on why I am thankful for him but I will keep it short. He seeks God and he loves God. In return our family gets a whole lot of love. He is slow to anger and quick to forgive. He leads me and leads our children. I want to cry thinking about him. How am I so blessed to have a man like him to love, care and provide for me everyday? My kids have the coolest and most loving father ever. I am so thankful for that. God is good.

Nov. 14 - Sports. They kept me out of trouble, gave me some of my best friends to date, taught me discipline, teamwork and brought me a lot of joy. Because of soccer I was recruited to a small Christian college. The rest is history. I love that my kids are becoming of age where sports is something exciting to them. I am very thankful for sports!

Nov. 15 - Showers. Almost nothing trumps a good hot shower...well maybe coffee but it's a close call. ;) There is something refreshing about being clean and feeling renewed. I love and am thankful for a long hot shower. It's often where I retreat to after a long day of being a mom.

(Sterling's first wrestling match(es) and tournament. He had a blast!)

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November 7-9 {thankfulness}

Nov. 7 - Driving. I love to drive. I am thankful we live in a place that driving isn't to hectic (I have driven in Mexico people, whoa!) I don't go many places during the week and have definitely turned into a homebody but I do love to go places when I have the time. I'm itchin' for a road trip!

Nov. 8 - My home. I'm thankful that we bought the house we did. At times it makes me angry (seriously) because the projects are never ending and it's old which means there are repairs that never end but it is beautiful and homey. Instead of seeing it as a time and money eater (sorry for those I have complained to about it!) I am working on seeing it as perfect dwelling place for my little fam. I love all the small details and the character it has and there are endless amounts of memories already made here that I will always cherish. This place is great and God is so good that he allowed all the little details workout for us to purchase it.

Nov. 9 - My extended family. I heard when you marry your husband you somewhat marry their family as well. It is kind of true. I am BEYOND blessed to have married into a fabulous family. Seriously my mother and father in-law and my sister in-laws and their families are the best. They are so loving, kind and generous. The didn't need to take me in as a daughter or sister but they did. I have never once felt left out or not a part of the Officer clan. I am proud to represent their last name. I don't know if I have ever met such giving people. They raised one fine young man that I get to call husband everyday. Geesh I've got it good!

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A Happy New Year to YOU!

The boys were asleep by 9 and we were asleep by 10:30...but have no fear - we woke up at midnight from all the fireworks in our area going off so we rang in the new year with a quick "happy new year to you and goodnight." Party poopers I know. Nothing sounds better than sleep these days (well besides food) to both Justin and I. We are excited for this coming year for some obvious reasons (ahem...one little lady that will make her debut in just 10 weeks) but some simple ones as well. We have faithfully stuck to our cash only system for 9 days now (pat on the back), we plan on paying cash for a 7 seater vehicle and a friend and I are going to go on a Bible reading plan together for the accountability. I'm pretty excited. Hope you all had a great first week of 2013! Cheers to a fresh start!

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Christmas {round 2}

Christmas Morning was quite exciting around here. We did the four gifts again this year for the boys.  Something you want, something you need, something you share and something to read. We have found that it simplifies the shopping. Sterling got his first big boy bike. He has already gone on a bike ride with Justin and is quite the daredevil. He has even told me that he thinks he needs knee and elbow pads. Probably a good idea. :) Their sharing present was Jon and Bradley's (my brothers) old remote control car that my mom put away in her attic. They think it's the neatest thing ever. 

Look at this little fuzzy head!

One of Sterling's favorite gifts this year was a shaving kit from my mom. Cousin drew or "uncle Drew" to my
boys shaved with Sterling - totally made his day! Sterling shaves now everyday just like dad. I have even heard him look in the mirror and say "whoa. I've got work to do," and gets his kit out. What a kid!

Christmas dinner with the whole gang. Good food and good company!

Lots of flannel showed up unintentionally. Love it.

Cheers!

 Santa showed up and handed out some gifts! (Thanks Gordy!)

 Lots of super heroes were running around Christmas evening. Be scared.

And there you have it. A glimpse of our Christmas. I'm not sure how it came and went so quickly and now that we are into January the countdown to baby girls arrival begins! Only 2 1/2 more months and we will get to meet our daughter. I'm already liking the way 2013 is looking! A Happy New Year to you all!

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Christmas {round 1}

We had A LOT of family this year for Christmas and it was wonderful. My mom's entire side of the family all traveled here this year. Her siblings, their spouses and their kids plus my siblings, their spouses and kids plus grandparents and my little family made for 26 Muri's, Burns, Kelpman's and Officer's. It was a ton of fun (and plenty loud) having my cousins, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, niece, nephew and grandparents and my family all under one roof. My sister and I made an itinerary for the family that scheduled some events so there was plenty to do with no excuses of boredom. We had ultimate frisbee, a crock pot soup night, a game night, Christmas Eve church service, Christmas dinners and coffee dates. Here is the first 2 nights of fun in picture form:

Crock Pot soup night at our house!

 Heidi and Bradley (my sister in-law and younger brother)

 My niece Makenna and cousin Sam

 My cousin Molly and Joe

 My wonderful siblings! ...youngest to oldest (L to R)

 ...and my sister and I are pregnant together again! :) Babes due in June and March.

I'll be back tomorrow with some more! Pin It