The Wards

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Saturday, January 18, 2014

I'm still way behind in posting pictures from December (the stomach flu will do that to you), but finally, here are some shots from our chance to shower our sweet niece or nephew. We had a lovely time celebrating the mama-to-be and baby--in the very same room that Kara and Josh had their rehearsal dinner! Thanks, Sue, Becky, and Deb!

The baby will be well covered after bath time since he or she received a great assortment of adorable hooded towels. The girls and I made a fleece-tie blanket for the baby (Mali's idea--there was a LOT of planning involved). Actually, Grandma Sandy and Jonathan contributed to that labor of love too. And I'm also pretty excited to see that baby decked out in a onesie from "Aunt" Tonya that says "My Auntie Rocks". Only about 6 more weeks!

Thursday, January 16, 2014

We surived

It was a brutal 48 hours but we survived the Stomach Flu of 2014. SO glad it's over!

Thursday, January 09, 2014

December Birthdays

Before we get too far into 2014, here are a few of the pics from the fun celebrations for the December birthday girls (aka Delaney and me). The girls and Jonathan surprised me with my cards and gifts the night before our trip and then we had a lovely breakfast the morning of at Einstein's Bagels. Mixed-berry smoothies and chocolate covered espresso beans were involved.

The two-year-old in the family had an extended family celebration at Joe's Cafe near our hometown. She requested pancakes and a cake with blue flowers, both of which were granted. She was delighted to find that an employee there dresses as Santa on Sunday's and she loved hearing his "Ho-Ho-Ho". (Not that she really knows who Santa is--she usually refers to him as the "White Guy" due to his beard, and thinks he's singing our welcome song from school with all of that waving). But a good time was had by all, and Laney is now very happily playing with her new stuffed owl, garden Duplos, unicorn, Ruby Doll, choo-choo, and Little House books.

*And what did we see on the way to the restaurant? An actual snowy owl! The big girl dubbed it "God's present to Delaney". How fitting that she received a stuffed one as a gift!

She's ready for a backpacking adventure!

Wednesday, January 01, 2014

Welcome 2014!

I still have roughly a thousand of our birthay-birthday-shower-Christmas-Michigan vacation pictures to post but I wanted to sneak in a quick New Year's Eve post first. Our 2013 was full of blessings and changes, much like every year. A few "hellos" (mainly to a new house) and quite a few good-byes. We traveled and visited but stayed home a good bit too. Jonathan and I both ran a lot and Brinnly occasionally joined us. We grew in many ways as a family, even though it's still the same six of us that were here on January 1, 2013.

So to cap off the year, we voted for a night in and a full day at home today. Mali dubbed last night as "Family Jammies Night" so we prepped a good spread of food and headed to the basement to watch the original film of "Cheaper by the Dozen". Steve Martin has nothing on this one. The girls' were also invited as long as they followed the dress code. (They have Grandma Sandy to thank for their new wardrobe).
After the girls went to bed at their normal time, Jonathan and I stayed up with our new best friends, the Bravermans. Seriously, how did we just discover the show Parenthood? Good thing the library has Season 1 on DVD!

I"m not sure what Jonathan was exactly picturing when he asked me to parry him 13 years ago last night, but I'm hoping this isn't too far off. It was was a lovely night and we have so much to be thankful for. Here's to a fantastic 2014!

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Two!

Oh good heavens, how is our baby girl two? Delaney Fay, you have delighted us in so many ways over the past twenty-four months. You talk non-stop, probably more than any child I know. (Including both Brinnly and Jack Ryan!) You prefer to run, not walk, or climb anywhere possible. Everyone who sees you remarks how you "keep right up with your sisters'. But you are certainly a child of your own personality. You love peanut butter and jelly, the color blue, Eeyore, your blanket from Aunt Karianne (blue, of course), and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. Like clockwork, you turn wild at 7:45 pm each night, much like you did in the womb. But when you sweetly declare "hugs!" and lunge for each of your sisters after bedtime prayers, we can't help but be charmed by you. You have the sweetest possible manners but know how to play hard-to-get, especially with one sister in particular. Sigh. We've also learned how to delicately tell you "no" so we don't all get drenched in your waterworks.

Laney-cakes, we love you from head to toe. I can't imagine a better "assistant" teacher (or, wait, am I your assistant?) or a sweeter sour apple little girl to cuddle. We are so very thankful God saw fit to add you to our family!