Pictures From Christmas, Part 3: The Box

Adam's mom received a shop vac for Christmas. Julia thought the box for the shop vac was just the right size...



erin

Pictures From Christmas, Part 2: Bannach Christmas

On the 25th, we drove to Marshfield from Spencer (short drive) and attended the annual Bannach Family Christmas at (Adam's) Aunt Theresa's house.

Julia wants to sit on mommy's lap... no, daddy's lap... no, mommy's lap:


"Come on, mom, please take me back!"


"This old piano is cool... but it doesn't make any noise!"


"Mom, this is cool! Thanks for letting me tool around on the ground!"


Buscha taking Julia for a walk:


"Auntie Claire is SO MUCH FUN!"


Julia with Auntie Claire and Uncle Dan:


erin

Pictures From Christmas, Part 1: Adam's Family

On the 24th, we drove to Adam's parent's home in Spencer, WI. We hung out with them that night and opened gifts, etc., as Adam's brother Brian (and his wife, Shannon) were home for the night.

Here are a few pictures...

Julia opening her first gift (an angel ornament from Grandpa & Buscha Draeger):


Playing with the phone that Adam's brother Alex gave her (funny enough, this was a phone we had found in our house when we moved in and we gave it to Alex as a gag gift a few years back... now we have it back!):


The brothers (Brian, Alex, & Adam):


The kids (Brian, Alex, Claire, and Adam):


The family (front: Brian, Ron (dad), Marcia (mom), Adam; back: Alex, Claire):


Kids & Spouses (front: Shannon, Brian, Erin, Adam; back: Alex, Dan, Claire):


erin

Happy New Year!

Hello and Happy New Year!

Julia and I have started off the new year with colds; fun, fun! She is starting to get better finally; the worst of it has finally hit me. Thankfully Julia has been taking some long naps today and mommy has been able to knit and watch movies.

Though, Adam and I have started the House Purge of 2009 and managed to clear out a number of games, DVD's, and CD's today. Next stop...? Well, every OTHER room in our house; ha! Adam has already tackled part of the basement and I will hit the Christmas stuff as soon as I take it down.

Julia FINALLY took TWO steps on her own tonight, from a bench to Adam... woohoo! Of course, we don't expect that this means she'll actually walk a bunch on her own anytime soon, but it was still fun (for Adam) to see. I was busy downloading picture when he yelled out, "How cool! She walked!" or something like that.

I hope you all have a happy New Year! I'm wokring on some REALISTIC goals (as opposed to resolutions) for the year... will post those soon, I'm sure. :)

Hugs!

Erin

Happy Christmas!

Hello and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I hope that you all have a blessed, blessed day!

And... amidst all of the hustle... the gifts and the paper, the tree and the treats...

... please keep in mind that the reason CHRISTmas exists is that our Savior, Jesus Christ, was born this day to Mary, the virgin mother... and he was sent to be the Savior of the world! What a blessed, blessed day!

This last weekend, as I read Scripture in church and opened the service during our worship time, I felt led to think on Mary... and what she must have been experiencing! I cannot think of a better way to explain it to you other than to quote the words of "Mary, Did You Know?" I never used to like that song very much... I don't know why... but then I listened to it sung by "Go Fish" and then heard it again in church Sunday morning... and I was seriously moved. Maybe it is motherhood...?

But... the words of the song are amazing:

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?

Did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Did you know
That your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little boy
You've kissed the face of God

Mary, did you know?

The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Did you know
That your baby boy will one day rules the nations?

Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven's perfect lamb?
This sleeping child youre holding
Is the great I am

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL and merry day!

Love,
Erin

Who doesn't love Secret Sister gifts?

This is what I received for my Secret Sister gift... beautiful stationary, a handmade felt little purse, and postcards... I LOVE IT!  :)

Rachael was my Secret Sister... how fun!

It's been quite a blessing to belong to my online friends board (all of our babies share late October/November birthdays). 

Merry Christmas, my friends!

erin

Sunday Ritual

(Almost) every Sunday when we come home from church, Julia takes a nap and Adam and I hunker down with lunch and watch some afternoon football.

This last Sunday, Julia wasn't wanting a nap, but in keeping with tradition, I still made lunch for us to eat while watching football.

What to do with Julia?  Ha, well, I brought her booster downstairs, set it on the couch, strapped her in... and we ate lunch and watched some football.  :)  She seemed very interested in the game... maybe more so than her lunch. 

 

erin

Feeding Frenzy

If you know Adam and me at all, you will know that our darling child Julia doesn't really get too messy during dinner. Maybe it's the Type A in us; whatever. But, while she gets "finger food", she rarely eats anything that isn't on a fork or spoon, and due to that, she has come to dislike picking up anything slimy or wet WITH her hands. Yikes! (Whoops! We messed up a bit there, eh?)

Last night, however, Julia threw a FIT and refused to let Adam feed her applesauce... so we caved. He tried to help her direct the spoon... and finally she just took over and figured out for herself how best to stuff her face.

And, it really wasn't even that messy. She didn't get any on the floor or on her shirt. So, I guess she has learned from us after all. ;)

erin

Hanging Out

Julia and I "hang out" quite a bit at home together... it is a good time!  I do so love being a mom!

 

Julia especially loves to "hang out" in one of her two rocking chairs.  She loves to rock... stand in her rocking chair... etc.  And she's very good getting in and out of it!

 

erin

GiGgLeS

Julia is SOOOO cute when she gets the giggles...!