Hitting the slopes, er, slope.

While I was still on break from work, we took Courtney up to try out her new skis. Courtney was excited to wear them in the house. She loved her boots too.

When we got up to the mountain we got her all bundled up and pulled her up to the snow in our sled. Let's just say some bribary was needed to get her out of the sled and onto her skis. Chocolate anyone? You gotta do what you gotta do.

We didn't expect her to be working the mountain like a pro at all. We just wanted to get her used to being on the skis, in the snow. I think we accomplished that. She LOVES the snow just like her daddy and that melts my heart.

Courtney Weekly 2013 - Week 1

Watch Courtney grow in 2013.

[Christmas 2012 Recap]

Happy 2013 everyone. Hope you had a fun and safe New Year celebration. We stayed in. Kind of what happens when you have no family near by.

I'm here to do a quick recap about our holiday celebration.

On Christmas Eve we dressed up and headed to the children's mass. We visited a new Catholic Church in town. It was a small church and by the time we got there it was standing room only. It was jam packed. WE stood along the wall for as long as we could before Courtney had had enough. We made it to right before communion. Here is Courtney in her Christmas dress.

That night Mike also read Courtney "The Night before Christmas."

Before Courtney went to bed, we put out cookies, milk, and a carrot.

And then Christmas morning:

Sandy Hook

I saw the messages on Facebook about a shooting at an Elementary school, and truthfully, I closed Facebook and didn't want to read anymore. I don't handle trajedy well. For as long as I can remember when something bad was happening, I would burry my head in the sand. If I didn't pay attention, or blocked it out wouldn't it go away? Wouldn't it just be all a bad dream?

So this is very hard for me. It makes what happened at Sandy Hook real. I know its real and I need to say a prayer for those who lost their lives way to soon.

Charlotte Bacon, 6
Daniel Barden, 7
Rachel Davino, 29, teacher aide
Olivia Engel, 6
Josephine Gay, 7
Dylan Hockley, 6
Dawn Hochsprung, 47, principal (killed while lunging at the gunman as she tried to overtake him)
Madeleine Hsu, 6
Catherine Violet Hubbard, 6
Chase Kowalski, 7
Nancy Lanza, 52, gunman's mother
Jesse Lewis, 6
Ana Marquez-Greene, 6
James Mattioli, 6
Grace Audrey McDonnell, 7
Anne Marie Murphy, 52, teacher
Emilie Parker, 6
Jack Armistead Pinto, 6
Noah Pozner, 6
Caroline Phoebe Previdi, 6
Jessica Rekos, 6
Avielle Richman, 6
Lauren Gabrielle Rousseau, 30, teacher
Mary Sherlach, 56, school psychologist
Victoria Soto, 27, teacher
Benjamin Wheeler, 6
Allison Wyatt, 6

Father I pause this moment in the name of Jesus asking you to touch each and every parent that has to endure the pain of losing a child.

Father I pray that you give them strength, comfort and peace.

Father I pray that you give then a testimony of how in the midst of this hurt, pain and bitterness that you comforted them and gave them peace that can only come from you.

Amen.

2012 Christmas card revealed. And, Santa!

 Writing her letter to Santa.

Taking Photos with a Toddler

When Courtney was just born and even up until she was one, having photos taken was easy breezy. She didn't really move. If she was fed, she was happy. Then last fall when we met back up with our maternity/newborn photographer, we thought there was no way she was going to get a good family photo. We couldn't get her to smile. She just didn't want to participate. And our photographer captured this gem.

This photo is framed on our bedroom wall because...no explanantion needed. It's amazing!

We also got a great family photo that was used on our Christmas card last year. This fall, we weren't 100% sure we wanted to deal with the wrangling of a toddler for family photos. But after debating for a few weeks, I was sad when I thought about not having one. So we went ahead and booked it.

Taking an almost 2 1/2 year old to an open area with fall leaves and a nearby playground added to the stress. And Jessica, our photographer, was at the time 8 MONTHS PREGNANT. God bless her! She's due any minute with baby #3 and they don't know what they are having. (I'm so excited for her)

After jumping around to get Courtney to look at the camera, putting leaves on her head and doing anything and everything. We undoubtedly got some perfect shots.

If you're in the Washington area, check out Jessica at www.onetreephotography.com. She is truly amazing!

You are my sunshine!

Original Video - More videos at TinyPic