Feeling festive

Tomorrow is December 1st! Wow! This has been a fun

week of decorating and trying to get organized. (an ongoing struggle in my world,

the organizational part that is)

These little beauties were pinterest inspired.

Oh and I repositioned some of my little branches... safety first.

John 14:27

I love this verse. Such a good reminder to give troubles and fears to God and

to soak up the peace He so freely gives.

We are having fun decorating for Christmas.

Willem is a huge help in this department. I love

decorating with him!

My kids have had doctor appts again this week. Merit's excema is really flaring up.

I sometimes get carried away... I was going a little crazy with all the antibacterial soaps after Hazel had a skin infection, only to find I am drying everybody out. I got good info from a dermatologist this week and from our family doctor. Advice and recommendations very different from eachother, so now it is time for me to sort of determine what is best. Just hoping and praying everyone stays strong and is feeling great soon.

Vance has enjoyed working in his shop A LOT. In fact, I never see him anymore. No, I'm kidding. What is great is that we have a really fun loft in the shop with a table and chairs, a dart board, room for me to work on a craft project. So it seems our whole family is enjoying time in the new shop. The kids have even talked about bringing airbeds up there and having a camp out.

Today Hazel and I will volunteer at the boys' school. These days are busy, but great too.

More soon! I am excited to get to friends' blogs this weekend. I have determined I like blogging so much better than facebook. My husband is not a fan at all of facebook... so, it might just be better to stay connected through the world of blogging.

And I can't forget how sweet a hand written letter is! A lost art. Might be nice to write a few friends and family members too. :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

A little Tuesday catch up

Miss Hazel - I think we have another lefty in the family.

Hazel and Merit are our left handed kiddos.

Art Garden Pottery is a very fun place in Moses Lake.

Vance took a weekend trip to Alaska before Thanksgiving and the kids

and I decided to spend an afternoon at Art Garden!

Our Thanksgiving was nice and very relaxing.

I am so thankful for my family!

Here are the boys doing a little motorcycle riding on Thanksgiving day.

Matt and Phil came the day after Thanksgiving. They

helped Vance with some projects in the shop. We visited and laughed... always a good time!

The boys LOVED hanging out with their uncles.

Disney Trip and more!

DISNEY TRIP!!

 Disneyland is so magical! I loved this trip!

 Minnie's House... so cute!!

 Natasha, Estelle, Michele and Hazel

Character Breakfast!

CARS Land was so fun!

It is a new addition to California Adventures.

Reese, Merit, Willem, Lane and Vance

Natasha and Estelle

Pool Fun!!

____________________________________________

Going from 80 and 90 degrees to 40 degrees has been a bit tough!

We have had some gray days. 

I am so glad for these three who add sunshine to my days!!  

CA trip, Jansen kids, Fun News

Our California trip was incredible! I LOVED it! Early entry into Disneyland and CA Adventures was a bonus! We stayed at a resort hotel, so that is how we got that perk. One morning we did a "character breakfast" -- this was a highlight too.

Spending time with Natasha, Reese, Lane and Estelle was wonderful!
Watching Merit, Lane and Willem hang out and laugh together was really fun!
You know what else I really enjoyed?? The break from making school lunches, laundry, sweeping the kitchen floor, dishes, helping with homework... the break was just refreshing and fun!

Pictures to come...
My camera, my nice Canon, has been giving me trouble! So all my CA pics are via iphone.

We've had a little snow here!

Willem is so incredibly good with Hazel.

I LOVE watching him with her.

I attempted some "Christmas pictures" the other day with these guys... but I couldn't get Hazel to look at the camera! We'll try again... :)

The boys were very cooperative!

and we have some really fun, really exciting news to share!!

We have a May Baby on the Way!!!

We feel very blessed!

I have an ultrasound today. :)

Sisters Weekend

Sisters Weekend

I can't begin to write about how much I enjoyed this. Also, it went by way too fast!

I had twenty four hours with these wonderful girls. They had a little more time together.

Bellevue was a great place to meet up. It rained and rained so shopping and walking Bellevue Square was really perfect. We got some good bargains. We always hit a TJ Max or Marshalls and usually end up spending at least two hours there.

We had a really good time. We need more time together. :)

We enjoyed eating out.

Talking about silly things, talking about serious things, shopping for ourselves and our kids... it feels so good.

Eating out with great conversation is such a highlight.

Natasha in The Yankee Candle Store.

Oh, I love this store!

I bought a few yankee tarts here...

whoopie pie was a scent I had never "sampled" -- it smelled soo good, like a chocolate pie

We get to see Natasha again in a week! I feel very blessed!!

And I hope to see Lesha in November, but if not November, I'll see her at Christmas.

Both of these girls remind me of our mom, but in very different ways. I love to see glimpses of our mom in them! Their friendships are something I value and appreciate very much.

I need to run! Book Fair BINGO tonight at the boys' school!! Should be fun! Willem is especially excited!

L.I.F.E

Live

Invest in those you love

Forgive, forget, forge forward

Embrace

I've had some really full days lately. Full in a good way and full in a tough way.

Homework, sports, doctor and dentist appts, disciplining, trying to keep up the house, wanting to

be involved in the boys' school... it feels very full. Prayer, God's grace and good friends and family are what gets me through.

Some days when I crawl into bed at night, there is so much left to do.

I have also been photographing a lot of families which has been really fun, but editing pics and delivering disks takes time too and some weeks it is hard to fit it all in.

Today it is cold and rainy. We don't get many days of all day rain here on the east side of the mountains. I seem to welcome them and am also thankful we don't have too many of them.

It is a good day to clean up around here, edit pictures, sip some hot tea, enjoy Hazel Jane and update my blog!

My dear friend Maria had her baby boy on Saturday!

A big boy: 10 lbs 11 ounces

Nathaniel Jay!! Jay and Maria now have two girls and a boy.

I am so happy for them. I have loved getting to know their family better and better.

Hazel has had a couple of illnesses over the past two months and the dr talked about trying to limit her sugar intake. I have been offering her lots of cheese, crackers, fruits, berries, vegetables, frozen yogurt... and less candy and fruit snacks! :) But, today I caved and bought her a package of NERDS candy. The funny thing was, she just wasn't that into them. Then, I picked up some ham at Safeway's deli and that is what she wanted to eat while she sat in the cart! Sliced ham! It was a good moment for me.

I get to meet my sisters tomorrow in Bellevue. I am SO excited.

These women are so fun to be around. I can't wait for some good conversation, laughter, eating out and shopping.

These boys have a really neat relationship. They laugh A LOT.

They also fight. They love to "bug" eachother. They stand up for one

another, are concerned for eachother and are just good guys.

The shop progress has been FUN! Our hang out - the loft - is a hit!

Looking down out of the shop window from the loft

Happy Birthday Hazel!

Sweet

Spunky

Cute

Silly

Loveable

Oh Hazel you have brought us so much JOY!

We thank God for you!!! Happy 3rd Birthday!!!

silly big bro with new baby sis!

Our three year old! She is having a great day celebrating!! Grandpa Jim was here for part of the weekend and Hazel loved having him here! Today she has been riding bike, running around outside, opening presents and enjoying her DORA cake!