sickness

This past week has been a crazy one with kids being sick and adults experiencing a lack of sleep. Tuesday would have been Lauren's first day back at work, but instead was spent taking Aubrey to the doctor. She ended up having strep throat. This was the sickest she has ever been. Aubrey didn't even go to school at all this past week. Brett took off Wednesday to stay with the kids. Today, Lauren took Hunter to the doctor, and he has a double ear infection.

All this sickness has made us really reflect on spiritual sickness and the effect sin has on our lives. Each night before Aubrey goes to bed, we pray together. Tonight she prayed, "God, thank you for loving us and sending Jesus. Help us remember Jesus died for our sins, and help us be saved." Tonight we read Isaiah 53. Verse 5 says, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that has brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." We are healed from the sickness of sin through Jesus Christ's death on the cross.

We are praying that our children will realize the effect sin has on their lives, and their need for a Savior.

Goodbye, 2011! Hello, 2012!

2011 was a great but very busy year for our family. Here is a quick review of the year:

January

As winter break drew to a close, we did a lot of snuggling and built forts with blankets. We all got back into our routine and welcomed 2011.

February

We enjoyed visiting family a lot during the month of February. Hunter started inch worm crawling at 8 months. Aubrey celebrated Valentine's Day with her friends at school, and also enjoyed a visit from the Cat in the Hat at her school. Hunter's first word was truck (pronounced more like "cuk"), a result of sitting on the front porch with G-Dat watching all the cars and trucks drive by.

March

The weather warmed up, and we played outside a lot! Aubrey showed Hunter how to slide down her slide. He would do it some with Mommy's help, but was more content to sit on a blanket and play with his cars and trucks while Aubrey played. Over spring break, we went to Montgomery and visited the art museum with MaMa and Granddaddy. It was a huge hit with both kids! Aubrey's favorite part was trying on all the different masks.

April

Hunter's first tooth came in! We also celebrated Easter at our church and went to a staff kids' Easter egg hunt at Mommy's school. Gigi came along to help with Hunter.

May

Hunter started crawling right before he turned 10 months old. Aubrey's school year came to an end, and her class celebrated with a party complete with snow cones! Daddy was able to attend her end of the year party to make it extra special. We said goodbye to Uncle Alan as he left for his deployment in June.

June

Hunter turned one, and we celebrated with a family party. Brett and Lauren also celebrated their five year anniversary. Right after this, we traveled to the beach with Mampy and G-Dat. Aubrey loved playing in the water and swimming underwater all over the place! Hunter enjoyed being held in the pool and did not appreciate the waves crashing on the beach. Aubrey flew a kite for the first time, and Hunter played under the umbrella with his toys.

July

We celebrated the Fourth of July with Brett's family. Aubrey said the pledge of allegiance for everyone. In mid-July Aubrey went to art camp with some of her friends from preschool. Hunter enjoyed strolling with Lauren and the other moms while the older kids made their art projects. Then, we went to the beach with Gigi and Pop. The kids again had a good time, although Hunter will probably enjoy the beach more in 2012. While at the beach, we celebrated Lauren's birthday.

August

August brought the start of Lauren's seventh year of teaching. The kids went back to Mampy and G-Dat's house each day and enjoyed their time with their grandparents. Our family also visited the art museum again, this time with some of our friends.

September

Aubrey went back to preschool, this year three days a week. We are blessed that she has the same teachers and many of the same friends in her class again. Aubrey turned four, and we celebrated with a Super Why party at the kids' gym at Daddy's work. The kids had a ball playing together. Hunter started walking while holding on to someone's hand or an object. We also started tailgating with friends this season, and Aubrey went to her first ever Tiger Walk! Our church merged with another, and we got to meet a lot of new friends. The best part is now we have a small group that meets on our side of town!

October

We visited the pumpkin patch with Mampy. Aubrey dressed up as Princess Aurora from "Sleeping Beauty" for her class's trunk or treat. Then, the kids dressed up as doctors for downtown trick or treat.

November

Gigi was able to attend Aubrey's Thanksgiving Feast and take Hunter with her. Aubrey's class dressed up as pilgrims this year. Then, we all traveled to MaMa's house for Thanksgiving. One of our good friends, Brandon, came to visit and then went to the Iron Bowl with Brett. He also help us put up our Christmas decorations while he was visiting. Hunter also started walking!

December

Brett celebrated his birthday, and we were blessed to be with his family on that day. We celebrated Christmas numerous times with family this month. The kids had a great time seeing their grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Aubrey was able to participate in "Journey to Bethlehem" at her preschool. It was a musical program the children shared and then rotations the children could participate in with their families. Hunter enjoyed seeing Aubrey dressed as a donkey and singing "Away in a Manger" with her class. Aubrey loved making ornaments, decorating cookies, and hearing the Christmas story during the rotations. Lauren and the kids also went with friends to Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens for the first time. This will definitely be added to our Christmas traditions each year. Everyone loved it! On Christmas Eve, we attended the service at our church and came home to play with the Little People nativity set and Veggie Tales nativity set as we recreated the Christmas story. Then, we read it from the Bible. We are excited to instill the true meaning of Christmas to our children.

Now, we're ready for 2012! To celebrate New Year's Day, we had a relaxing morning and then went to the pool at Daddy's work this afternoon! Swimming was a fun way to start the new year! We can't wait to see what God has in store for us in 2012!