Monday, December 29, 2008

Christmas time is here

Christmastime is one of my (Kristen's) favorite time of year. I love nothing more than to cuddle up by the fire (haha now that we have one!) and watch a good movie or read the Christmas story. We spent Christmas with my family this year and had a blast. Then, we celebrated with the Windles on Sunday. It is wonderful having families that love us and that love God even more. Here are some fun pictures from our wonderfully amazing Christmas break :)







our front door!






our tree








the mantle






obviously, the much needed Steelers ornament









and an Eagles one too, so Aaron didn't feel left out and/or take mine down... haha







our incredibly adorable puppy Marley






Marley being a good sport :)







Windle kids

Anderson cousins

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

It's a wonderful life...

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

Every year it seems like amidst all the gift buying-christmas partying-house decorating-christmas baking-movie watching bustle we forget the true reason for celebrating Christmas. This year Aaron and I really tried to focus on and remember what the birth of Christ means to us as children of God and what a tremendous sacrifice He made on our behalf. Our church, Providence, worked through something called "God in the Straw." It was an amazing study on Christ's birth and its' significance. Here is an excerpt:

"For many, Christmas is just a beautiful dream. It’s a world in which everyday reality goes a bit blurred. It’s nostalgic, cozy, and comforting. But real Christmas isn’t like that at all. It misses the point completely if all you see are decorated trees, carolers, and shiny presents. Christmas is not a reminder that the world really is a nice old place after all. It’s a reminder that the world is a shockingly bad old place where wickedness flourishes unchecked, where children are murdered, were civilized countries make a lot of money by selling weapons to uncivilized ones so they can blow each other apart. Christmas is God lighting a candle: and you don’t light a candle in a room that is already filled with sunlight. You light a candle in a room that’s so murky that the candle, when lit, reveals just how bad things really are. The Light shines in the darkness, as St John says, and the light did not overcome it."


While we love all that Christmas means to us through traditions and family, even more so, we love that it is symbolic of when Christ came to this world to free us. We pray that this year you would recognize along with us the need for Christians to be light in the dark places and to continue on the work of Christ.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

so many things to be thankful for...

AMAZING FAMILIES THAT LOVE US UNCONDITIONALLY...








ADORABLE, FUN NEPHEWS...






BEST FRIENDS TO LAUGH WITH...




THE LOVE OF A LIFETIME...


AND A GOD WHO SAVES... WE ARE SO BLESSED!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

first snow, EVER

Last Thursday, after a long night of parent/teacher conferences, I headed home to Morgantown. It was flurrying on the drive home and by the time I pulled into our house we had about a 1/2 inch of snow on the ground. I couldn't get my clothes changed fast enough because I knew this would be the first time Marley ever saw snow. After a quick change into warm clothes, we were off. Marley didn't know what to think at first. He sort of sniffed around and tried to figure out what all this white stuff was. Snow was coming down in huge flakes by this point and more and more snow was laying on the ground. This was when Marley really started having fun. He was jumping in the air trying to catch snowflakes in his mouth and rolling around in the snow. I threw snow at him and he thought it was just the best game ever. By the next morning, we had over 3 inches of snow on the ground! We were excited Marley liked the snow so much! Lets hope for lots more snowy days!

our first snow in Morgantown
Marley still not sure what to think

ahh, play time!

so cute

Saturday, November 8, 2008

family photo shoot

I decided that this year I wanted to take some pictures of Aaron, Marley, and I and send out a photo Christmas card. Let me tell you... getting a 45 lb. hyper puppy to sit for a photo shoot is near impossible. hahaha here are the results... and thanks to kels for her picture taking skills ;)







what can i say? kels had a treat ...

great minus the finger... haha





the winner!

A long overdue thank you...

Some of my best childhood memories I remember through photos. Crazy outfits worn by kels, pictures of halloween when we were little, and of course pictures of my sisters and I in matching dresses. Every Christmas and Easter until I was about 10 my mom made Erika, Kelsey, and I matching dresses. It was always fun to help mom pick out the fabric and wear our pretty dresses on special holidays. Everyone at church waited to see what my mom would come up with next. Since then, I have turned to my mom to make me clothes, bedding, fix Aarons pants, hem my pants, etc. She is always trying to get me to sew... but I'm not the seamstress she is. When we moved into our house, she told us she wanted to make us a quilt for our bedroom. So, when her and dad came to visit in June we spent a day running around Chester and Berks counties to find the perfect fabric for our quilt. My mom worked tirelessly on the quilt (and curtains, pillows, and bedskirt!) and had it done for me the beginning of August! It is beautiful and we LOVE it! Mom, thanks for the many gifts, but especially this one. We love you :)


pictures of mom's handiwork:





Monday, October 20, 2008

busy, busy fall

So I realize that it has been a solid 2 months since I've blogged about anything, but this has been one crazy fall! Since Labor Day weekend, Aaron and I haven't slowed down. The start of school, 3 trips to Pittsburgh, rugby, bible study, and training Marley has pretty much filled our plates. I never got to blog about our spectacular Labor Day weekend with my childhood (and still) best friends and their boyfriends. Alysa, John, Amy, and Craig ventured from Chicago and Pittsburgh to check out our new house and see Philadelphia. We had a blast!!!
all of us on the art museum steps





me, Alysa, and Amy

We have also made numerous trips to Pittsburgh to see Kelsey play in her last collegiate soccer games. She's been playing really well and the team is playing well too!
It's also been really nice to see my (Kristen's) parents and finally make it to a Geneva homecoming. I got to play in the GWS alumni game and it reminded me how far from soccer shape I am! haha
me, Kels, and Mom at the Alumni game

The other thing we've really been focusing on this fall is training our pup Marley. He is a great dog but has a TON of energy. We've been working with Shannon who runs Polite Paws and he has come a long way. If you need a dog trainer and live in our area... call her! We've still got a long way to go but he is doing a lot better and enjoying our daily bike rides :)
Marley and me
One of these days, hopefully soon, life will slow down...

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

happy 25th birthday aaron!

hahaha how can you not love this man? :)

Friday, August 22, 2008

atlantic city

so, this week on thursday and friday, aaron and i were in atlantic city. Aaron had to do some work at the Borgata and, because of all the overtime he put in on a project earlier this summer, his company paid for us to stay over. So we got a sweet room overlooking the bay, a free hotel, and an awesome dinner at Wolfgang Puck.

the crazy hotel entryway

again

and again



aaron and the view from our room



our sweet shower



aaron and i (and my new haircut!)




sara and dougie

Last week our friends Sara Stevens and Doug Magee got married. Here are some pictures from the Sara's line dancing bachelorette party and from the wedding. Congrats friends!!!

sara's gettin hitched

my loves


my bef!



sara riding the bull




crazy!



sara and her dad... walking down the aisle

the happy couple



my love and i