the swank family

this is my family (minus mom, dad and devan)...

grandkids (minus devan)

boys with their dads...
brother and his fam...
sister and her fam (minus devan)

you have GOT to see...

THE most beautiful 5 year old in the world!
go here.....

christmas highlights

Christmas morning...



We spent the afternoon at Uncle Adam's house...

Belgium waffles with ice cream and strawberries! A new tradition...
on my NEW waffle maker...
delicious!
Our Swank Christmas...

This year we started a new tradition with the Swank side of the family. We decided to NOT buy presents for everyone. Instead we just hung out, ate, played games. With the dollars we "saved" we decided to allow the kids to search the World Vision catalog and buy something for another family.

Aunty Erin gave a nice talk about how we can give presents to Jesus (the birthday boy) on his birthday. Jesus would like us to give to the poor and needy.

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18

So aside from all the other "givings" we did throughout the season/year we we able to give as a family on Christmas. The kids had a great time picking out things (and learned that it isn't like *this in other countries)...

Something we are excited to continue throughout the year...

* this being comfortable America

snow fun

merry christmas!!

the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14)...

merry christmas eve

We have been home the last 3 years for Christmas and have enjoyed starting some new traditions: Christmas Eve Service at church, opening a new ornament for the tree, watching White Christmas, and sleeping in the living room.

The one tradition we are glad to not repeat this year is surgery! We have said many prayers of thanks for that blessing!

on our way to church...


reagan's ornament (luke broke his- will show carsyn's tomorrow)

watching white christmas...

snow- sort of

We woke to "snow" this morning. The kids were very excited! They spent about 20 minutes playing outside then came in and enjoyed hot cocoa with marshmallows by a roaring fire.

jk party

Thursday Reagan's class had a Christmas party to end the 2009 JK year. We sang, read "The Legend of the Candy Cane", made candy canes, fished for goodies, and sang some more. It was fun to watch these little ones praise Jesus...





the JK class...

wordless wednesday

happy to be kicked out

Last week Luke and Briggs formed the "loose tooth club". Apparently kindergarten is the place where clubs take root: the friend club, the 3 stamp club, the we love birds club.
This week in this particular club each member was to currently have a loose tooth. Luke was an excited member. Tomorrow he has to tell his BF to kick him out of the club....
tooth #1 is G.O.N.E!

a new beginning

There's something odd about your baby having a birthday- not your first or even second born but your last child. When each age totally passes I feel like we enter a new beginning. I think it's the fact that I won't experience the previous age ever again. Today I am remembering all the little things that have occurred over the last year with my third child. Things like: the way she says words like "hengry" instead of "henry", asks "can I have some frozen milk?" or has to sing Christmas carols every night before bed (even when it's not Christmas). It's even the way she looked yesterday- 4 with a hint of toddler in her features. Also the way she snuggles, smells so sweet, sleeps so angelic, loves to sing (but mostly makes up her own words) etc... I realize some of those things don't change in a day but I do think it passes too quickly.

Today we have entered into "childhood" with both feet. Reagan is now 5. 5!! I do not have a baby or a toddler any longer- not that you would call a 4 year old a toddler! None-the-less... we have 3 children ages 7,6 and 5. And there is no turning back (not that I want to- cause I DON'T). It just seems a little strange- what am I going to do with my life post baby/toddlerhood? Soon Reagan will be headed to kindergarten, then full day school, soon they will all head to middle school, high school, start driving, dating, go to college, get marriage and have kids of their own!!!

WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?!?!

breathe....... breathe.......

Ok, so I have awhile before some of that happens. But not as long as you might think. Time flies when you're having fun. I guess we must be having a LOT of fun around here......

Happy 5th Birthday baby girl.....

birthday weekend

Saturday we had a family party for Reagan's 5th birthday. Uncle Adam, Aunty Erin, Cori, Micah, Uncle Doug and Aunt Mattie all came. We had a great day together!

Reagan chose the menu:
meat with bacon (we ended up having brisket)
salad with bacon
corn on the cob (a new love)
applesauce (the ONLY thing she never say no to)
rolls
a 5 cake
pumpkin pie
ice cream
7-up

R with her "favorite" food...
a cool art kit...
she had a pink/purple theme...
micah helped with the candles...
Sunday was her first friend party. Her theme was: a pink and purple piggy pajama party. We painted toe nails pink and purple, did a fun craft, watched "Toot and Puddle, I'll be home for Christmas" in cozy sleeping bags, and ate piggy cupcakes and ice cream. Reagan had a wonderful time!

Here is our craft table (Reagan gave her friends a piggy to take home)...
balloons from daddy...
sarah, reagan and lucy...
craft time...

we ate pink and purple candy canes too!

piggy cupcakes (I made her cutie pj's too!!) :)

yum!!

the finished project...
Reagan said, "Mom, you are the best party maker!" So glad she had a great birthday!
(Tomorrow she will be 5! Can't believe it.....)