Anderson family Christmas.

Now that many of my siblings are grown and have children of their own, we get together as a family on a day other than Christmas. This year, it happened to be Saturday the 20th. This was our final trip away from the metro area before the baby's arrival. Christmas with the Yorks will be different this year. They live a bit too far to consider traveling this late in the pregnancy. George's sister will be here later this afternoon, and his parents are planning on coming mid January.

We enjoyed the family gathering and were able to spend Friday night through Sunday afternoon at my parents. It is always a blessing when we can all go to church together where my dad pastors and where we all spent many years growing up. Christmas has been so much fun in recent years with more and more children being added to the family.

Hannah was very excited about her Fancy Nancy books from us.
She immediately brought them to us to read to her. It was very special.

Then she wanted Emma to read it to her.

Daniel...smiling as usual. He was very excited about a new movie he received.

Each year...until you have children...my mother gives an ornament for your Christmas tree. She is always so thoughtful, making the ornament relate to the events of the year-This year...we received a house...to recognize the first Christmas in our new home.

We can't remember why Hannah had such a pouty face, I think she was faking. It makes for a cute picture though.

Mom has a tower of stacking/nesting Christmas boxes. I think Abby could have played with them for hours.

All the nieces. Caitlin will be 8 next week. Emma is 5. Hannah is 2 1/2. Abby is 14 months old.

Caitlin. She is growing up so fast.

Daniel and Emma.

All in all a good time was had by all. Lots of family fun and festivities. Such a blessing!

Christmas day was just the two of us at home. Rather than buying each other gifts this year, we purchased a new camera last week that we had been eying for several months. I hope to have better quality blog pictures in the coming posts. We did fill a stocking for each other, and one for Baby York. It was fun to see what each other picked out for her. We then had a nice lunch, followed by an afternoon of puzzles and relaxation. George is home for two weeks, as am I...we are now working on our 3rd puzzle. It has been fun to sit together and work on the puzzles together as we talk to and of course...tease each other a bit too.

My mother says I'm spoiled...

...I think she is right. Yet another thing my husband does to make things easier for me. It is cold outside...and I mean cold! 14 degrees...with 7 degree windchill. George went out to shovel the drive, but started by shoveling me a path so I would be able to take a picture of the front door. What a good man!!

(pardon the half of a house picture...I was trying to avoid getting the open garage door in the picture.)

Christmas Decor

Kimba over at A Soft Place to Land is hosting a Christmas Open House. Since many family and friends, including our parents, will not be able to see our house this Christmas season, I decided to take a few pictures of our holiday decor to share and join party!

Since we have only lived in the house a few months now, and before that had such little space to decorate we, I mean I, had to be careful not to go crazy buying decor. We tried to use what we had, and things I had picked up at the end of the year last year on clearance after the holidays. We did purchase a few more garlands, and the Christmas tree. Other than that...I tried to be creative.

I fell in love with this wreath at Target right before Thanksgiving. Then after Thanksgiving, I saw it for 75% off. I couldn't pass it up. It was all green, and I added some red and gold berries to give it a bit of Christmas cheer.

Had I been feeling really adventurous, I might have went outside to take a picture of our front door, but it's just too cold. We have lighted garland wrapped around our columns and draped over our arched doorway. I love how it turned out. Perhaps I will find a little more to add to it for Christmas next year after the holidays are over.

Downstairs in the living room is where most of the decorating took place. Our tree practically hits the ceiling, but we found a great deal, and couldn't pass it up.
I had a few basic green garlands from year's past, and I wrapped them together and draped them over the mantel. Then added a red berry garland, followed by a few pine cones, and gold berries, and VOILA!! My first homemade garland! I was very excited how it turned out.

Garland is wrapped, twisted, and tied around our railings. I love how it turned out...but I don't think this picture quite shows it.

I had started with basic garland and added gold and red berry picks throughout the garland. Then for another touch of color and softness, small bows tied periodically.

Golden, wire Christmas trees I found last year on clearance for a ridiculously low price, as well as a beautiful, red, glass bowl.
I filled the bowl with ornaments, berries, and pine cones.

So there you have it! We have a few more things here and there around the house...but these are the highlights. Perhaps next year I'll have more to share.

Tag You're It!!

Well...I've been tagged by Other Mother...here we go...

1. Where is your cell phone? Upstairs by my bed.
2. Your significant other? George, my husband of 1 1/2 years.
3. Your hair? Reddish brown.
4. Your mother? Caring and sweet, always puts others before herself. The mother of many.
5. Your father? Kindhearted...loving, dry sense of humor, but we love him anyway.
6. Your favorite thing? The smell of home baked goods.
7. Your dream last night? I'm pregnant...Too many dreams to even consider relaying...not to mention weird.
8. Your favorite drink? A good glass of sweet tea.
9. Your dream/goal? To love and support my husband and family in a God honoring way.
10. The room you're in? My in-laws living room.
11. Your hobby? Hmmm...I dabble in a little bit of everything, cooking, crafting, computer time, etc.
12. Your fear? Adjusting to motherhood.
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? At home, raising our children, and loving my husband.
14. What you are not? Well-rested.
15. Muffins? Sure...anytime...warm with Brummel and Brown Butter.
16. One of your wish list items? an upholstered, stuffed rocker for the baby's room
17. Where you grew up? Pleasant Hill, MO (childhood) and Columbia, MO (teenage years)
18. The last thing you did? made breakfast
19. What are you wearing? pjs...sweats and a t-shirt
20. Favorite gadget? George wants to know if husband counts as a gadget? If not, I'll go with our GPS.
21. Your pets? None.
22. Your computer? It is at home...I don't know.
23. Your mood? Sleepy at the moment, Just having a lazy morning
24. Missing someone? my family...they are having Thanksgiving today...we'll join them for Christmas next month instead.
25. Your car? 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid...and the not so great car 1996 Nissan Altima. Guess which one I brought to the marriage?
26. Something you are not wearing? Socks
27. Favorite store? Target and any home decor type store.
28. Like someone? Sure!
29. Your favorite color? Red
30. When is the last time you laughed? Last night with my husband.
31. Last time you cried? Last week, and maybe a time or two since then...remember, I'm pregnant...I can do that.


I will tag Julie, Dani, and Sandy, if they want to play; and anyone else who'd like to play along. Leave a comment so we can check out your answers.

Another Babies Shower...

We have certainly been blessed beyond belief this week. My coworkers hosted shower for me and another coworker, Avanti, on my team, due two weeks before me. We are both expecting girls, so it was full of pink and purple and all the girly stuff. It was great fun!!

Avanti and I

Our fellow special educators took care of the food. It was all delicious. I ate enough to even skip dinner!

A very yummy, not to mention adorable cake.

I was told we "had" to take this picture. It is one of the only profile shots of me we've taken.

Surrounded by generousity.

Just a few of my coworkers. All such wonderful people!

A new staff member in our building, Amanda. She is incredibly kind-hearted and sweet. She brought her children, which were just as sweet as she is.

More fabulous coworkers.

One of the charming outfits we were given. We actually received several "cupcake" outfits from different people. I guess people already know how sweet she will be.

A personalized gift from one grade level. The white onesie says "New York" and the other says, "100% girl", as well as a monogrammed burp cloth.

I was very excited about this sweater and dress set. It will be perfect for spring church clothes. The picture just doesn't do it justice.

Thank you to all for a great, great party!!!

Priorities of a 4th grader...

Student: "Mrs. York...When is your baby going to be done?"

Me: "Well...(trying to give him a frame of reference) about a month after Christmas"

Student: Sat there quietly, staring at me...pondering...

Me: "The end of January," I clarified.

Student: "Oh...so not Christmas? You wouldn't want to miss Christmas!!"

Babies Shower

Saturday we were blessed abundantly when our church ladies threw a baby shower for us. Another member, Nikki, and her husband, Matt are expecting a boy just 10 days before us...hence the a "babies" shower. The ladies at church made a great party for us, and it was greatly appreciated. The decorations and food was simply delightful.

Before the shower the family came over to our house for lunch and hanging out. The men stayed behind while the ladies headed off to church. Of course when we returned and questioned what they did while we were away we got the classic response of, "oh nothing". The most we could get from them was "watched tv, talked...nothing really". It was great fun having nearly every member of the family in our new home.

The table spread.

Nikki and her mom, Sybille

My family made the trip over from Columbia. Little girls in the front; nieces; Abby (being held by Julie), Caitlin, Emma, and Hannah. Back row, Julie, Lana (Julie's mom), Mom, Micha, and me.

A few of the church ladies; Pearl, Earlene, and Sharon

Nikki and I

Baby Shower...

Babies, babies, and more babies...A friend of mine, Theresa, is expecting her first baby in just 4 short weeks. Today I had the priviledge of attending a baby shower in her honor. It was a lot of fun. Theresa and I live only about 15 minutes from each other, but rarely get together. Life just keeps us both pretty busy. We worked together in college, and took some of the same classes as well. She graduated with her master's degree at the same time that I obtained my undergraduate. She looks great...and we wish her all the best!

The soon to be mama!

Shana, her son, Liam, Theresa, and I. Shana also went to school at Truman, and is also an speech-language pathologist.Of the 12 or so women at the shower...five were expecting...here are the five us ranging in due dates from just after Thanksgiving until May.

Happy Birthday Abby!

Our niece Abby is turning one year old today! Happy birthday sweetheart!

Her party was yesterday, and unfortunately, Uncle George missed it. We had a grand time at the Anderson Old Time County Fair; complete with apple bobbing, caramel apples, quilts, prize winning pies, and even some farm animals (even if they were stuffed). Julie's creativity was great fun for all!!

Date Night...

George has been traveling so much lately, nearly 40 days since the September 7th to be specific. He was been home briefly for just 5 days before he left again this morning. He decided we needed to have a special date night while he was home. Of course...who was I to argue? We headed downtown to the Skies Restaurant. It is located at the top of the Hyatt Hotel, and slowly revolves giving a beautiful city view.

Looking to the north, a wonderful view of downtown, despite the rain that came in a few minutes later.

Pardon the fuzziness of this picture. You can only ask a stranger to take so many pictures. We were trying to get a good picture of us and the view...but it didn't work out so well.