Krajeckis...

The Krajecki family has been with us for the week, and it has been wonderful.  We enjoy our family time so much.  We ventured out to the Fritz' train restaurant, Monkey Bizness (jumpy place), and then had a double date to the Transiberian Orchestra yesterday.  My dad and two babysitters held down the fort well with the 5 kids from 1-7 p.m. yesterday!  Papa Bill was very sleepy last night!  In fact, it's still a pretty quiet house this morning.  The Krajeckis plan an early departure for their drive back to Austin, TX.  Josie, Tommy, and Tyler and precious, and we really enjoyed playing with them.  Jennifer and Jim are great too of course!  It's almost the new year, and it was great to have some Cook Family time before 2011 hits!

Photos of Christmas Week...

Cindy and David's Tool Toy...Bryan loves it!

Wii Play Time for Addison and Dad!

Hammer time!

Granny and Papa gave Addison a Lego Head Lamp!

Play time ON Granny!

New Cars Robe from Granny...Warm Pancakes to eat!

Josie and Addison reading by the fire.

The Kids Played in the Foam Popcorn...it snowed!

Dec 27, 2010

Bryan is heading in for surgery this a.m.  He will have tubes placed in his ears.  It's a pretty minor surgery, but we ask for your prayers today.  Hopefully he'll hear better after this, and perhaps some of his drainage will improve allowing him to smell and thus eat better too! 

The Krajecki family is en route to our house also.  They are driving up from TX.  We're excited to see them also!  An eventful day lies ahead...we'll post later how it all goes!

Merry Christmas!

It's snowing lightly at our house, and we'll be heading to the airport soon to pick up mom/Granny!  We wish you a Merry Christmas!  Here are some photos of the week:

On Dasher...On Prancer...

Addison and Bryan like bouncing and walking on the couch cushions off the couch...

Yeah for Brothers!

Fudge Face...Bryan LOVES chocolate!

Bryan took a small pillow and curled up by the fire one night...it was precious!

More fudge for breakfast...thanks to our neighbor and mom spoiling her little one!

Sleepy awakening, but yummy!

Not sure what Addison has in his mouth?!

Water Fun Time!

Christmas train is a movin'!

Bryan pointing to the power supply for the train...turn it on mom!

Presents are re-wrapped and next to the tree...Addison promises not to open until tomorrow!

Jesus is Our Gift...

"Ye shall find the babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger" (Luke 2:12 KJV).


We are lucky to have the gift...things I'm thankful for today...


836. Addison noticing that an upside down candy cane filled with M and Ms at Wal-Mart yesterday looked like a "J"...he said, "Mom, look!  It's J for Jesus!"  It made me and the lady next to us shopping smile.  He also concluded with, "they told me that at school!"  I'm glad our sons go to Christian schools for their formative years.


837. Bryan was in dad's loving arms early this morning...at 4:45 he awoke crying...Daniel was able to settle him back, and I was allowed to stay snug in bed.  What a treat!


838. Papa is here for a visit, and Granny arrives tomorrow!


839. Christmas music is playing on the iPod in the kitchen...love that!


840.  Christmas cartoons for our kids and us to enjoy.


841. A fire is crackling in our family room.


842. Everyone is sleeping in except Addison and I!


843.  Final day of work today...Christmas is coming!

Thankful Mom and Dad!

We give thanks today for a clear bill of health on Bryan's heart yesterday.  We went to the cardiologist at Children's Mercy in Kansas City after our pediatrician detected a heart murmur.  Bryan's EKG and heart sounded normal to the docs there, and apparently 50% of children have heart murmurs!  Who knew?!  We are so thankful for our boys' health.  God has richly blessed our family, and we are excited about our first Christmas in Kansas this week!  Papa is here, and Granny comes in two days!  Until then I wanted to share a neat link I received by email from iMom:
http://imom.com/idea/tools-and-resources

Merry Christmas!

Hi Ho Hi Ho It's Off to the Airport We GO!

Off to the KC airport today to pick up my dad (a.k.a. Papa)!  We look forward to his visit and my mom comes later this week...yeah for Papa and Granny time!  Merry Christmas!  Chance of snow on Christmas Eve in Olathe, KS!  Maybe we'll have a touch of white this Christmas?!  Love to you all!

That your love may overflow...

Phil. 1: 9-11

And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow....through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

This morning we awake for a Sunday of family time.  We will head to church in a few minutes...in the mean time Bryan chews on a teether.  Addison puts coin after coin into his gumball machine.  Daniel showers.  I type.  We are all doing activities that we love!

May today fill you and your family with the love of Christ.  May you praise God in some way.  May you love and overflow with joy!

"It snowed so it's Christmas right?!" --Addison

Addison, oh Addison, you are my "Sneaky Beaky."  This child will turn my hair gray by his teenage years.  I love him, but he does try my patience.  Yesterday, he laid on the floor at the gym while it was time to leave the building...he wanted a snack from the gym cafe.  I said, "no, let's go."  It was cold outside, and he was refusing to leave.  Finally car loaded, he kicked, screamed, and cried.  He wanted a snack, he was tired, he wanted me to drive faster, etc.  We made it home.  He came inside 10 minutes later.  He had a snack and watched his favorite short film, "Disney's Prep and Landing."  I cooked dinner...

Addison took the presents, that I had wrapped carefully and placed under the tree while he was at school yesterday, up to his room.  I was cooking dinner, and I did not see what was going on because our tree is in our front room out of line of sight from the kitchen.  He sneakily took each present up to his room and opened them all!  He came down all smiles and said, mom I have a surprise for you in my room.  When I went up there I had a feeling what I may find.  Ahhhh!  He opened everyone's presents!  We had a little chat about this being "naughty not nice."  He explained, but mom..."It snowed so it's Christmas right?!"  His angelic smiles outweigh his devilish behaviors.  Punishment was going to bed early, a talk with mom and dad, prayers of repentance, and he will be buying wrapping paper with the money he unwrapped from Grandpa Dan!  Merry Christmas.  I hope it snows where you are, or perhaps you can open a present early!  Why not?!

Our first Snow of the Season...

We threw snow, went sledding, and enjoyed a warm fire yesterday!  It is beautiful, and it will stay for awhile because "brrr..." it's cold outside!

Nativity...Our Neighbors

We had our second annual Neighborhood Nativity yesterday.  It was wonderful!  The kids were darling, and the parents were all smiles!  It was fun to watch, fellowship with our neighbors, and enjoy the Spirit of CHRISTmas!

Love...

 ¹³ This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵ If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. ¹⁶ And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
1 John 4:13-16

May we love God, recognize his Son in our World, and love one another this day and always.  AMEN

Photos of the week...

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Simplicity...

Jesus could have come to us in many ways. The simplicity of His birth is extraordinary and sometimes hard to grasp. Jesus could have been born in a mansion. He was, after all, a King. Instead, He came to a dirty smelly manger and His birth was announced by common shepherds instead of Kings - the greatest of all miracles in the midst of total simplicity. Today, Jesus still wants to meet us in the midst of our simple daily lives. It seems too easy and too good to be true, doesn't it?  --Mary Southerland

Mary inspires me today to think of the simple ways I see Jesus around me...

In my children's smiles
In my husband's kindness
In my mother's gentleness in holding her grandchildren for snuggles
In my father's strong arms holding his grandson's close to his heart
In my sister's face as she smiles at her son

In my brother in law's surprise as he sleepily tries to figure out where to lay his head after an all night drive from AL to FL

In Bryan's determination to find the perfect bite of breakfast in his mix of a cereal bowl
In Addison's sweet voice asking for a hug this morning when he first greeted me
In the quiet of the morning
In the smiles of photos on the walls


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Dear Heavenly Father-
I'm thankful for all these glimmers of grace that surround me today.  I pray that we have safe travels back to Kansas City via airports in Orlando and Atlanta today.  I'm thankful that my husband took time off work to travel and be with our family.  May his end of the week return to work go peacefully, and our transition back into our home in Olathe go well.  Help me as we bury our kitten Twinkletoes (she died while we were here in FL unexplicably), and she's awaiting our farewell.  We are thankful for our trip to Florida, and we are glad to be coming home as well.  May we see your face every day.   Amen

Our Bodies...

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV) "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body."

A friend sent me an email today for accoutability in working out and staying healthy this month.  I'm on board!  I need to be more responsible in taking care of my body in the nutrition aspect!  I'm a big snacker, and that has got to stop so that the pounds stop creeping up.  I am thankful for the ability to work out, eat healthy, and get rest.  Thankfully our children are older now and sleeping through the night...that is a huge praise!  So today's top ten relate to our bodies and things I give thanks for in relation...

The fact that we are surrounded by good food to eat....now we just have to choose wisely
A trip to FL with beautiful outdoor temps...we can exercise and play outdoors
A gym membership back in KS so we can exercise any time together as a family or with friends
Friends for accountability at the gym
Health
Wealth to afford good food and exercise gear
Running partners
Sleep for refreshment
Clean water to drink
Clean air to breath

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Thank you God for these things and so much more!  We love you!  I promise to take better care of my body each day with your help and strength.  Amen.

Black Friday...

It's Black Friday, and I'm wearing a black t-shirt dress...so comfy and chic.  I might just have to go shopping today!  I all ready purchased a new pair of running shoes from Dick's Sporting Goods online with a $15 off coupon...nice...all in my nightgown without battling crowds! :)

For lunch today we are having our Thanksgiving feast.  That will be a crowd pleaser for sure!  Addison chopped our pecans in the nut chopper ( a job Jackie and I used to do for mom ).  My mom is buzzing around the kitchen, Bryan is napping, and Addison is enjoying cartoon time.  The weather remains gorgeous...warm and sunny.  I think it's rather chilly back in KC so we're thankful to be here in the sunshine state.  Today's top ten things of gratitude:

Waking up early with Bryan for some mommy and little boy time
Croissant for breakfast and eggs...mmm
Buying new running shoes...one of my favorite things to do...new shoes...yahoo!
Showering in peace and quiet
Wearing a new comfy dress
Watching my mom prepare the feast
Making Native American hats with Addison
Sword fighting with Addison and Bryan with wooden spoons
Preparing for shopping later this afternoon...browsing the ads
Sharing another quiet day with family
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Thanksgiving...

This week we're in Florida for Thanksgiving and to spend some time with my parents.  It has been wonderful so far.  We are very thankful for...

Vacation days for Daniel
Safe travels...smooth flight with two children
Stomach virus passing onward finally!
Quietness of not having things to do
Playing outside with old toys of my childhood found in the garage
Snowcones at the Snowball Factory
Running and playing in Baldwin Park
Walking and enjoying the beautiful weather at Park Ave.
Playing on the church playground of the preschool I went to with other preschoolers
Talking with my mom and dad

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A thought for parents...

“But the biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make while doing this.
I did not live in the moment enough.
This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three of them sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4 and 1. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night.
I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed.

I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.”

~Anna Quindlen

Sickness...

Sickness has struck.  Bryan had a stomach virus from Monday evening until yesterday pretty much.  Now, Addison has it.  I've prayed this morning with Daniel, and we are thankful our kids are usually healthy.  Prayers now for healing for little Addison, and that we all stay well for our trip to FL tomorrow.  See you soon Mom and Dad!

Photos 11/14-11/17/10

He just looks so dang cute in his high chair every day!

Fruit Loop Mess...He loves his cereal!

Bryan also loves goldfish crackers...poured himself a large bowl!

Peanut Butter Cracker Time

Asleep early (Daniel photographed this...thank you!  I love it!)

Bryan loving on Twinkletoes

Addison chasing Twinkletoes

Morning Picnic with Addison

More Kitty Love

Darn clear allergy snot...always there!