Christmas Time is Here

The first Christmas experience Linea had during her first Christmas season was the picking out of a tree. The Fuller family tradition is to go to a nearby lot the day after Thanksgiving, go into the back section, find the perfect tree, cut it down and bring it home on the top of the car. Here Linea is all dressed and ready to go look for that tree. Thankfully, we had a nice, and fairly warm day.

The whole family ready to search..

Ryan and Heather came with us. Ryan did the honors of cut the tree.

The return trip

We usually catch the wagon back so the tree doesn't need to be carried the whole way.

Tying it down for the LONG trip home.... (approx. 10 min.)

Linea's first time decorating a tree

She was fascinated by the tree skirt.

A few days later, we celebrated Ben's 29th birthday! Last year in the 20's!!

The saddest part of December was the realization that we needed to give away our precious puppy. As Linea got more mobile, he got very possessive of his toys, which turned into some aggressiveness. We tried so hard to train and train, but when Simon bit her, we knew what the best thing was. It broke our hearts but we handed him over to a very nice rescue mission, where the kind people who worked there promised to find just the right home for our pup.

We did find out in mid-January that Simon was adopted by a retired gentleman with family nearby who come to visit often. The people at the rescue told us that this family just loves Simon. He has a fenced in yard to play in and lots of love and attention.

So Simon, even though we don't know exactly where you are or who your new family is, we are so happy that you have people to love you and we hope you are enjoying your new life. We love you so very much and miss you!

If you think of it, say a prayer for me. I still think about my puppy daily and wonder if I could have done more to prepare him for Linea. Unfortunately, we read after we gave him up that pappillons are not good with babies and toddlers. Just pray for me to find peace with our decision and to get to a point where I don't think about it everyday!

The good thing is that our beautiful baby is safe and healthy and very happy! Lots of sewing went on in December! Here she is in her Christmas dresses.

Linea discovered a love of the piano. She plunks away with gusto, especially if we put her on the bench! Check out those legs!

My friend Kari hosted a little Christmas gathering with a few high school friends. Linea received an early b-day present from the Steiners.

Of course she tried to eat the tag.

We got a few pictures of the children. Quinn and Linea never looked at the camera at the same time!

Alethea and William were easier to photograph since they can't move! And we did get a few of all four of them!

That same day, we went to my parents' house for the Swartzentruber get together.

Linea got a radio flyer walker wagon, which she now loves. At the time, however, she was more fascinated with the bow.

We made our traditional gingerbread house from scratch.

Then we went home for Christmas Eve. Here is Linea in her Christmas skirt. Doesn't she look excited?

Christmas morning...

Christmas with the Fullers. Linea in her new outfit from grandma and grandpa Fuller.

New Years Eve the Fullers hosted their annual party with their Fish group at church. Here are all the Grandmas with their babies!

Happy New Years from the Fullers!

November

So Thankful....

This past November, as we prepared for Thanksgiving, I found many things, and people, for which to give thanks. Our little girl, of course, was our number one earthly blessing this year.

Here she is as an OSU cheerleader. :) Too bad they had a lousy season...

I am also thankful every autumn for the beautiful colors we get to enjoy. Linea loved the fake leaves I used in decorating the house for the season.

We are also thankful for our families. Ben's family didn't get a chance to come out to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Swartzentrubers as originally planned, but his parents did come in mid-November, so we had a little early Thanksgiving celebration with them.

Here is Linea's official 8 month picture.

Thanksgiving Day!!! We are thankful for the great-grandparents who are able to be a part of Linea's life. My Conrad grandparents and Grandpa Swartz were with us on Thanksgiving to celebrate.

This photo was taken as proof. This kind of thing seems to be happening more and more recently, which is wonderful, in my opinion!

Chat time with Grandma Conrad is always a blessing!

I am very thankful, of course, for a wonderful husband, who also happens to be an excellent father.

And I'm thankful for my sisters and the close relationships we enjoy. I just wish Nicole could have been in this one!

Thank you, Nicole for gifting us with this cute little shirt for Thanksgiving. Linea wore it proudly.

We ended the day with a little 3 on 3 front yard football game. Next time Nicole and Patrick are in town, we'll make it 4 on 4 with more even teams. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!