The Holiday Season has begun!!!

Thanksgiving is done, and the Christmas season has begun!!! Benji had just been born and we were going to NC last year, so we didn't even decorate. So we're making up for it this year! As soon as we finished the dishes from our Thanksgiving meal, we pulled all the decorations down from the attic and got busy! Last night, we took the boys to see Santa Claus arrive downtown, and today we went to cut our tree. Logan put lights on the bushes beside our door, and he made a beautiful advent wreath so that we can celebrate advent each week. I am looking forward to the next month despite the busy-ness of the season. I love it!!!

Here are some pictures from our trip to meet Santa Claus, and our tree-cutting expedition:

Halloween 2008

I just realized I never put the boys' Halloween costumes on my blog! Josiah was a Pirate (arrrgggh!), and Benjamin was a dinosaur. Josiah's favorite part of the costume was the mustache. :)

Thankful Thoughts

Logan and I hosted Thanksgiving this year, and had intended to have a time for everyone to share what they were thankful for this year. Unfortunately, we're not organized or focused enough to make sure the most important thing happens, so we didn't do this!!! Argh. So here are a few things I am thankful for, in no particular order:

1. Dear friends and family (thank you Corcorans, Luttermans and Jon for sharing Thanksgiving with us, and we missed you Mom and Dad, Mama and Daddy, Grandma, Nana, Grandpa, Aunt Emily, Barry and Marcia, Matthew and Heather, Danny, Rebecca and Jared, Micah, Caleb, Noah and Baby Zachary! and all of our extended family as well...:)
2. My cute little boys (Josiah told me today: "I'm proud of you, Mommy"...sigh. That felt good.:). I couldn't be more fulfilled than watching my little boys grow and develop.
3. My husband, who reminds me of Martin Luther. :) I am so proud of him, even when his anal-retentive ways stress me out. He is a man of integrity, who is not afraid to do the dishes. :)
4. My faithful, sovereign and gracious Father, who works all things out for good for those who love Him.
5. Difficult times that humble me and encourage me to learn and grow.
6. Joyous times that give me nourishment to face the difficult times.
7. Jesus Christ...no day goes by that I am not thankful for His sacrificial death on my behalf. I am a wretched sinner, and I could not face my Father in Heaven without Christ's righteousness.

Here are some pictures from our Thanksgiving day.

Benji's Big Blues

Playing with the chemicals, under Mommy's watchful eye, of course. :)

Playing bumper "cars." (Logan was washing the floors. He's amazing.)

Benji watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

My pumkin pie.

Benji is standing now! Next will be steps...then I'll definitely have my hands full!!!

"Uncle Jonny" and Logan ready to dig in.

Brandon and Lisa Ready-To-Pop Lutterman (one month to go!!!)

A bad picture of Uncle Jim and Aunt Linda (or as Josiah says, "Uncle Linda":)

An action shot. :)

Josiah and his best bud, Kole Lutterman.

Josiah this morning, playing in the wash water behind his daddy's back!

But daddy, I'm soooooo cute....!!!!! :)

Toofies!

I wanted to blog a little about Josiah and Benji's blossoming personalities and their new habits lately. Josiah will be three in February, and he is in the height of his 'terrible twos' right now. Everything is "no!", "you stop," and even "shut up!" (which i discovered is prominently declared by the protagonist of his favorite movie right now, Chicken Run). While this is trying our patience and removing us from the running of the Worlds' Best Parents Ever, I am encouraged to know that most all other parents go through this phase with their kids, and survive! He really is still quite the little charmer, and he is very sweet in between tantrums. :) His vocabulary grows every day and he says the funniest things. I especially love to overhear him when he's playing. He usually tells me he's "going to Squirrel Island" (you have to pronounce this with a NY accent to get the full effect) and then gets on his little "motorcycle" (i.e. trike) and rides around the house. Or he'll raid my purse and say he's going to buy diapers, and disappear for a minute into his bedroom and come out with diapers (but my money is gone...:). I've heard that having boys is like having dogs: you have to run them hard. It always helps me keep my sanity when I can take him somewhere every day to stimulate him and work out that energy that turns into flipping off the couches, pulling pots and pans out of the pantry, or climbing into dryer if we stay home all day. Josiah is also becoming an avid artist, "doing art" every day.

Benjamin just turned one, and is still not too interested in walking. He has been surfing around the house since July, happy to be upright as long as he is holding onto something. His new thing is climbing: up on the couches, coffee tables, chairs, toilet, etc. Very harrowing for his poor mother! We can't get him to sit in his high chair very long any more. Even with the strap around his waist and the tray tucked right up into his chest, he manages to stand up and start to climb out. He's got four teeth, which came in with lots of snot and drool, but no fussiness! He's too busy to be irritated by teething. He loves to flip through books, play with toys, and desperately tries to keep pace with Josiah. I dread the day he starts to walk! They'll be unstoppable! :) Benji is jabbering a lot more now as well, which is so much fun. He talks on the 'phone' (or remote control, usually) and seems to be saying "Hi!" now. His laughter is really cute too.

Josiah and Benji play really well together and I am so glad I had them close together. Here are a few pictures from today! I tried to get Benji's new teeth for the grandparents. :)

Benjamin Edward Perry turns 1!!!

We took the boys down to NC for a long weekend to celebrate Benji's first birthday with Logan's family. Since pictures say a thousand words, and I'm ready for bed, I'm going to just leave you with some pictures to tell the story:

Josiah and Daddy's weekend together

Josiah and Logan spent the weekend (Nov. 1-2) with Josh and Sarah Crumlich in Ipswich, MA, while Benji and I were in Boston. "Aunt Syrup" took these wonderful pictures:

Bromley 202 Reunion

my last semester at Gordon College was spent with five lovely, godly ladies. it was a semester full of laughter and memories for dear friends living in meaningful community together. what a joy to spend one weekend together five years later, nov. 1-2 2008! the reunion was at larissa's apartment in charlestown. thanks, lariss, for your splendid hospitality! :)

here are some pictures from the weekend:

Friday night, notice little Ben partying with the girls late into the night! He and I got up together every morning around 6 and waited (3+ hours!) for the sleeping beauties to arise. :)

the token male along for a stroll around boston

posing in front of the bunker hill memorial
l to r: kelly mebust, kristin schwabauer, me, jenelle lemons, tricia vannatter, larissa proctor

the preggo, the stroller gal and the mommy with babe

the sensational six (+benji)

my old roomie, jenelle lemons (expecting #3!:)

fine dining at chez proctor

memory-making time!

thanks, ladies, for a wonderful and refreshing weekend!