Oh happy day!

I needed a good giggle today....too much stress that I'm letting get to me, and just an overall blah type of day. I'm going to blame some of it on it being a cleaning/laundry day, and Michigan January. So here are a couple of reasons that I can always find to smile about:

Muscles waiting to get in Grandma's tub!--Lucy is "SOOOOOO barressed" (I'm sure)

Lucy's depictions of Jim and myself

Having to get all "blinged out" before baking (as you can see number one has rubbed off on number 2 already)

and there are winter days where we need to wear sunglasses!

Christmas pics at last

Christmas is such a magical time of year. I love being busy, having lots of parties, and just being with friends and family. The girls are at a perfect age. Lucy was a little more into it...a little confused at how Santa and Jesus both came on Christmas. She loved the opening of gifts, not really realizing what came inside. Kadence peeled off the paper very slowly, and not until every piece of paper was off did she even care to look at what was under it. Lucy taught Kady to say "ho-ho-ho", which was usually said with much gusto.

We celebrated as a family Christmas morning, then headed to Kalamazoo for Christmas day, spent the night, and Saturday headed to Holland. We are very blessed to have all of our families together and to get along so well!

I almost feel bad that these are the only pictures I got of our family together. It was so fun to watch the girls open their gifts....(or maybe it was the taking toys out of packages that was so time consuming) I know there is a little video. Regardless I cherish these moments.

Gingerbread house making with daddy Christmas eve

Our enormous tree

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care

Kady opened her candy cane of m&m's by putting them under the bathroom door to break the plastic...I'm not sure if it was accidental or purposeful, but either way she had them gone before I even realized that it had been opened. (she insisted on her boots and hat all morning before we left for Grandma's!)

Celebrations

New Year's day the Herrema got together to celebrate Grandpa. 85 years of life, and 70 years of piano playing. WOW

We shared many memories, histories, and songs.

There are fewer times that all the kids can get together and sing....it's busy with background noise, the noise of a growing family. Thank you Grandpa for what you have given us all!

Hot tubin'

Jim and decided that our little fish needed a winter swim. We have turned down the hottub so Lucy and Kadence can join us in there. The absolutely love it. We were all ready to go........and we turned down the tub so much it was 85 degrees...brrrrrr. They were so disappointed, so we decided to do something else to cheer them up!

An indoor hot tub, with bathing suits and all. (now if mom had remembered to shut the drain it may have been a hot tub....but this was a rather cool tub-good thing they didn't seem to mind)

Loving every minute of it!

Another day, another tub!

Life's big decisions

Sometimes some of life's biggest decisions come during nap time.

THIS.....

OR

This?

"Funny Face"

My kids have been obsessed with this book from the library. So much that we have gotten it the last two times we have been there. I also have enjoyed it, as you will see from the pictures below! I have now officially turned into my mother.

Angry face....Kadence really likes this face

Sad face

Naughty face

worried face

Happy face!

SURPRISED face

An early visit from Santa

The annual Koops family party at the big red barn

Lucy, what did Santa bring you? I can't believe she sat on his lap!

Kadence opening her gift from Santa


"just what I always wanted! A barbie, now I have three, just like I am 3 years old. When I have my next birthday I can have 4!"

We are so blessed to have such a wonderful extended family. Tom made a surprise visit (and appeared as Santa), we were disappointed to miss Joy and the boys. Love you guys!

Lucy entertained everyone with her stories, energy, and my ever favorite--pretending to be a cat! We enjoyed great food, time to catch up, and gifts for the kids. It's amazing how much can change in a year, or even 6 months! We have one more baby on the way for 2010 (Ben and Laurie are expecting number 3 in July), will the Koops family grow by anymore, and will we be able to fit???
That is truly a gift from God!