if you're a PETA person, don't read this.

actually, it's not that cruel.  but some people go a bit crazy when you partake in animal things. 

like horse carriage rides.

but let's just move on.

you can't NOT go down to the plaza during christmas, if you live in KC.

and, you can't NOT go on a horse carriage ride.

(actually, you can avoid both if you want to save money)

but.  homegirl here did not protest, when mr leif wrote up on the calendar for last saturday, 

"christmas family fun day"

so, we finally got that tree up (i'll post about that later!) before roman's nap, and after? 

we bundled up and took off to the plaza.  

first stop?

coffee.  

romy sat there, top of the table, so cute while we waited for our warm drinks (and our cookie!)

he wore his "puffy coat and hat"..... a combo he is FINALLY beginning to accept.

[he was anti-puffy coat and itchy hat for a while, HA!]

and then we waited in line for like 20 minutes.

but this dude was a trooper.

there were people to watch, cars and trucks to admire, and horsey poop to giggle at.

and my only picture of a horse carriage.  is blurry.

but oh well.  we were in mid-ride, and i just couldn't get an action shot.... i mean, we were going like 1 mile an hour.  so you know, just hard to focus i guess?

 mi loves.

here we are mid-ride.

roman was pretty much in awe the whole time.

though, he spent most of the ride trying to find a "biiiiiiiiiiig truck"

he wasn't too successful.  sorry romes, not a lot of big trucks down around the plaza.

a night out isn't complete without noodles.

so, duh. off to our mecca, noodles and co.

 [he's got a thing for the "up-up-up-up stairs"]

we shared a drink.

don't even ask me about his backwashing issues.

 we double fisted our noo-noo's.

 and we did a mini photo shoot right therrrrr in da booth.

 then, he found an "owie"

 which led to labeling the parts on my face?

[be jealous. you know you wish you could have cheesy fingers touching your face, top friday night right there!]

 and.....the end.

we were home by 7:30!

i know!  score!

heartbreak for CT

i keep singing this hymn today, over and over... 

so heartbroken for the families in connecticut.  come, lord jesus, come.

i keep remembering all the "practice code reds" we did at the school I taught at each quarter of the year, and can't imagine one of them being the real thing.... our schools shouldn't have to prepare for this, practice for it, let alone experience.  poor little children.

My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

[here's a slightly different, but beautiful version of this hymn]

moments to remember.

afternoon bathtime.

he says, "i'm a dolphin, not a puffer fish, not a shark"

 nighttime with daddy.

must.read.steamshovel.book.

 a total champ at mommy's checkup.

though, he hid behind the curtain anytime a nurse or dr. would walk in :)

 our imperfect advent attempts.  

so sweet, so real for this stage of life.

 trips to nordstroms for rides on the escalator.

[and so mommy can pretend like she's there to shop, but in reality she's wearing a handmedown shirt, leggings from 4 years ago, and $7 shoes from marshalls]

 measuring everything in the house, just to be like daddy.

 asking to go to target, coming around the corner in these.

 5:45pm rescue from daddy, when momma is about.to.lose.her.mind.

 those times, every time, when i turn around when we're in the car and i see this face.  every time.

 post nap snuggles.  i usually replay bob the builder at least twice so we can keep snuggling.

oh, such a sweet time.

our little family of three.

just trying to take time to stop, appreciate, enjoy, and sip in the good stuff.

nerd alert.

i have no words.

yes. i dressed my son as napoleon dynamite. 

and yes, he thought he was so, SO cool in those boots.

he just strutted his stuff right over to the park.  

i was thankful we were the only ones there, he was bummed he couldn't show off his gear.

you should have seen him trying to climb up this contraption with those boots on.

he wouldn't let me help him.  it took him at least 8 tries.

success.

 cheesehead.

 oh, i love him.

family fotos.

there's a beautiful photographer here in kansas city, her name is ashley.

she captured our family, with love, grace, patience, and a heart for little roman.

the fact that any of these turned out is amazing, it was 20 degrees. cloudy. dreary......... 

and roman was a.n.g.r.y. the whole time.

she, too has a little boy, madden.  

and she is a gem.

i found a new friend. and am so thankful for this sweet girl.  and so thankful for these photos.

it's so fun to see our family grow and change.  photography is such an amazing art, what a blessing it is to capture life.  

ok.  i'm done being cheesy.

but really, i'm just so thankful we can stop time and remember it with photos. 

mi familia. fall 2012.

[photo overload ahead]