Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family!  We are looking forward to celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior with our families and are planning on sending out our annual update letter in the new year with lots of updates from the Cripe family (don't get too excited...no baby news or anything like that).  We love you all and pray for a blessed and prosperous New Year in 2011!!







Randy Update

We are praising and celebrating God's continued blessings in our lives!  Randy had follow up MRI's on his brain and spine and we are thrilled to report that he is tumor free and doing very well.  The doctor is giving him a one year reprieve on MRI's so that is also good news.

We're also happy to report that Randy is officially a FULLY licensed Professional Counselor!!  He's been waiting and waiting for his paperwork to come through from the State and he finally received his license in the mail.  He's worked so hard to get to this point....literally thousands of hours were poured into this endeavor and he is thrilled to be finished!!!

HOORAY GOD!!!!

Christmas is coming...

Joshua woke up from this nap and seen this present near the tree - he was so excited!

He looked all around and discovered HIS name was on the name tag and now he can't wait for Christmas!

Joshua's Christmas decor

I was sitting down a few minutes ago and noticed some new "ornaments" on our tree a baby picture book and a juice box - how silly!!

Under Construction

Well, the blog is still up and running, but I am trying to do some construction on it.  For some reason, my mom couldn't access the blog at work with the current background so I'm trying some different things out.  The pics are up, but VERY plain - hopefully, I can figure this out soon!

Aunt Joan's Christmas Open House 2010

My Aunt Joan hosts a holiday open house every year in her home.  She is someone that has the gift of hospitality for sure - there are TONS of people in and out of her home and it doesn't phase her in the least.  She spends several days decorating, prepping food, cooking, making chocolates and other desserts and then enjoys the smiling faces that walk through her door.  It's a festive crowd for sure and lots of fun!

Charles and Patricia



Drake, Daniel and Joshua



Debbie, Charlene, Diane and Baby Ronnie

John and Chris

Jim and Joyce

Debbie and Charlene



Kellie and Rachel




Hiraida, Chris, Cathy, Summer, Nita



Sweet little Ronnie : )

Happenings...in no particular order

Christmas is a very busy time of year for our family, but oh so much fun.  We've actually been rather low key while at home (that will change next week when I realize that all play leads to nothing getting done...oh well).  Anyway, here are some things we've been up to over the past week or so....

One lowly berry left after our first winter storm - so beautiful!



Snow Day - bring on the kids, the forts, the silliness!!!

Making an Advent chain (so fun - I just seen that our friend Becky and Hannah made this as well)

Yup, gotta love patterns!!

Using glue is the best part!

Ta - Da!!!

We made lime, lemon, and orange clove pomanders...they smell amazing!

Cookie night - Joshua opened his first present...the Aardvark!

What fun!!!

Keisha ringing her bell at her Christmas concert

Daniel was incredible - and so full of joy!



Melissa was the tech girl for the concert =)

 .............more photos to come very soon!!!!

Random Stuff

Yes, that is our boy trying on a tu-tu - at least it was blue =)

playing around on vacation

going on a wagon ride through the apple orchard

loving grandma time

at his first live play - so much fun!

blue tongued boy!!!

Thanksgiving 2010

We are so blessed to have oodles and oodles of things to be thankful for in our family.  God has given us blessings that blow our minds each and everyday.  What a pleasure to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with such happiness in our hearts - all because of Jesus!

Snuggle Bunny

yoga time just before chow time



Crazy in love



More Snuggles

A true feast

Aunna and Chuck

Joshua thinks he is so big playing the DS with Daniel even though he has no clue what he's doing

Peeling apples for apple pie

Loved the apple skins

Christmas is coming

Here we are enjoying some fun "shots" near the tree - Gotta love getting geared up for Christmas!!!