A look back, a look forward

Today I was listening to les mis while cleaning and started getting all thankful inside :) It makes me think of my dad and how he passionately loves this musical and how thankful I am he introduced me to it (we had no choice, and I am now forcing my children to learn it as passionately). 

My mind kept wandering to all 2013 has brought us. This time last year we celebrated the new year in Israel. Woah. 

This year my children have been forced to have some big changes (moving and changing schools) and they have handled it better than I could've imagined.

We put our house on the market and sold it. And moved to a big ole house that is perfect for us. And through that whole process we saw God in the details. 

We took some amazing trips. Alabama with the Scoggins, the beach with the Siaks, Alabama to see Bekah, weekends at granny's...

We gained three new cousins this year. Edith, Levi, and Zachary, we think you are all pretty incredible. 

Granny was spared from cancer. God was all over those details too. That was huge. 

Grandma and Grandad Cagle moved to the mountains!  I love love love having them closer. 

We have some amazing people in our life. Our friendships grew. The people in our lifegroup have become staples in our life. And I joined a women's Bible study in September and these ladies are becoming just like sisters to me. 

My photography business is growing and I have learned so much.  I can't wait to see what's in store for it in 2014.  

Matt won his fantasy football league!!  He said to me the other day "do you realize you are living with a champion?"  It made me giggle. 

I could go on and on. There are more big highlights and adventures that this Siak 5 experienced this year. Through it all we experienced grace through the good times and not so good times. 

2014, we are ready for you. 

Happy new year!

Christmas

This was such a wonderful Christmas week. We got to enjoy traditions we've held close to us, and we made new ones along the way. 

We started the week at my favorite tradition - the Christmas service at grace. 

We watched movies on Christmas Eve and made cookies for Santa. Real cookies - from scratch. The one time all year when I break out the rolling pin and my buddy in pittsburghs recipe. 

Christmas morning we were blessed. Our kids got wonderful things. We spent the morning/ day at brunch and dinner with Matt's family. And my parents came for a few days too. 

This season flew by but it was amazing. I am so thankful for the hope that Christmas brings. The baby that was born who grew to a perfect man. Who died for you and I to pave our way to heaven. To save us from our sin and give us the gift that Easter brings. 

We hope your Christmas was wonderful and that you had time to reflect on our Saviors birth!

I love this season

Last weekend was awesome. First of all, matt shaved his beard. The end of no shave November!  (Don't tell him but I kind of like the beard)

 Of course mid shave he let me take a silly picture of him. 

Then. We got to go to an adult party. You know, the kind with no kids, where you dress up, and hang out with people who aren't in diapers?  Yup. It was amazing. We ate amazing food network quality food (what exactly is prosciutto anyway?) and played a game called yuker. With adults. Can I mention that it was a grown up party one more time? 

  We have some really amazing people in our life. This party was hosted by my Wednesday bible study teacher and I am SO glad I took the leap and joined this class. These ladies are becoming like family to me. Except for Jen. She's always been family. 

We hit up build and grow to make Christmas trains. If you haven't taken advantage of it - google it. It's a great program for kids and it's free!

Granny came down and we piled into the van to see the Christmas lights in Morganton. I wish I had videoed Luke's reaction. He was in awe!  I love that our Morganton trip has become a tradition in our little family. 

We have big plans for Christmas week. I can't believe it's already almost here!!

Humbled

This year when my friend Ryan passed away it rocked our world. Losing someone so young...  It was hard to wrap my head around. Three months have passed and his precious bride has created a foundation to provide scholarships for the sylvan learning center where Ryan was director. Ryan's heart was for children. And I am so glad his legacy and story are still touching others!  

I am so humbled that I get to offer my photography services at a benefit coming up in a week. Completely humbled. So if you, my readers, are in Hendersonville please come by this special event to benefit the Ryan Chastain memorial foundation. There are going to be some really fantastic things to bid on in the silent auction. 

My favorite time of year.

This year we set off on our very first griswald Christmas experience - we were going to get our very first, real Christmas tree. Up until now our faithful artificial pencil tree had done the trick every year. But since we moved into a two story house - we of course - needed two trees. We asked around and the general advice given was to head to sugar plum farms up near Newland. We grabbed the kids light jackets (it was 55 degrees in Marion) and headed up a few mountains. It was FREEZING!!!  But we got to go on a hayride, pick the perfect Christmas tree, drink hot chocolate and head home. 

I love it. The smell brings me back to my childhood. And while matt was struggling to get the tree into the stand I remembered so many years of my dad in that same position, grunting and groaning while we all waited (impatiently) with ornaments in hand to decorate. 

Next year, our "real" tree might come from a random stand here in Marion. But I am thankful we did the whole sugar plum farm experience for our very first time. 

Thankful

Thankful

This past week I became a grown up.  I hosted my first thankgiving.  Did I make my first turkey?  Nope.  I am terrified of animal bones.  But the honey baked ham knocked it out of the park with our meat and our family all brought sides.  It was a success!  It was so great to have my siblings (minus Daniel and Lindsey - wish they could've been here!!), aunts and uncles, cousins, and grandparents in our home.  I am so very thankful that God blessed us this year with a house big enough to fit everyone.  We borrowed tables and chairs from our church and set up the basement fellowship hall style with a buffet table and everything.  And I am most thankful that on Thursday afternoon, so many people that I love were in one place.  Sharing a meal and memories together. 

Thanksgiving at school

This year my kids switched schools and I am so thankf they are thriving at PG elementary. 

Today Luke and I got to go to both their thanksgiving lunches. They served the full thanksgiving meal!  It was a great day for all of us. 

Friends

This past Monday night matt got to celebrate his birthday early by going to the panthers football game. He had too much fun and I am so thankful these crazy guys are in his life!

Matt selflessly loves our family. Daily. I am so thankful for the way he provides for our family and loves us. And I am thankful that once in a blue moon he gets to do something for himself!

Ella is 7!!

My how time flies by. I can't believe my girl is 7. Ella is such a jewel. She is my introvert. She amazes me with how well she reads and is enjoying school (most days). She is a great helper and will do pretty much anything to help out around the house. I love this girl to pieces!  

Ella has a FULL birthday week!  It started with the zoo for a field trip on her actual birthday. Matt got to go with her, and since she had a parent they got to have the whole day to themselves at the zoo!  We had dinner that night at fatz (she loves the rolls!) and she got the biggest brownie we've ever seen. Friday we had a bunch of siaks up to celebrate Ella. We enjoyed great food and company!  An Saturday Ella had her very first big girl sleepover. We took the girls to the mall - they both got bears at build a bear and got to jump on the jumpy things.  I only wish I could have a birthday week this awesome!  

We love you to the moon and back Ella Bella!

Welcome Levi!

I got the joy of getting to be at the hospital to welcome Levi last week. My sister Rachel was a champ. Having all c-sections I've only gotten to see labor a few times and I have to tell you my sister is amazing. In between her contractions we had more fun than we should have, laughing Til we cried on several occasions. Levi is such a beautiful little man and I can't wait to watch him grow and answer the question we all are asking, are you gonna be just like your brother Beau?

Updates

I know I say we are busy all the time. Because we are. 

October is already flying by!  The leaves are falling/changing and we are loving the view that is beginning to happen from the front porch.  We are so blessed to be able to watch the sun set on the mountains around us from our new house!

Ella pulled her own tooth. Which is huge. Because I can't touch teeth. It's my thing. It just freaks me out. 

Noah and all the kids have been loving our property. Their newest adventure - Carving into sticks with butter knives. I captured this gem one day last week. It was an amazing afternoon. All 3 were so absorbed in their imaginations they didn't fight at all for hours!  

Luke is still our crazy boy. He goes with the flow for the most part. He brings us so much joy every day. 

Ella and matt got to go on a date last week and she loves her extra time with her daddy. And I love watching Matt love her. He is such a good daddy. 

And in every spare second of our free time we are making changes to this big ole house of ours. 

Some big things that have happened in the past few weeks?

We got a new nephew/cousin!!  Zachary James Siak joined the family and he is too precious. 

We've had lots of visitors come to the house to help with construction and/or entertain the kids

Parent teacher conferences were last week and once again we confirmed our kids are brilliant :)

It's been a great, busy month. 

In between painting.

I've been painting non stop ever since we moved in. But I've also still been able to maintain my side hobby/almost business = photography. God has been blessing me with lots of clients lately. Here are a few of my favorites from the past few weeks!

This week

Woah. We are busy. In my mind I didn't think we would jump on so many house projects right when we moved in. But I've been a little impatient (sounds like me, right?).  Last weekend papa Siak and Sandra got to come see the house. It was a great quick visit. Then granny got to come and spend this whole week with us helping me with my endless paint projects. 

So. My fireplace. It was red. The room is tiny upstairs and the red was just too much so I tried this technique called white washing. (Disclaimer - never do this. It's messy. It takes forever. While the results are fabulous, I personally will never do this again). 

Before:

After:

There are still a few things left to do. Painting the mantle before I put it back up. But for now. I'm happy with it!