My Dad!

This post is dedicated to my Dad! I felt so bad when I realized that I had NO pictures of my Dad at Christmas (and other times, too). It got me thinking a bit. The reason my Dad isn't in a lot of pictures is because he is a "doer". By this I mean, he is the one that is always cleaning the kitchen after we eat or running errands (to get some ingredient that we forgot at the store) or picking up/dropping off family members that can't drive so they can be apart of our festivities and the list goes on and on! My Dad is the most selfless, humble, nicest and generous person I have ever met. He is also one of the most intelligent people I know. My brothers & I always joked that our Dad was the human dictionary. He is very knowledgeable about almost everything! He truly could have been anything he wanted. He chose a profession in education. Monetary gain or status has never been a concern for him. He actually chose one of the lowest paying professions, but he wanted to make a difference in the lives of kids. He works as a teacher in an inner city school and is, many times, the only positive male figure a lot of these kids will ever see. I am fairly certain my Dad wouldn't want me to write this and this really isn't for anyone, but my girls. I want them to have documentation of their grandfather. They are fortunate enough to have two of the nicest grandfather's in the world! Both Ben & I were blessed with Godly, loving father's and we are so thankful for them!

I love you Dad! You gave me self confidence as a young girl that has given me security as a young women. So much of who I am today, is most certainly due to my relationship with you! Thank you!!

Isn't it true that behind every good man is a GREAT women? I don't want to leave out my Mom! I'll have a post for the other grandparents, too!

I love this man!!

Anna's One Year Well Visit

Anna had her one year well check with our doctor. Everything checked out great and she is a growing, healthy girl! She weighed 21 pounds 14 ounces (55th percentile), 31 inches (95th percentile) and her head circ. is in the 75th percentile. The percentiles were almost exactly the same as her 9 month visit, so she is on a steady growth pattern. She is very long and on the lean side, which we've known all along. We are definitely very thankful for our healthy one year old! Such an answer to prayer! A happy little girl in the waiting room!

A "not-so-happy" little girl on the examining table. Poor thing... and this was the easy part. The shots were still to come. You should have seen the tears then. It made me well up. So, so sad.

Ahhhh... my poor baby. I hate it when my girls cry. I don't handle it well. You'd think as a baby nurse I'd be better at it, but it's totally different when it's your own child. TOTALLY DIFFERENT!

Holiday Brunch

Every year my Mom has a holiday brunch, sometime after Christmas and around the New Year. It's a fun tradition and the food is always sooooo good! It seemed a bit quiet and empty this year as Shawn, Kristen and their kids were not with us. We missed you guys. It's just not the same without you! We still managed to have a nice time though!! Thanks Mom & Dad! My mom decorates her fireplace and mantel so pretty. Every year she has her Santa & sleigh and ever since Claire has been a baby I've gotten pictures of the girls in or around the sleigh! It makes the cutest pictures!

Grandma McDowell with the girls!

Anna & Grandma

This is actually the ONLY family picture we got during the holidays. I love it though!! As Ben says, "All you need is one good one!"

Claire & Caroline loved sitting at the picnic table by themselves. Scott made up one plate that they shared and they thoroughly enjoyed being big girls. They are so funny together! Claire now says "Caroline Grace is my cousin". It's so sweet!

Aunt Heather & Grandma after our delicious brunch!

Claire & Caroline having a tea party. Anna was right there in the mix and the big girls weren't so sure about the little intruder. Anna was oblivious to the inhospitable treatment!

Nuna reading Anna the same books she used to read to me!

Claire & Anna admiring their baby cousin Cat Cat!

Uncle Scott & Papa

Papa & Catherine

Claire riding on the horsey that my brothers and I used to play on when we were kids. He's been around for 35 years and all the grand kids have enjoyed riding the ole guy!

Lemaster Family Dinner

Every year my mom's side of the family, the Lemaster clan, has a Christmas dinner in Cedarville. It's so much fun to get everyone together and hang out a bit. I really enjoy my family so any excuse I get to be with them I try to make it!

Before the dinner, we stopped off at my Grandparents house to visit. They, unfortunately, were not able to go to the dinner. It was nice to see them and Claire & Anna always enjoy there time with them! My Grandparents with Claire & Anna

My Grandpa has always been just a really fun Grandpa. Always playing and being silly and he is still like that with his Great Grandkids!


Anna playing with Grandpa Stephens!

Nuna & Papa with Anna!

Claire had sooooo much fun playing with her many, many cousins (it is a LARGE family!). Here William is chasing Claire!

Emma is so sweet with Claire and Claire really loves her big girl cousin, Emma!

Ariel took this picture of me with some of the little girls!

Cuties! Maddie, Maddie & Ariel!

My Mom & Aunt Karen Sue

Kathleen, Amy & Aunt Lois

My cousins... Cindie, Steph, Jill, Sam & Beth

Grant, my Dad, Ben & Anna

Anna really took to Kathleen! Anna is my 'separation anxiety' baby who rarely goes to anyone but me, Ben & Grandparents. She went to Kathleen right away and stayed with her for quite some time. It was sweet!

Grandpa Shepherd

We recently made a quick trip up to the Akron area to visit Ben's Grandpa Shepherd for Christmas.The girls did great during the 3+ hour drive. We visited with Grandpa for about 4 hours and then headed back home. Even though the girls slept less than an hour on the ride home (and NO sleep on the way up) they were very good little girls! That is a lot to ask a one & a two year old, but they were troopers! We really enjoyed our time with Grandpa Shepherd! I wish we lived closer so we could see him more often! We love you, Grandpa! Grandpa put Claire's bow on his head and Claire thought that was VERY funny!

Ben's cousin, Brian, stopped by with his wife Jen when we were there. It was fun catching up with them!

I love this picture of Claire & Anna with their Great Grandpa! So sweet!


Look at the face Anna is making! Silly girl!!


Of course, Claire opened Grandpa's Christmas gift! She is a pro at unwrapping now!!


Ben with his girls and Grandpa!!


Uncle Brad made the trip with us! We had so much fun hanging out with Brad!


Family shot with Grandpa!

Grandpa Shepherd really loves trains and has even built a train... from scratch. Machined by hand from scrap metal, taking years to complete. The train is a fully functional steam locomotive (this all according to Ben. I know nothing about trains). It is quite a sight to behold and Claire was really intrigued by it!

Probably the highlight of our trip for Claire was getting to play with Grandpa's dollhouse!

This rocking chair has been in the Shepherd family for probably close to a century!