Merry Christmas to all! Praise Him for coming as a precious, needy, dependant baby... worthy of a throne but thankful for a manger! We are so blessed by His promises.  We may 'feel' defeated by some of life's circumstances... but the only truth lies in victory:  Jesus.   

I do promise to get back to this blog... and post about "normal" life -- but as most of you know, the last 6 months have been more than challenging and I'm just trying to catch my breath and get a stride going here! And I promise to send out REAL Christmas cards next year!!! :) I plan to go update Caleb's Caringbridge site as well. If you don't know what I'm talking about... sorry I didn't keep you in the loop. Visit Caringbridge.com and look up Caleb Elston!!! 

To our Dear Neighbor Ms Nora aka - stand in Grandma

WE WILL MISS YOU!!

Ode to Daddy - Happy Father's Day to our very own Incredible!

You take me cool places

 you clean up my messes

 You do silly things - as dumb as they sound

 and even let me just hang around

 You make me laugh and dance all crazy

and carry me when I'm feeling lazy!

 

You teach me how to do things right... but best of all you hold me tight.
 We love you Daddy!!! 

Reese is 2!!

 

Ok Ok - lay off of her.  She just turned 2, what did you expect?  With that finger, she's at least half way there!  Oh and the thumb - she's 3/4s of the way there to having 2 fingers up :)

We had a bash!  Fun was had by all. 

 Daddy and Captain Dargish got to do all the dirty work!  Papa and Mozzie gifted a trampoline... for better or worse...

Lily decided to hang around and wait until...

 it was time to JUMP JUMP JUMP

then came the REAL party.  Cupcakes!!!

The Dargish clan, Ms. Nora, Ms. Ellyce  and the Southam's were all there!

Yes, of course Lily got a cupcake too!

Notice the icing was all but gone before she started in on the cake part?

Of course there were presents!  Where Grandma and Poppy, Papa and Mozzie and Ms. Nora are involed...... there are always presents!!!

Look!  I actually caught a Southam kid on camera :)

"Did I get it right that time Mommy?"  No dear... thank goodness you're not 5 yet.

Happy 2nd Birthday Reesie Cup! 

You're moving to England?

Yes folks, it's true.  We're heading to the United Kingdom.  I think we'll have to get our own double decker bus to tour around in?  Seems a family of 5 is big these days :)  We were given the opportunity... and had to make a quick decision.  After much heming and hawing... praying... seeking advice... flipping coins... playing spin the bottle (what?  Ok we didn't do that) -- we decided to go.  We felt like itw as the opportunity of a lifetime - so with some sadness, bitterness, worry and maybe even a touch of regret before we even leave - we said yes.  While we're nervous and overwhelmed -- more importantly we're excited, thrilled, nervous (in a good way), anticipating so much and just happy to have the chance!
No - we aren't moving closer to "home" which is always kinda our goal... but, well... if you know me well enough you would expect this decision from me :)  Sounds like something that Kristi would do is what you're all saying in your heads now!  Pack up her family after just buying a house and settling down... moving overseas witha  2 year old... 3.5 year old and newborn for goodness sakes!  Subject her family and friends to an even longer flight and more time-changes to think about when calling and visiting.  Yep - I did it... and I'm suckering in my dear husband along with me.
"Cheerio mates".  Oh wait... that's not right.  "Bloody hell" - yes yes, that's right BUT not so appropriate (even though they said it in Harry Potter!).  Let's just go with "Long live the Queen"  -- that one works?  Meh -w hatever.  We'll learn. 

Happy ...um...39th Birthday Mozzie

Caleb Joshua Elston

FINALLY entered this world early in the morning on March 25th, 2011.  He decided to be different... which may be a good thing, than his sisters!  He almost made it to his actual due date!!  Even better - he gave me a lovely Harry Potter style stretch  mark smack-dab in the middle of my tummy in the extra week that I had to carry him in utero.  No lie... he made his mark.
Mom, aka "Mozzie", was here already and that came in super handy since my water broke without notice in the middle of the night - around 1:45am!  We made it to the hospital around 3ish... epidural around 5:30 and he was here shortly after weighing 6lbs and 10oz!  Welcome to the world sweet baby Caleb!!!

 Big sisters came to visit their little brother later that day!  Mozzie somehow missed out on the camera pictures... although I got her with the phone camera!  They were super excited and more than cute... ready to hold, cuddle and kiss.  They've both refused to change diapers though...  They were awareded with their "Big-sister-helper-princess-capes" that I made earlier that week.  That was cool... for at least a minute... but not as cool as baby Caleb.

 Time to go home!  We were pleased to leave early on Saturday - before lunch even :)  Guess that's what happens when it's your 3rd child (with an uncomplicated delivery).  Praise the Lord - we're happy to have you here and in our arms little man!! Also pretty cute and a little nostalgic to see you in the same little carseat that your sisters used.