Christmas Card

Merry Christmas!!

Life has changed dramatically this year...It is why you are getting a blog post instead of a Christmas card.  Between being a new mom, working 30 hours a week, and being the chair of the Women Ministries at church, I had no time for Christmas cards.  Additionally, Luke and I have successfully lived through 4 days of Jack Bauer's life since this summer.  Watching "24" is a commitment that takes dedication!  It's our latest way to relax together after we put Viv to bed. 

This year has been a year of changes for us!  April 30th, Viv made her big entrance almost 3 weeks early.  Thank God (literally) that she was early because she was almost 9 pounds. We were blessed to have so many of our family and friends share in that time!  Becoming parents has been such an amazing experience.  She is truly a bright spot in so many lives.  Viv spends her days maintaining no consistent nap schedule (as much as I try), rolling across every room she can, giving us endless smiles, making us work hard for each belly laugh, sticking her tongue out, and constantly learning new things!  She is a very happy baby!  Julie and Charla (the grandmas) enjoy watching her while I'm at work!  I am so thankful for that gift!  We feel so blessed that we can leave them with Nana and Grandma while I'm at work!

I continue to work as a PA in a pediatric office and love my job.  Luke accepted a new job closer to home this year!  He works 10 minutes away instead of 45 minutes.  This has been a nice transition for us and Luke has been challenged in his career in new ways.  Luke passed the first part of his licensing exam!  There is a 30% pass rate.  We are waiting to hear about the results from the second part of his exam. 

I continue to chair Women Ministries at church!  I'm blessed with a great bunch of women who make it easy for me to continue in this role as a new mother.  Luke continues to lead Sunday school.  We both love our small group and the friendships we have developed there!

We enjoy our time with our family and friends!  So many of them have had babies this year too!  It's going to be fun watching our kids grow up together!

December 22 we are leave for Maui for 12 days.  We will be going with my grandparents, my family, and Luke's family.  There will be 15 of us there!  We have saved our frequent flier miles for the past 4 years and have been putting away money each month for quite some time so we could make it happen.  We are so excited that it is finally here and are looking forward to spending time experiencing it with our families.  

We enjoy the Christmas cards from everyone!  Luke, Viv, and I hope you are able to rest in God's peace this year.  We feel so blessed to have Viv with us this year and look forward to making meaningful traditions that will share the importance of God's gift to us!  

Male Kalikimaka!

Luke, Kins, and Viv

Thanksgiving

We had such a great Thanksgiving!  It was great to relax at the Ringenberg's house.  My parents and grandparents came up to Fort Collins to be with us for the day too!

Viv is getting so good at sitting:

Taking a nap with Aunt Jenna...The only decent nap for the day 

POPS =-) 

Viv's 2nd nap was in Nanana arms...Took a long time for her to go to sleep because she was so facinated with her jewelry. 

Table set for 13 and plenty of food for all!

 Viv got her Turkey/Prune Mixture...Zach was disgusted by it!

Family Pictures: 

The Countdown the beginning of the Anderson/West/Ringenberg Christmas Bash in Maui....24 Days! 

Baby Dedication

A couple of weeks ago we had Viv's Dedication at Church!  Such a special time for us. 

Pastor John said she was a big girl...Got a smile from Luke and I but Viv didn't know what was so funny.

Parenting these days is a scary thing.  I see crazy teenage girls at work every day. But out hope and prayer is that God would give us wisdom on how to raise this little girl so she doesn't grow into a crazy teen =-) 

Halloween

Yesterday was the Fall Festival at our church.  Our small group helped with some of the booths:

 I was a doctor (lame right?).  Luke was a pirate and Viv was the cutest Bronco Cheerleader.

 Stef and Andy from our small group were there with their kids Amberlin and Annalie.  Viv was really wanting a handful of Annalie's costume! 

We watched the DVR version of the Bronco game with Andy and my parents.  Thankfully we didn't waste three hours watching it live!  Viv was a little cranky...probably because her team had a rough day.

Viv celebrated Halloween by getting shots.  Aren't we the meanest parents?  She's on the 90% for height and weight again.  She's a healthy girl!

6 Months Pics and a Day at the Park

 Viv is almost 6 months old!  Time flies.  Here are a couple of my favorite pics from this week: 

 We had a play date at the park on Monday.  It was 80 degrees and beautiful!  Two days later it dumped snow.  Glad we got some time in at the park before the storm!

  Viv loved the leaves!  She was so captivated by them.

 Trying to eat the leaves:

 She is changing so quickly!  She is talking a lot and makes the funniest facial expressions.  She can sit for a minute or two.  She's finally rolling both ways.  She makes funny sounds with her lips when she is bored or frustrated.  She loves her solid foods...go figure!  Her six month appointment is next Monday and I think she'll be on the 90% again for height and weight.  We absolutely love her chubby cheeks!



Broncos and Family

Pops watched Viv while I had my Women Ministries event at church.  She was ready for Tebow Time!

 Nanana, Papapa, Mom, Viv, Zach and I had a late birthday lunch for Papa at my house:

Twins

Got to see Stacia and Jeremy's twins!  They are adorable!  Can't believe she made it over 37 weeks and delivered two incredibly healthy twins naturally!  Way to go! 

 James and Ellie:

Congrats to Stacia and Jeremy!