Twinkle Toes

 Almost every day, sometimes more than once, Rosie dons her ballet gear and watches her ballet movie. She isn't old enough for the ballet class at the Y, but boy oh boy will she be ready when she is! The movie she watches is an instructional DVD that teaches the dances from the movie The Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses. Rosemary does surprisingly well at following along. Our friends, the Hicks, gave it to the girls along with the ballet barre. We have never seen the movie, but thanks to the instructional video Cecily knows the names to all twelve Princesses. We get so much joy out of watching the girls dance!

Painting a rainbow across the sky!

A Pair of Basket-Cases

Marriage Encounter

For our Christmas present Rory and I attended Marriage Encounter at Warm Beach Camp. Warm Beach is an incredible place and definitely has a heart for encouraging those who are in ministry. They make they give discounts to pastor's and their families. A few months a go I realized that retreats really are the best way for Rory and I to truly get quality time and fed. It is wonderful to go away and be nurtured and fed and come back rejuvenated to serve and give. We take our marriage very seriously and know that how strong we are as husband and wife directly affects Rory's ability to be a quality Pastor and servant of the Lord. This retreat is just one way we try to make investing in our marriage a priority.
The weekend was awesome. Marriage Encounter was an intense experience. We learned and grew a lot.

Thanks honey for the great weekend!

Oh Goody We're Thirty

Well, this was a big year for Birthdays for Rory and I. We both turned 30. To celebrate my parents sent us to Seattle for the weekend. And my brother and sister gave us tickets to see one of my favorite artists Ingrid Michaelson in concert. While we were there we were able to use up a host of gift certificates, and we had an awesome time... just the two of us. It was especially nice for me to be out and about. The weather was absolutely beautiful and we had such a sweet time. 

 Our homeflock also had a little surprise party for me at our Bible Study. That was super sweet.

On Rory's special day he and I went out on a date. We had gift certificates to dinner and a movie. We loved it! We had an awesome meal and then went to see Narnia. 

Since we were really still recovering from the stress of the surgery, and the Christmas holiday--- We decided that having a party did not sound fun to us at all. We enjoyed our little get away! It was exactly what we needed!

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Girls all ready for the Birthday Tea! 

Rory's mom celebrated my birthday by giving me a beautiful birthday tea at the Victorian Tea House in Port Orchard. We had a sweet time visiting and looking at all the cute things there. The girls had fun getting all dressed up. We loved seeing Aunite G, Aunt Penny and Great Grandma Marion. It was so sweet of Lillian to do that for me. 

Thanks to our friends and family who made us feel so special!

Surgery--- A glimpse of the Journey

Thanks so much to all who helped us and continue to help us as we recover from my Spinal Fusion surgery that I underwent June 30th. So many, many people came to our rescue and there are just too many to count or mention or picture. (I don't even have very good pictures of my parents from this summer.... they were busy snapping all the shots for me) Thank you so much!.
I am recovering well and continue to gain strength and stamina. The surgery seems to have been a success, my back is more stable. I am able to lift and hold the girls now. I have been struggling with getting sick a lot and really low energy. All in all, I am doing really amazing considering how intense this surgery was.
In order to get the best results from the surgery it is important that I continue to do a lot of physical therapy. This has been a challenge, but I am continuing to give it my best. (Having the tred-mill in the shed has made this possibe-- Praise the Lord!)

Happy Hartshorne Christmas

Coloring with Auntie Cara.

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 CJ watching the game with Grandpa George (Phil's dad)

 Cara and Phil rooting for their school!

 Cecily and Rosemary went into Goodwill with Daddy and picked out this present for me. Cecily was beside herself to give me the surprise breakable doll in the plastic bag. 

 The girls and I gave Daddy Ninja Turtle Yahtzee! 

 Our present to each other was attending a marriage retreat in January. 

 Darren had mom to buy for this Christmas... He broke the spending limit and decided to go ahead and spoil his mom. What a sweet son! 

Uncle D. Testing out his present for the girls. A working camera just for them. 

Nanny made Rosemary her own Cinderella dress just like her big sister's.

 Rory and Dad sporting their new sweat shirt!

 Rosemary enjoys some Hot chocolate with Grandma Becky (Phil's mom).
We always have so much fun with her!

 Discovering Great Grandma's real violin.

 Rosemary working out her strategy for the game Desert Rat. 

He's here!

While driving to Bible Study one rainy Monday.... what to our wandering eyes should appear---
"It's Santa! It's Santa! He's here! He's here!"
Her excitement it rose to a deafening clatter!
The dogs in the neighborhood were wondering what was the matter!
"We'll pull over so we can see St. Nick!
But we're late to Bible study and it's raining"-- so Dad said it had to be quick!
His sleigh was dripping from all of the rain.
It was so nice of him to come, even though it was probably a pain.
The girls climbed on up and said their hellos.
He passed out the candy canes before they did go.

"What would you like for Christmas?" came the usual question.
We leaned in close to hear what she would mention.

"My Uncle Adam gave me these boots, but I would like Cinderella shoes from you!"
And thanks to Santa Ebay that's what she got too!