December 2012
Dear Family
and Friends,
These words
of the angels certainly ring true in a new way to our family this year as we
welcomed a new baby to our home this Holy Season! What a visual into the lives of Mary and
Joseph! Though I’m not sure what the
scene at the stable would look like with a four year old and two year old in
tow. I am attempting to type this with
babe in arms and two begging sisters asking for third breakfasts. Neither childbirth nor parenting is very
glamorous and that reality hasn’t changed since Christ’s birth! Yet at
Christmas we celebrate the birth of a King born in poverty and recall the love
of a Father for all His children that is beautiful beyond our comprehension.
Here in the
Snyder home there are glimpses of beautiful love as well…
Kurt
continues to provide for our family. By
day he is a John Deere engineer by night a volunteer firefighter and farmer and
of course fulltime Dad. This year, after
moving closer to a friend’s farm he helped raise and butcher 300 chickens. He also worked on perfecting his apple press
and cider making skills. Our orchard had
its first ‘record year’! He kept our
yard and garden looking good and has been making numerous home improvements to
our house.
Katie, 4, is
our magnificent, independent, performer and artist. Days with her are full of song, dance and
projects! She’d like to record her day
on the smartphone and camera. Katie has
really come a long way in learning, too.
Her favorite pastime of late is writing notes, lists and letters. Soon enough I’ll be able to pawn this job off
on her! She is an amazing big sister and
natural mother. And just this week Katie
won her first game of UNO and teamed up in our Gym class to help me lose her
first game of SPUD!
Julia, 2, is
adjusting to life as middle child. She
has the best sense of humor! JuJu has
found her voice this past year. Dad is
greeted with a play by play of our day each afternoon. And with voice has come opinion! She’s potty training on her terms, dresses
herself, can be rather helpful with the baby.
She’s the first to grab a diaper, help burp, and warn of crying. She loves the game I SPY. Both Julia and Katie are continually changing
identities in their perpetual game of pretend.
They also demand that Kurt and I become players in their adventures- from
nights out at Gooch’s, becoming our friends and neighbors families, or making
an imaginary family of our own. It gets
to be rather confusing when the call for “Mom!” is not actually for me!
Erik Edward
Snyder joined our family on the morning of November 14th. What’s the saying, “New house, new
baby?” Kurt was thrilled to have boy
join our ranks as he was worried about his continual hair loss from the female
drama that is our home. J And beyond the drama
of his birth, Erik is about as low key as they come. He is thus far an easy and
happy baby. Already so alert and gracing
us with smiles and an occasional coo his days consist of eat, sleep and poop. He is the pride of his sisters who beg to
hold him and be near him. Weighing in at 9 lbs. 4 oz. he has continued to grow
and grow! Our transition to a family of
five was made easier with the help of family and friends. We feel incredibly blessed and loved!
As for me, I
love our new home and the time spent with family in it. Waking up to this view has yet to get old.
There is something to being with the ones you love in the midst of God’s
creation each day! I’m still keeping
busy at church, the library, the blog, kids’ gym and art classes, coffee klatch
and moms’ group. I put down countless
jars of apples, applesauce, pickles, marinara, and salsa this fall in our
canning kitchen. I am learning to count
the things I am grateful for and have noticed so many things I have taken for
granted.
We are
sending you Christmas wishes and blessings on your 2013!
Love,
Kurt, Angie, Katie, Julia
and Erik
2 comments:
They are beautiful as always. The play-by-play sounds so familiar! Enjoy that sweet baby.
such cute pics!
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