Speaking of blessings...

Jon got a new job!!!

He'll be starting Monday morning as an in-house attorney for an energy software company called Open Access Technology International (OATI)! We got the news two days after Christmas and are thrilled! Thanks to all our family and friends who have shared their support and prayers over the last several months.

In other news, we had a very enjoyable Christmas. We celebrated Christmas Eve with Jon's sister Rebekah and her family. The kids acted out the nativity, with Tommy playing the part of Joseph and Joey playing a shepherd. They were so reverant and cute. We spent all of Christmas Day at home relaxing with the boys and their new toys. Jon accomplished his one goal--to stay in pajamas all day long! The only drama of the day occurred late in the evening when we thought Christy was going into labor. The contractions stopped at about midnight, though, and we have no new baby yet.

Here are some recent pictures of the season. Hopefully they'll convince you all to move to Minnesota!

On a recent warm day, I finally took the boys outside and Joey spent the entire 45 minutes riding his trike up and down the driveway...he'd REALLY missed it!
Tommy, on the other hand, spent the entire time climbing and sledding up and "over the hills of snow." The snow banks are so deep that he even managed to play atop our mailbox (until I made him get down)!

Just for the family record...the boys' presents from Santa this year. Of course, they ran obliviously past them Christmas morning to get candy canes off the Christmas tree!

Our traditional visit to Culvers to see Santa this year went much better than last year. Notice both boys are smiling! (Joey was still a little hesitant until Santa offered him a candy cane. Then they were the best of friends.)