A car crash....never is in the plan.

 Well, last weekend, we had ourselves a little accident. We were coming home from a day in DC. Really the boys slept while we went to the Lincoln and other memorials, and we just enjoyed the beautiful weather!! After about 5 days of rain and a day of "snow" it was much needed!!
Well, just as we got onto dreaded 95, we hit traffic. I am not sure how it happened, but we ended up crashing into the car in front of us.  It was fast, and scary and we had no idea how it happened really. I was talking to Owen, looking for a video for him to watch, and all of a sudden we were all jolted forward violently. We instantly after looked to the boys and they were in tears. They were shaken up and had no idea what happened. Well, owen did know a little, he said he wanted daddy's car fixed and to go home. Thankfully we were all ok, nothing more than being sore the next day, and the kids car seats worked just like they should, praise God! Well, to cut out the gory details of the crash, had have had many blessings come out of it.
     One person who was involved in the crash, there were 3 cars including ours, offered to drive us almost to our house, so we didn't have to wait at the to truck place and wait for a ride from there!! Now we were basically in Dc still when this happened, so we still had about an hour and 45 mins to get home!! She took us all but 20 mins!! Amazing! And she told us to come over anytime and she would cook us a Sudanese dinner!! She was beyond kind. She even gave my children milk to drink since they had already devoured all our snacks and drinks! Talk about a blessing!! We just crashed into her car, via another car, and she showed us such mercy and grace!! I want to be like that lady. I hope i would be in that same situation!! What is the point of being angry and mean....it doesn't ever help!!
     Then, from Outdoor World, 20 mins from our house, our friends and neighbors picked us up and took us home!! How amazing is that!! I met these people in July, and they just had moved here like us, so we were all going through the same things.  It has been a blessing to have met them, for so many reasons more than them giving us a ride home.

     So we had an accident, and really, it was no stress to find a way home! When does that happen?!
Well the next step was to get a rental car....of course i waived that option in our insurance, so we had to find one on our own. It was a sunday, and only rental places open were in the airport. If you rent from an airport, and want to use a debit car, you have to show proof of round trip travel!!! What?! We just need a car! And of course if we pay our credit card with the debit card, the funds wouldn't be available in time! But the nice people are capital one told me to western union the money to the card, and we could have it in 10 mins!! Praise the Lord!! So we were able to get a rental car so Shane could make it to work this week!!
     Of course this was not our plan. We wanted to buy a new car for Shane,and a used car for myself!! This was not how we were planning on going about it!! But I know God knows what he is doing.
     A few days before the accident, we received word that despite being told Shane and his fellow co workers wouldn't receive the bonus promised to them if they reached a certain goal, they actually were going to get it anyways!! The deal was for JJ's to be up 10% from last year and he will give them a nice extra bonus....well they ended up around 9.5% over from last year!!! But Jimmy, because he basically told everyone that there was no way they wouldn't get it, decided to give it anyways!! What a huge blessing! Now we  wanted to use that money and trade in shane's car for a new vehicle! Even if that doesn't happen exactly like we wanted, how amazing is it that we are getting that money this week, just after this awful crash and we will A) have money for the deductible if it needs to be repaired of B) have money to pay the gap and get a new/used car!! The way God has been apart of this is awesome! I know God probably wasn't like, hey lets wreck there car, and leave them hanging, and see how they like that! But I do believe that God is orchestrating all this, and His plan is way better than mine!!
    This entire thing could have been way way worse. And especially if we decided to be defeated and let the Devil in and steal the show. yes, we have been stressed a worried at times...the first 3 hours after the accident i think we both were trying to not cry hysterically, because we knew it wouldn't help. We are keeping our heads up and letting God do his work. Just listening to him and pray about all these decisions.
     We are still waiting to hear if our car is totaled or not, we should know today. Whatever the outcome is though, I will praise him for all of his goodness and grace he has shown us.  Easily, my kids or husband, or self,  could have been hurt of taken away from me. That didn't happen, God spared us, and we need to praise him for that!! It going to be a process, but we are going to get through, and with a smile on our face!

Christmas went a week longer!!

Well the day after Christmas, my parents arrived! It was different not seeing any family on Christmas Day, but by them getting here the day after, it made Christmas seem like an extra week!!The first day after they got here, I had an early morning ultra sound and midwife appointment!!! It was our first ultra sound, and I was almost 22 weeks, so we were all excited!! We wanted Owen to see the ultra sound, so we all went, they they watched the boys until it was ultra sound time, then Owen came in to see!! We found out we are having a GIRL!!! We are beyond excited :) She is going to be a great fit to this family!! After our ultra sound, we did some shopping, got some lunch(chick fil a ) of course, and then rested at home while the boys played and enjoyed their grandparents!!
The next day, Shane and I had planned a overnight date!! It would be our first time away from both boys!! We were only staying in Richmond, so we were not far!! We got to experience some local places in Richmond, that we normally wouldn't go to with the boys, and it was great fun to just be with my husband! Saturday morning, we were ready to come home after a great breakfast at a local french place, Can Can, they had this tea that was AMAZING!! I can feel a craving coming on now :)
Saturday was spent with my family up north in VA, and swimming at the hotel they got for the night!!
Both Owen and Henry are water lovers!! I think we may have some pretty good swimmers on our hands!
Sunday we went to church, and my parents joined us. Shane and my dad watched the boys, while I went to see Les Miserables with my mom and aunt. That was a nice treat! I remember listening to my mom's tape of Les Mis when I was a teenager! Its amazing how the music sticks with you.
Monday, Shane had to go back to work, New year's eve. My planned some great activities for the boys to do to celebrate/countdown New Years!! Things like brownie making, marshmallow races, "snowball Fights", dancing, reading and making new years ornaments! It was pretty awesome, and the bulk of what these pictures are of. We let the boys stay up as long as they could....Henry made it to about 8 and Owen made it to 8;54! such party animals  :)
The next day, New Years day, my parents headed for home in the late morning.  It was a great time with them here....we didn't do anything fancy.....they just spent good quality time with their grand kids, but that is what they both needed!!
I think if we would have let him, Owen would have hopped in the car with them, or in our car and followed them back to their yellow house in Michigan. But we will see them again and the time spent apart we always find fun new ways to stay connected!!


Grandma and Grandpa are here!!! Owen is opening a toy with Grandpa!

One of Owen's favorite games is battle ship....he just loves to fill in the pegs! He taught Grandma.

Chill in with Grandpa....Being a silly goose with is legs!

Coloring with Grandma. Owen likes to manage who colors what and with what color...rather than color :)

Learning how to use the ipad!! Thanks for that Dad!!

Caught ya!!! Owen snapped a few pictures!!

Marshmallow races! Both the boys LOVED this game!! Maybe I should bust it out someday soon!!

This kid has amazing patience!! He was able to sting the bead on, without any frustration, even if it took a while!

More Marshmallow racing!! Henry had to stop and have a bite to eat :)

Mini Marshmallows have so many fun uses!!! This was our "snowball fight "Owen and Henry and Mom had their own forts, and had to infiltrate the other's fort with "snow balls!" It was great fun!! and not very cold!!

Got you Owen!!

Crashed on New year's eve!! Last night together.

"Its time for bed Grandma!!"  Owen no longer needed us for bedtime/wake up time this week....he really preferred it that way, he just wanted grandma and grandpa for that. 

First night they arrived!!! Opening up some gifts. Grandpa had a small gift for the boys everyday they were there....so there was much of this! 

Ready for bed....but Grandpa and Owen decided to play some games from Owen's folder on the ipad :) 5 mins later, he was out.

On our date!! This was Can Can, the french restaurant. We went there for dessert and for breakfast the next day!

Grandma has the touch!! With very little crying, no BM, Henry finally conked out! And stayed asleep all night!!

Inside the Jefferson hotel! The staircase in this hotel inspired the author of Gone with the Wind and the staircase in the book/movie. They used to have live alligators in this hotel, how awesome is that, but now they just use it as a mascot type item.

Doctor Owen making house calls!! Off to see Aunt Mel and Uncle Ron at the hotel. Then it was time to swim!!

Shane took this of me on our date! It was at the Jefferson hotel.



Christmas was extended this year and it was a great way to celebrate it!! A week of Christmas sounds great to me!! We were blessed by the visit and can't wait for the next one!!

It was the most wonderful time of the year!!

So, I am not sure I have blogged at all in December! It has been a fun month though! And just so down the road, I can refresh my own memory, I am gonna type it all down!  December brought tons of fun with decorating, crafting and prepping for Christmas!! The boys and I spent our days making decorations, baking cookies, mailing out cookies, doing our advent countdowns and just taking in all the magic of the season! The weekends were spend getting loads of daddy time and checking Richmond and some of our favorite spots!

 We headed to the Christmas Parade in Richmond. It was pretty fun, and a bonus, not very cold!

 Owens birthday weekend, we spent in Baltimore, and we spent one of the days at the Aquarium. But first we hit up a favorite local breakfast spot that was featured on Diners Drive ins and Dives. It was pretty good.

 Opening up his presents and balloon notes from Grandma and Grandpa Elliott.

Some christmas lights in Baltimore that have been around for a long time and have become a Baltimore area favorite. 

We had 3 christmas countdowns this year. This one was part of the Truth in the Tinsel countdown. It was a really awesome Ebook and I can't wait to do it again next year! Owen learned a lot from it and the story of Christ's birth really stuck with him.

 Henry loves this Mickey mouse music house. He would just sit and listen to it for a long time.

 Crafting!

 Painting our Mary and Elizabeth craft for the advent countdown.

 Owen's first haircut!! The weekend after his 3rd birthday!! It makes him look way to grown up.

 Another advent, Truth in the Tinsel craft.

This was a real tree we found in Charlottesville. It was pretty massive.



We decided to stay home for christmas eve and christmas, even though we do have some family about an hour and a half north of us.  So we had them over for dinner a few days before christmas, rather than traveling there christmas day. We are so blessed to have them so close. Myself especially. My cousin and I are the same age, and we have always wanted to live close to each other! He is getting married this summer and i am so excited for him, and can't wait to see what this new chapter in his life will bring! I didn't make anything too fancy, but tried to get some fun christmasy foods in there! Owen really liked the "Grinch Punch" Sprite and Lime Sherbet! It was pretty yummy. 

 Putting together the Firestation/Police house Aunt Mel, Uncle Ron and Corey got for the boys.

 Opening up his daily book countdown that Grandma wrapped and sent in the mail for the boys to open every day. They really looked forward to opening these up. And they also sent a Pirate Playmobil advent calendar they opened each day, and inside were different parts of the pirate island! It was very cool, and both boys are now even more in love with Playmobil than ever!!

These next few pictures are from Christmas Eve. We had a super relaxing day, and then had an early dinner or Chinese Takeout(we have been doing this for a few years now!) And then we headed to Christmas Eve church service.

 I love this little boy!! I love how he is growing, however, i wish it could slow down!! I need to remember to keep them little!!

 Owen placing his gifts for Henry under the tree. He has such a giving heart!!

I will end the post at this point!!! I feel like this post has been long enough and I have a lot more photos from Christmas, and the week after with my parents here!!!