New Year's Eve

 We went down to Pat and Cindy's house for New Year's Eve.

 Goofing around with uncle Pat

 She put his hair in a pony tail:)

 Most of the gang.  You cannot  see Megan, Rayna, Seth, and one couple friend of the Morans.  It was a fun night.

We did leave early though so we could see the ball drop in our own home.  Micah was asleep before we got home, but Elli stayed up with us to see the ball drop.  I wonder what 2015 will bring?
Happy New Year!!!!

2014

As I look back over the year on this New Year's Eve, I think of the many things that have taken place.  Both Brent and I have maintained our same positions at work, me being assistant professor at Cedarville University School of Education and Brent a home health care physical therapist with Gem City Health Care.  Elli finished 2nd grade well being named the Citizen Award recipient and started third grade in Mrs. Stephens class, a former student of mine.  She continues to improve in her school subjects.  We have had several conversations about how her "gifts" may not be the kind that can be tested on school tests, but that she is gifted in compassion, communication, and flips!  Micah has continued to grow in ways that are both challenging as his parents and tremendously joyful.  He is a blessing and a hoot!  He is in a screaming phase right now when he doesn't get his way, but is smart as a whip counting(with one-to-one correspondence), naming his colors, talking up a storm, recognizing some letters, singing songs from memory, jumping, kicking, running, etc.  He really is a joy.
I think of the amazing times we have had making memories with our extended family.  We were able to get to Europe to see Janna, Justin, Aria and Colette, as well as Lance, Lana, Liam, and Lilly.  We didn't get to see Luis though as he was born a month after we left.  We made it to Canada to see Gordon's family, Ann's family, and grandpa Ferguson.  We went to Mansfield to see Grandma Donough, Greg's family, and some other cousins.  We celebrated most birthdays and holidays with my sisters and parents, as well as Grandma.  Leah announced she was having another baby, due in April!
We experienced some loss this year with the murder of my cousin Michael.  Some distant relatives have died this year as well on both sides of our families.
Dad was diagnosed recently with B Cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.  We have had a hard time working through that news.
Brent and I found out we were going to have another baby as well.  On Sept 5th, I was at the Dr because my eye had swollen shut with a bug bite. (we think bed bugs, but not positive).  She was prescribing a steroid to help with the itching and I thought, I wonder if it is safe to take if I am pregnant.  Sure enough, I took a test in the office and it was positive!  We had our first ultrasound at 6 weeks, Sept 19th, and sure enough, there was a sweet little baby in there.  I was sick and tired and loving it.  I had Jeni make shirts for Elli and Micah with pumpkins on them.  They said, "I am the Biggest Pumpkin" and "I am the Middle Pumpkin."  We announced to my family at the annual pumpkin patch and Brent's family by skype.  It was pure joy to see and hear their reactions.  We began making plans and getting ready for the arrival of another Ferguson baby.  I began to feel better at between 7-8 weeks.  I had a dr. appointment a 9 weeks on Oct 10th.  Sadly, we had an ultrasound just to make sure all was ok, and found out the baby had stopped growing at around 7 1/2 weeks.  The next week I began to mis-carry the baby and had to have a d and c on Oct 22.  I have really struggled with all of this. I have just been really sad.  I know that God is still the same God, but boy have I had a tough time losing this baby.  I just can't wrap my mind around the "why" behind it all.  Why give us the joy of a new baby? Why do it as another miracle? Why allow us to get pregnant when we were trying not to? Why then take this baby? Why not let us raise this baby? Why make us walk this sadness again? Why lead us down this road? Why?  One day I will know, but for now, I ask for comfort and healing as I do walk this road of unanswered "whys."

As I contemplate the joys and hardships of this year, I pray I am able to thank God for all he has done.

Friends, Family, Fun

 Elli spent the night with the puppies, I mean the Masters:) on Sunday night and we got to watch all the kids on Monday for a couple hours.  Caleb asked to have a dance party.  It was so fun!

 Check out these moves!

 Monday night, Nana, Grandpa, Great Grandma Donough, and Kyle's crew all came over for dinner.  Elli was a great help with Rett.

 Becca was still here to join us for dinner. It was fun to be together.  We sure would have like for Lana to have been with us to celebrate her birthday though!  Maybe next year they can join for birthday festivities.

Lily came to spend the night with us on Tuesday night.  They had a ton of fun making tents and playing together.  They also used their imaginations for other games.  I love that these girls can have so much fun together.  What a fun story if they can remain friends through the years.

Disco Party

 Elli could not wait to get her disco ball plugged in and on.  We had a dance party for sure!

 Breakin' it down.

 Love this action shot with the lights off.

 Break dancing and spinning on the floor.

Micah just started running back and forth and doing front rolls in the family room.  Elli as you can see is still gettin' it!

Christmas with the Browns

 Dad was not feeling well so we decided to have Christmas at our house at the last minute.

 Trying to get a picture of all these precious kiddos is a little difficult:)

 Mom and dad.

 First presents.  Poor Gloria didn't have one yet and she was not happy about that!

 Elli got a cool infinity scarf from Heather and Micah got a Paw Patrol book.

 Leah and Oliver opening his light saber.

 Micah loved his new book and sat for quite a while looking at it.

 Elli spent her own money to get gifts this year for mom and dad as well.  She got Gonga some marshmallow cream and some mints.

 She got Papa some chili chocolate and mints.

 Brent got a new shirt and some snow pants from mom and dad.

 Gloria wanted to help her daddy with his gifts too.

 We got Gloria an Elsa dress just like Elli's.  So cute.

 Elli quite excited about the clay charm set from Gonga and Papa.

 Matt and Gary drew each other's names.  The wives obviously did the shopping:)  Matching outfits means "twinsies:)"

 More gifts.  Elli was super excited about the disco ball! Micah is concentrating on a gift there too.

 Francine couldn't wait to hug her minnie mouse:)  I don't think Gloria ever took off her dress.

 This is one of the sweetest pictures of the boys from the day.  They couldn't wait to see what the other was getting. They got the movie Planes Fire and Rescue, the book Night Lights, and they each got a superman cape.

 Yep, Micah was excited to get this light saber:)

Once presents were all opened, mom mentioned that I might have forgotten one.  Her boots were still down in the basement.  We missed them!  Oops.  Here they are though, adorable.

It was such a fun morning.  I wish you could see Heather here more than just the side of her.  We all had a great time together.
By the afternoon though, mom had developed a fever and was not feeling well.  So, she and dad went home. Wish we could all just be healthy and stay healthy.
At one point in the day, we found Micah and Gloria eating as much candy as they could get their hands one and loving it!  They were covered in chocolate and had wrappers surrounding them.
Another part of the day found Elli, Luka, Wesley and Micah running around with their new walkie talkies.  So fun.
Gloria really did wear her new dress all day.
Francine went around callign everyone by name and saying "uh huh" like it was her job.
Oliver chased the bugger kids and tried to keep up, mimic, and giggle with them.
It really was a fun day together.

Stockings Dec 27

 We waited until this morning to open our stockings.

 Micah found the characters of the planes movie in his stocking.  He loved those little things.

 So serious

 She loved her little ballerina ornament.

 Micah got a digger ornament and then Elli and Micah hung them on the tree.  Sweet.

Wonder-woman and Superman capes:) This should make for some fun play time.
Elli made a small scavenger hunt for us.  She hid a star for Devin and Becca who were there in the morning with us.  She hid some hershey kisses in the refrigerator for us:) Fun times.

Day after Christmas, Home again

The kids were quite excited to come in the door from traveling home to see their gifts under the tree.  Elli was quite amazed!  How did they get wrapped without her knowing it and placed under the tree for when she got home?  Hehehe, sneaky mama and helpful Devin and Becca who made it home before us.

 Elli opened a set of Beverly Cleary books and Micah got some new pjs.

 Elli took her own money and went shopping with mom to get gifta for all of us.  She got Micah a train whistle and a glittering baton, socks and a knitted project for me, and socks and a clock for Brent.  Such a sweet spirit she has and her excitement for us to open them was precious.

 Practicing his whistle.

 Our gifts.

 Elli got am Elsa dress, nightgown and outfit.

 Micah got new shoes:)  They are too big but he was so excited about them he put them right on and wanted to sleep in them!  He settled for having them beside his bed.

 Elli opened a horse trailer and Micah opened a digger that makes noise:)

 Elli was very excited to see this new sewing machine.  She was surprised because she didn't think I remembered her saying she wanted one of these this past summer:)  I love surprises.

 I got a couple of presents.  I bought a white coat, "from brent."  He got me a new brushed nickel container for my kitchen tools to set on the counter.

 Love my new coat.

 Not the best picture since Brent was trying to help Micah, but I got him a new outfit.

 Elli's pure shock at opening a tablet.

 Now excitement.

 She was so excited about it:)  She thought it was a phone.  It really is just a small version of a tablet.  I really wrestled with this gift.  I do not want her to spend her time on electronics, but at the same time, it is the only thing she asked for.  We have set controls and limits and she is fine with all of it:)

 Watching this little guy open his last present was very fun.

He kept saying "whoa" and "digger" and "whoa."  Fun times for sure.  I truly love this part!