Saturday, December 31, 2011

The 2011 Bushwar Top Ten



10. In February, a snow and ice storm stopped North Texas in its tracks. Despite Liam’s pleas to ice skate on the pool, the Bushwar crew was sequestered inside for the better part of a week.

9. Liam officially mastered potty training in late winter, cutting the number of diapers used in the Bushwar household from 9,490 to just under 7,300 per year.

8. Starting in January, Jon and Susan participated in Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University at church and realized that having money=good and broke=bad.

7. When the “Obama Bucks” which had been funding instructional coaching ran dry, Susan returned to teaching special education at the start of the school year.

6. The Bushwar’s Dallas zoo membership expired in July, but thank goodness their membership to the Bushwar Zoo never ends!

5. After a year of uncertainty and massive budgetary cuts for Irving ISD, Jon is thankful he still has a job teaching art. However, he now has the added responsibility of making his own supplies from the materials he is able to find in the recycling bins around school.

4. Jon was in attendance at the Ballpark in Arlington to cheer on his Texas Rangers once again this October at the World Series, unfortunately…sorry, still too soon to write about it.  :(

3. Snowbirds before their time, the Bushwars spent most of the summer in Minnesota. During July, they enjoyed lots of time with family, took trips to Wisconsin and Duluth, said goodbye to Susan’s sweet Grandma, and enjoyed a break from the Texas heat.

2. Liam had a big, orange birthday party to celebrate turning three. Two months later, his loving and precious sisters, Marin and Ellery, turned one. In those moments when all three kiddos require chasing, feeding, changing, or refereeing, Susan and Jon feel acutely outnumbered.

And the #1 Event of 2011…

1. For the first time in over five years of marriage, there is not a major announcement, event, or happening to report. Life is grand!


(Diana Busch Photography)

Friday, December 30, 2011

A Spring Day in December?

On this winter day here in North Texas, it warm and sunny, so we met Nana and cousins Gracyn and Rylann at the park for a picnic and then to play. 







Original Six

It seems harder and harder for all of us to be home with my parents at the same time, but for one evening this holiday season, the original Martin fam was all together again...and we even remembered to take a picture! 


Thursday, December 29, 2011

Marin Unwrapped

And this is how we found Marin on Christmas night.
Apparently, she liked unwrapping her gifts so much, she just couldn't help herself. 
Yes, we will need to watch this one like a hawk.

Happy Birthday, Parents!

Christmas is sandwiched in between my parents' birthdays.  On my Mom's birthday on the 23rd, Debby and I took her out for a girls' afternoon.  My Dad's is tomorrow.  Happy, Happy Birthday to the best parents ever!

Bushwar Christmas Festivities

Since we were in Minnesota for Christmas, we celebrated in Texas the Sunday evening before...







And then we stopped over at Memaw and Poppie's the next night for some more Christmas cheer!

T'was the Weekend Before Christmas

Quite possibly the busiest weekend of year.
Three birthday parties.
One ABF Christmas party that we hosted.
A Christmas program at church.
And our Bushwar Christmas celebration.
Phew.  It was fun but so, so busy.
R.I.P. December 16-18.







Monday, December 26, 2011

This Christmas

This Christmas was filled with lots of questions about naughty and nice,
Hoping nice would win and Santa would visit,
Worshiping and reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas,
A few sniffles, sneezes, and stuffy noses,
Little hands frosting cookies for Santa,
Playing outside on the playground with no snow on the ground,
A table of food stocked with ham, Swedish meatballs and sausage, Swedish potatoes, salads, fruits, cookies, and Yule Log cakes,
Leisurely visits with family,
Late night boardgames,
A few squabbles over new toys,
Eating chocolate from stockings for breakfast,
Lots of time to play and cuddle with cousin Avonlea,
Little and big ones ripping open packages,
Peace, Joy, and Love.

Merry Christmas!












Saturday, December 24, 2011

Waiting for Santa

Friday, December 16, 2011

Christmas at Sloan

Today was Liam's Christmas party at Sloan School.  The kids had a book exchange, read the Christmas story, ate breakfast food for lunch, and concluded with a visit from Santa. Jon surprised Liam by taking the day off of work to attend.  I met them during my lunch break and caught the tail-end of the celebration.  So much fun to see all the excitement in the room!
  
Liam loves his teacher, Ms. Amy.

I love this picture...such a typical 3-year-old shot.  One kid biting her tongue whilst looking toward the right.  One smiling right at the camera ready for a picture, and the other one happy as she walks away because whoever is behind the camera is taking way too long, and she's ready for her next adventure.

Jon took the day off of work, and I left during my lunch, so we were both able to be at the class Christmas party.