Well... We officially slept in our new home, Dec 22nd. I wouldn't say officially moved in because we still had a BUNCH of stuff at my moms house. But I knew if I forced Kristofer to sleep in our home he would have to get his stuff over here. ;) We received internet that following Friday! YAY! We had Christmas dinner at our place (pot luck since we don't have a kitchen). As of today... pretty much everything is here, just a few larger items we need my dads truck for it at mom's. Wood floors are stained! They are SO beautiful. Our extra bedroom is currently my "little tiny" studio, but it works for now. Kitchen is still in progress, counter tops are purchased, they just need to be put in. The basement remains untouched! too much right now. Formal living room is semi put together with furniture, only thing missing are pictures and piano. Family is a mess!! (only because Alyvia's toys are put here) ;) I wont allow toys in the bedrooms. Eventually the extra room will be a guest bedroom/ play room, until the basement is ready. But there is furniture and a t.v. in the family room so we can relax.


Don't worry pictures are soon to come... I hope you all have a fun safe New Years!!

- From my Family to yours

this is my mom's Christmas card!! Love it!


We love you all!! What a wonderful and blessed year we have all had! I have so much to be grateful for and to hope for in the coming year. I am indeed and for most grateful for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for all He has done for me and you. I love celbrating His birth and His life. I know His is the Son of God and He died for us and I know He Lives NOW! My heart is overflowing with His love and grace.

May you all have a blessed and safe Christmas and New Years. May your life be full of love, joy, and peace.

Love,

The Eastons, Bartelmes, Hayashis, and Gorhams

I took Alyvia's Christmas pictures with Santa this year. But I wanted to be sneaky and just use part of Santa. Alyvia LOVED this, she was SO happy, SO giggly, and VERY photogenic. Her daddy can really get her to smile/ laugh. These are a few of my favorites.




She's so stinkin' cute!

Then later that week I was asked by Liberty Bank to take Santa Pictures... (to see more head over to my Photography website.)

And This how that turned out...




1st try



2nd try (my fav)



3rd times a charm... NOT



Take 4



and 5 (tried bribing with a cookie)



6th time... only one NOT crying!



SAFE in the arms of DAD

 

She wouldn't even try...



Sorry there have been no updates! It has been kind of crazy around here!! Our goal of moving in by Nov 1 was not met, but as of yesterday (Nov 18) we now have walls painted, carpet in, formal living room has wood floors and the kitchen is in the process of wood floors!! SWEET! The moving in process begins NOW! (Well, a little, it may have to wait until after Thanksgiving). I am THANKFUL for EVERYONE who has helped in this project. Pictures of ALL the updates coming soon.


Love the Hayashis

As you walk into the front door, to your left in this beautiful room. This will be our formal living room/ piano room.

If you go straight through the front door, through the entry way you will run straight into the Family room. (ALL PANELING!!) We are taking off the paneling as you can see on the right. That wall is the wall connected to the stair case; we are making it into a half wall to reconnect the basement to the whole house. ;)

Pass the kitchen is the mud room (which connects to the garage and a the door to the sun room), then the laundry room, then the pantry.

Here is the hall to all the bedrooms. When you are coming through the front door, instead of going to the family room (and directly in line with the door the basement) you take a right the hall leads to bedrooms. First door on Left is the bathroom, and the 2nd is the Master w/ a bathroom. First door on right is the guest/ playroom. then there is a 2nd door hiding on the right and that is Alyvia's room. ALL rooms are BLUE!! YUCK and this wall paper seriously! YUCK, YUCK!
 This is the entry way where the formal/ piano room meet. We have torn out the columns and half walls.

I loved this session! These pictures were taking back the 24th of June, when we had ALL the grandkids together. They are so fun! If you want to see more from this session visit my photography site.
I cannot say it enough but I LOVE WHAT I DO!! I feel so blessed to have this ability to capture these moments in life! Time just slips away... To me this is the only way to hold on to them.

I still cannot believe my niece, Ryann, is going to be turning 11 yrs old soon!! When did that sweet brown eyed baby girl grow up?

Alyvia and Kinzley are two of the cutest girls EVER! They are just too funny.Brandon decided to put Alyvia on Kinzley shoulders and let her walk around! They BOTH just cracked up! It was the funniest/ cutest thing ever... They were both belly laughing. Oh... how I love memories.

Once again we had a summer fun filled day that ended is enjoying the Springfield Cardinals baseball game. Orange-ing it out! Rockin' the orange!!

Alyvia has her first eye appointment! This happened because lazy eye runs in our family, and it could be a concern. Because Alyvia is part Japanese she inherited the little extra flap of skin on her eyes, which can also make your eyes look lazy. If caught early it can be corrected without surgery. So here we went.

As for now... She doesn't have lazy eye. But Dr. Jarvas said to keep looking and checking. He gave me pointers on how to keep an eye on it... hehe... She did so well!!

My grandma's birthday is July 21 and Alyvia's birthday is the 23rd... so we did a duel dinner. At what better place. Hinode, it is a Japanese steakhouse.