A Blessed Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this year celebrating our Lord's birth. We were together with Kelli's family Christmas morning and Matthew's family in the afternoon. What a blessing it is to be close to family!

Our family on Christmas Eve before church

Hannah and Ian after Hannah's Christmas program - they could pass as siblings!

Ian's showing off his cool new toys - thanks to generous grandparents, aunts, and uncles

Human Burrito

For some Friday night entertainment, Ian rolled up in Kelli's exercise mat. He was very cute and funny to watch!

Aunt Lauren & Mommy rolled him across the floor.

He stood up and jumped up and down.

Christmas Tradition

Every year, we make it a goal to attend a Christmas concert. We have seen such artists as Amy Grant, Point of Grace, Michael W Smith, The Katinas, and Vince Gill. This year we enjoyed a concert by Jim Brickman. We had a lovely dinner beforehand and just delighted in our night out together. We hope the tradition continues for many years.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebrating the many blessings God has given us. We hosted Matthew's family on Thursday, went to Kelli's brother's on Friday, and then met at the Seminary with Kelli's mom's extended family. Delicious food and good fellowship were enjoyed by all.

Here is Ian with his cousins, Thalia and Ruthie.

Homemade Play Dough

On a long day at home, Ian and Mommy made play dough together. Ian helped mix up all of the ingredients, and then gladly joined in on the rest of the process.

Kneading the colors into the dough - squishy fun!

Look at all of the pretty colors!

Testing out the results with some cookie cutters

Fall Fun

Ian loves to play "Go, Go" his term for football. Daddy caught him in his starting stance.
The back view of Ian's giraffe costume. Great find, Daddy!

Ian and Hannah posing in their costumes. Ian didn't go trick-or-treating, but we dressed him up to see both sets of grandparents.
Isn't he cute?

Laughing and playing with Grandma in the leaves.
Whee! It's raining leaves!

April Blessing

Sometime around April 14th, we will be welcoming Baby Leighty #2 into our family. God has certainly blessed us! This is an ultrasound at 11 weeks.

Germany Trip

Finally, pictures have been sorted and uploaded for your viewing pleasure. These are just a sampling of what we took, but we think they give a good overview of our time there. We had a wonderful time hanging out with our friends, Adam and Tiffany and taking in the many sites and rich history that Germany has to offer.

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Grandpa & Ian

The Leighty family came over a visit, and Grandpa and Ian just had a ball with each other. Ian's personal jungle gym

Ian trying on Grandpa's shoes

"T" is for Tractor

Last weekend, we went to a steam engine and tractor show in a nearby town. Ian is really into tractors these days so he had a blast. We never thought we would be going to a tractor show, but we've found out that we will do anything for our child.

Here's Ian sporting the outfit Daddy found for him. It was perfect!
Ian is trying out the many different types of tractors.

Matthew's tasting the specialty steamed corn. Mmmmm...good.

We took a hayride pulled by these big horses.

Some of the steam powered machines.

Month Old Nieces

Two sweet girls who have grown so much in the last month. Here they are sleeping away. Thalia's on the left and Ruthie's on the right.

A Trip to the Fire Station

We went with friends of ours to an open house at the local fire station last weekend. The boys loved climbing all over the trucks and checking things out. Ian is very much into trucks, tractors, and airplanes these days.

Ian and Josh on the front of the truck - future firefighters?
Happily driving the truck

Posing for the camera

Trying out the water hose - Ian wasn't too sure about it

Happy 32nd Birthday, Matthew!

Matthew celebrated his 32nd birthday on August 3rd with his family. We had a delicious chicken pesto pasta, salad, Italian bread, and a chocolate lover's yummy ice cream cake. Despite not receiving a treadmill, riding lawn mower, or snow blower, he looks forward to using the Starbuck's gift cards and Barnes and Noble gift card, taking golf lessons, riding on his new comfy bike seat, smelling good with new cologne, and neatly organizing his ties.

Welcome to Our World!

On July 25th, God blessed Kelli's brother Scott and his wife Holly with beautiful twin girls. Thalia Grace and Ruth (Ruthie) Eden are our nieces. They had a bit of a rough start, but everyone is home now and adjusting to life.

Proud Grandparents holding Thalia
Grandma, Aunt Lauren, and Uncle Mark oohhing and aahhing over Thalia

Aunt Kelli holding Ruthie for the first time

Uncle Matthew giving Ruthie some cuddle time

Beachy Vacation

We all vacationed at Edisto Beach, South Carolina with Kelli's family for a week. It is one of the Borchelt's favorite vacation spots because of the slow pace and beautiful scenery.
One day, we ventured out on our own to view Fort Sumter near Charleston.
We had to take a ferry to get there. It was a very hot ride!

The view as we approach the Fort.

Matthew and Ian posing by one of the many cannons.

A cannon just Ian's size.

Several beautiful sunsets off the bay.

A little beach Bocce

A horseshoe crab stranded on the beach. Mark and Dad rescued it and put it back in the ocean.

Fun at the beach