Another fun park adventure!

I know...more pictures of our favorite park. But seriously, this is our main source of entertainment, and if you lived here (hey, you should move here...we could be neighbors), you'd spend as much time at the park as possible, too! It's incredible. Plus, it is a great way to tire Norman out for the night, so it's a win-win!

Temps were in the mid-40's today, so we took advantage of the warmth (well...that is a relative term) and decided to tackle one of the non-paved paths. The uneven terrain makes it more exciting. We have often seen deer while on these trails, and today was no exception! Look at this guy...he didn't even seem to mind us there while he chomped on something very crunchy.

Then, one of his friends came to join the party!

They blend right into the trees, so it was hard to capture the awesomeness (although I was using my new camera that I got for my birthday - thanks, Mom and Dad Irwin!!). There are lots of great settings on the new camera that I'll need to learn about.

Here are two of my favorite subjects on which to practice my budding photography skills:

It's a good thing we have such a great guard dog. Ok, so anyone that knows Norman knows that was not the most accurate descriptive word for our "scared of the world" dog...but it sounded cool. In this picture, he's actually intrigued by someone that just rode by on a horse.

During this hike, we decided to take a fork in the trail that we hadn't used before. We assumed it was another loop and wanted to check it out...what can I say, we're adventurous. After about 1 1/2 hours, we came upon this:


Oops! Our hiked turned a bit longer than originally anticipated, as we turned around to retrace our steps. But we did manage to make it back before the sun went down, taking only a slight -- ahem -- detour along the way. And the end of our journey, we were rewarded with this gorgeous sunset on the lake.

I love our park.

2010 Irwin Christmas Card Complete!

Procrastination over...Christmas card complete!

Here's hoping that next year we will have a tiny little face to add to the Irwin family Christmas card!

Most Wonderful Year Christmas 5x7 folded card

Personalize your Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

The Great 2010 Irwin Christmas Tree Hunt...

Today we did something I have never done before. Actually, that’s wrong…my Mom tells me we did it when I was very young, but I don’t remember it…so I’ll say it’s the first time in my memory that I’ve done it. We went to choose and cut our own Christmas tree! We went to a local tree farm that is family owned and operated (the best kind!)

It was a pretty chilly morning, but the sun came out while we were there and warmed us up quite nicely.

Norman was a champ, leading us through the aisles of trees…he seemed to favor the ones that were more suited to his size.

Sorry, buddy, those aren’t for sale yet.

After an exhaustive search…we found a winner!

Isn’t she a beaut?

Norman carefully supervised Steve during the cutting process...

Meanwhile, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Steve be all manly and cut down our handpicked Christmas tree.

Then, it was time to bring it home! What a strong man I have!

We enjoyed delicious hot drinks...

...while the staff shook, wrapped, and loaded our tree for us. What service!

The Great 2010 Irwin Christmas Tree Hunt Extravaganza was a success!

And what a fun day it was!

And here is the finished product. It makes our apartment nice and cozy. Christmastime is here!!

We don’t have a tree topper, so we improvised. I think this little guy is perfect!

Even with all the fun of Christmas decorating, let us not forget the true reason for the season, displayed here by a beautiful wood-carved picture my Grandpa made us a couple years ago. He makes such artistic things. I treasure the handmade creations he gives us.

Luke 2:1-20
About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!