he thinks she's hilarious.

and it could not make me happier than to see the two of them like this.

'tis the season!

i would characterize ryan and i both as optimistic for the most part.

and i'd say that this year, we were a possibly a bit too optimistic when it came to a tree selection. but, for a mere $29, it seemed too good to pass up!

who wouldn't want a tree looms feet over your head. what's that you say? our ceilings are only 8 feet tall? well, i am sure we can make this work!

let me just say, that after bringing the tree in, we both saw the error in our ways...

a mere foot or so had to be cut off the top, leaving our tree with a figure that much more closely resembles a tube than a cone.

and about another foot had to be cut off the bottom, which resulted in a tree that doesn't want to stand up quite straight. but, that's ok, right?

of course it is until you find yourself mid-dinner with a tree that is all adorned and lit up and now lying face down on your living room floor! oh the joy!

so, after that, we decided it was time to get serious. we removed our fully decorated tree from it's stand, and i went to work on the trunk with a saw while ryan precariously balanced it on the stand.

the result?... one of our uglier trees that is now being weighted down on all sides with hand weights in hopes that we don't have a repeat tree on the carpet scenario.

but, you know what? we love it. and lily REALLY.LOVES.IT. so so much. she thought the decorating process was the best thing ever.

so, in the end, it was worth every penny of those 29 dollars. even if it is ugly.

full.of.thanks.

we have so much to be thankful for this year.

words could not even capture a fraction of how full my heart is on this day. especially after the scare we had with the pregnancy last thanksgiving, my heart was bursting today as i held my precious finn in my arms.

so, thank you, Lord, for all the ways you so richly bless us.



finn's first turkey trot. a biber family tradition that defines this day for me. unfortunately, the race was beyond packed, so it was undoubtedly a trot, but the thanksgiving spirit was high and it was the perfect way to start the day.






lily helped prepare lots of food in her kitchen. it was delicious.

and, as i am not much of a giblets and gizzards type of girl, i was not about to twist ryan's arm when he said it was ok to go sans-turkey this year. our feast was plentiful for this family of four and it was the perfect end to the day.



who needs a floral arrangement when you have a centerpiece this adorable??
(note the purple bowl next to lily - set for her new friend, "special girl"...the newest addition to our family!)

happy thanksgiving to all those we love and wish we could have been with today!!

check it!

i am incredibly excited because our amazing friend, lisa, has gone live with her new website and business.

she is so very gifted in photography and if you ever find yourself in the DC area, you have to look her up. she was given about 30 minutes and two grouchy children and she created photographs that i will treasure for the rest of my life.

she is very very humble about her talents, so i am happy to tell the world how awesome she is. she puts you at absolute ease and captures your family as you truly are. we love you, lisa!

www.lisahenrysmith.com

thankful.

my husband is amazing.
and for that i am so thankful.

last night i was thankful for his generosity and wonderful support.
you see, we found ourselves in a very hip, european-feeling, modern hotel last night. it had an uber mod feel to it. and while that is fun and all, i don't think you could exactly call this family of four "mod." i should have known. it was called "aloft." and while ryan and i had to speak in hushed whispers starting at 7:45 as our children tried to sleep in this hip loft-style hotel where the ceiling was open to the bathroom with no door, i was so thankful for his support.

and when the movie i was supposed to bring and then consequently turned up missing (and left us to sit in our dark room with nothing to do) and he didn't care, i was so thankful of his forgiveness.

and when i got up at 6am this morning and rattled around the room on his day off, i was so thankful for his understanding.

and then this morning, he got the kids up and ready while i was off doing my own thing. and he toted them out in the breezy drizzle and made sure to be on the sidelines to cheer me on... and again, i was overwhelmed by his love. and i was so thankful.

and when he never questioned my "need" to do this crazy half-marathon post-baby, i was so thankful that he just "gets me." i had been unable to put it into words until recently, but after the birth of lily and then now after finn's birth, i have felt an overwhelming desire to run in a race. luckily, i wasn't as crazy this time and didn't take on something as ridiculous as the chicago marathon (and it's 94 degree MISERY). but, i think i just felt like i needed to reclaim my body as my own. i am overwhelmingly thankful that the Lord equipped me so wonderfully to carry a baby to term and have two amazing deliveries and beautiful children. and i am also so very thankful that my body can serve in other ways that are separate from motherhood.

so, today, as i crossed the finish line and the announcer saw my name on the screen, he said into the microphone, "and courtney smith is finishing today with a smile!" and you better believe i was.

i am thankful.

halloween recap:

trick or treating on the mall


brandon and nikita made pumpkins to look like finn and lily...what a resemblance, right??




so hardcore.

thank you so much, kathy and brandon for EVERYthing!!!