Love like crazy photobooth!

Want to start of 2013 with a fun photo shoot (courtesy of Kelly Leighton Photography), and come away with some amazing pictures?  Want to support our sweet friend Ally James, who has been overwhelmed with medical costs?

Then check out the Love Like Crazy Photobooth event here, and come on out to to Rockville on January 26th!

2012: A Year in Pictures

Another year, so much to be thankful for.  A few of our highlights in pictures:

JANUARY

We were off to California!

With these wonderful friends.

Look who we got to see at Disneyland!

We came home to our first and only snow.

FEBRUARY

Grandma Kathy comes to visit!

MARCH

Spring comes early

APRIL

Laura turns 35, we enjoy a getaway to Richmond...

Where Dave surprises her (masterfully) with tickets to the Allison Kraus concert.

Easter.

May

Grandpa Jack comes to visit!

The much anticipated Spring festival at church.

Caden finishes preschool.

JUNE

We head to Williamsburg...

and Virginia Beach.

The boys start Tae Kwon-Do.

JULY

 We celebrate 12 years in St. Michael's as a family. 

 Dear Grandma Dot went to be with Jesus.

AUGUST

Caden turns 5!

 We find respite out West.  A glorious 2 weeks...

 including a few days on the coast.

We were thrilled to witness baseball history at Safeco field, where F. Hernandez pitched a perfect game.

SEPTEMBER

 The boys start school.

Will's first day of preschool

OCTOBER

 Our Christmas card photo, taken at Norwood park.

Glorious Fall soccer.

We celebrate Dave and Chris' 40th.

NOVEMBER

 Andrew's 7th bday party was delayed due to Hurricane Sandy.

We have much to be thankful for.

DECEMBER

 Will turns 3!

Merry Christmas....

and Happy New Year!

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun as risen: not only because I see it, 

but because by it I see everything else."  - C.S. Lewis

celebrating New Year's

New Years Eve in the O'Connell house is typically quiet and boring.  This was not the case this year.  Between a friends birthday party, and a Choi family sleepover, we had a fun, full evening. 

Andrew reading their bed time story:

 Special wine (from Paris) and cheese for the adults later on - followed by chocolate fondue.  We also enjoyed several rounds of "spot it" - our new family favorite game.

Coloring time. 

Goofy grapefruit face.

Such a fun night!

Christmas

Christmas 2012!

"While shepherds watched
Their flocks by night
All seated on the ground
The angel of the Lord came down
And glory shone around..."

 Christmas Eve service - my shepherds.

 It was a family affair...

 participating in the nativity reenactment.

 How precious is that?

 and that :).

This one is becoming quite a ham.

 And then it was back to our house for a beautifully low key shepherd's pie (how perfect) and game night.

 Post dinner hangin.

 With some chocolate fondue.

 We played a new game this year, and Grandpa Jerry came away with a beautiful prize.  So him.

 Opening Christmas PJ's (always their first present) before bed.

 Christmas morning stockings.  I love that our boys still don't wake up early.  It's the best gift they can give this mom and dad.

 A little bit of playing...

  

 before family breakfast/reading time.  I'm was surprised again at what a sweet time this was, with a room full of presents awaiting.  But such a perfect way to talk about the greatest gift we've been given.

 The first present Caden wanted to open was from Andrew.  Andrew even insisted on purchasing and wrapping his present in this Redskins paper.  Such a joy to watch them love each other in this way.

 Post present playtime.  Addy enjoying her treat, and Will reveling in his expanded train set.

 My little owl.

 It was a perfectly lazy day.

And then after naps it was off to Grandpa Jerry and Grandma Dee Dee's house.

 OC cousins!

 

 Daddy didn't stay long - he was getting very sick (with a bug that ended up keeping him in bed all week).

 Uncle Chris helping me exlpore this new iphone camera app (camera+) - love it!  

 OC ladies.

Dear Monie and Tia.

Tia gave Caden this dinosaur - the best present ever, according to him.

What an incredibly sweet day.

"All glory be to
God on high
And to the earth be peace;
Goodwill henceforth
From heaven to men
Begin and never cease
Begin and never cease!"