Just because...

They're so cute!

Rebecca's Christmas Visit!

Rebecca and her boyfriend Mike were able to join us all for Christmas this year!  A few days after, they came to spend a few days with our family...a fun time was had by all!

Playing the Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game!

Snuggle time!

Poor Jacob was sick...

What's a visit with Rebecca without some specialty painting?

We will miss you!

Christmas, 2012

Opening stockings before breakfast!

Delighted with their presents from Miss Diane!

Excitement and fun all the way around...such love from family and friends!

Christmas Eve, 2012

 If I ever have any control over the moving process, I will NOT move right before Christmas.

Because here was are ON Christmas Eve, putting up the tree.

Yes, up till midnight, decorating the Christmas Tree.

While I did my part of putting on lights and fragile ornaments, the kids listend to One Wintry Night, one of our favorite Christmas books.  They enjoyed popcorn and hot chocolate...and putting on their ornaments.  I'm not sure when Mark and I have felt more tired...but we celebrate nonetheless!

Visit with Santa

He's about too big to be doing this anymore!

Whispering to Santa that he'd like a double holster for Christmas.

 The only "Santa" doings we have with Christmas is at the Moose Pass community Christmas party...the kids know who Santa is, and that he's just dressed up for fun, and that if they tell any of their friends who it really is, they're in big trouble!

 

Happy instead of shy this year!

Confidence replaced by hysterical screams...this is the aftermath.

Mental Health Break

 We'd been spending every spare moment working at the new house, and we knew that both we and the kids were in definite need of some downtime. 

So, given a sunny Sunday afternoon, we decided to head out for a quick hike.  We were also curious to see how our new puppy would do on a hike!

All in all we had an enjoyable, refreshing hike...definitely worth it.

Hay Maze

 Every year, we try to make it to Solid Rock Bible Camp's Hay Maze.  It's always a great time, even if it is incredibly cold.

The past two years, we've coordinated with our homeschool co-op...it's always fun with lots of friends!

Unfortunately, my camera battery died early on, so these are all the pictures I took!

8-year-old Cowboy!

I can't believe this amazing kid is 8 already!

With his allergy issues, I was grateful he wanted "rice krispie" treat cake!  Easy!

Of course, he wanted EVERYONE dresses up like cowboys/girls!

Happy Birthday, pardner!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anna loses a tooth!

Anna was so excited about her first lost tooth!  She pretty much pulls them out by herself!

Silly girl, pretty girl...

Girls!

 Having friends over is so much fun!!! 
(And we're grateful for our friends who also still like to date each other despite years of marriage and numbers of kids, so we swap babysitting)!

Dress Up

It's what these girls do ALL the time!

A Conversation with Anna

While waiting for Karis to fall asleep tonight, I had a delightful conversation with Anna as we snuggled on her bed.  I don't know exactly how we got on the topic of when she was born, but she asked me
"What color was I when I was born?"
"You were the same color you are now?"
"I was the same Anna when I was a little baby?"
"Yes, the same wonderful Anna!"
"I came out of your tummy?"
"Yep...we were so happy to meet you!"
"Did Daddy hold me and he was so happy?"
"Oh yes, he was very happy to have his little girl."
"And who else was there to see me?"

This conversation went on...meanwhile, I peeked in the crib to see if Karis was sleeping yet, which she wasn't...she was just very quiet listening to us talk!

So Anna started asking questions about when her friend Emma was born, and she was slightly incredulous that I really didn't know that much about it!  (Our families didn't become close friends until the girls were about a year old).  So she started telling me how she thought it was for Emma.  At one point, we were both unaware that I was dozing off.  She asked me if Karis was asleep yet, which brought me back awake.
"I don't think Karis is asleep  yet, but I am."

"Don't fall asleep yet, mommy...I'm not done with my story!"

Oh, that girl keeps me smiling!

We're Home!!!

We're finally home!