4 kids or 7. . .not much difference

Either way, we were still out numbered. We trade date nights with our good friends. They watched our kids so we could see "Courageous" and today it was their turn to go! I must say, it really felt no different having 7 kids at our house. . .we even got to lay and snuggle on the couch a bit. The big kids just run off and play. Can I say bring on the Mercedes Sprinter? Not quite, but GooF did used to joke in college that I would be driving a conversion van someday :) Here are Ryker (14 months) and Benton (11ish months). Boys, you really have no choice. . .you WILL be friends bc your mommies are. Ryker kindly fed Benton some cheerios :)

It was a beautiful December day. . .the girls changed into many different outfits of Ainsleys and put on some great shows :)

Now, it's off to wrap gifts as all kids are asleep by 8 pm. . ahhh. Tomorrow morning, this is what's for breakfast!

This Sunday Evening at Grammy and Grampas House

Every Sunday evening we go over to my parents. . .a lot of memories have been made with the cousins on Sunday nights. . .plus, it's nice for my sister and I to not have to cook and to catch up! Tonight, we acted out the Baby Jesus story. . .I got to help give out parts, so of course I got to be Mary, GooF got to be Joseph and Ryker got to be baby Jesus :) Ainsley and Taetum were the angels( their flower girl dresses got some more use). Porter took his part as a wise man very seriously with his crown and gift of gold. Trey was a "baaaaing" sheep :) While Bridger was a "sheep dog" ha. Grammy and my sister were shephards, with my sister wearing her daughters little robe :) My dad. . .well, he's a pastor, so any other part in the story I gave him. . .GooF said I gave him all the leftover parts (innkeeper, another wiseman and such). My parents set up the videocamera. . .this one will be a keeper :)

Mary. . .pretending to be pregnant. . .see, I play the part well. . .I've had lots of experience in that area
Baby Jesus in his "manger"

The wise men bringing gifts. . .

Another Sunday evening memory made.

Weekend Festivities. . .

I love the city we live in. There are so very many fun activities to do with your family, from downtown carriage rides (which we will make it to someday!) to decorating cupcakes at the local bakery!

We can't fit them all in, but the kids had a great time today. . .

they enjoyed Peter Pan with Grammy and Grampa and feeding camels at the live nativity.

We still had a little down time at home, enjoying our 14 month old!

As well as our big kids, who have been running off to play together more and more. . .I love me a couple boys in their hoodies ;)

(Yes, he is standing in the fridge. . .boys like to open the fridge door a lot I've learned!)

(and yes, this is how Porter wanted to pose :) Boys are funny, I've also learned )

Porter had his school Christmas program and he did so well (he only needed a little reminder from his teacher as they were lining up to keep his eyes on her. . .as the pics on the right show, his eyes were on the girl next to him before their songs began :) )

I am so thankful this Christmas season, for God's perfect gift, Jesus. For life, for allowing me to be GooF's wife, and mommy to Ainsley, Porter, Trey and Ryker, as we enjoy the Christmas festivities together. Thank you God.

I'd like you to meet

"Emma and Emily"

They make me laugh!

Apparently, the "feeties"

got too hot, or so they said :)

And let me just say, Trey is ALL BOY, but he does play oh so very nicely with his sister :)

What little brothers are for. . .

A Peek into our Christmas this Year

"Christmas this Year" by Toby Mac has been blaring loudly while the children dance around. They are counting down the days until Christmas morning with an advent calendar idea I got online at www.roomag.com/advent-ornaments/

. . .each day we do something special, from writing a Christmas letter to our Compassion Child, Ivy, to going on a Minivan Express tour of Christmas lights. From acting out the story of baby Jesus, to visiting a live Nativity. From baking gingerbread men to a family game night.

From Nutcracker performances,

to a Singalong at my grandma's nursing home.

From Christmas at Grammy and Grampas house

to pulling kids through the snow on the sled

From baking cookies

to hosting a Cookie Decorating Playgroup at our home

To spending time delighting in our children, as our Heavenly Father delights in us.

A Peek into our "Christmas this year!"

You know you're raising boys

when your clock looks like this. . . and when your little people nativity

ends up on the floor, and in its place are these. . .

Ah, you too, my littlest man

will soon join your big bros in "redecorating" our home. And I wouldn't have it any other way :)

Mobile

Ryker is caught in the act :) and officially..........

IN............
TO.....................
EVERYTHING....................

Sunday Nights at Grammy and Grampas

Playing dress up and dancing in the kitchen :)

I am so very thankful these girls have each other!

Happy Thanksgiving

We are starting a new Thanksgiving tradition this year, and on or near Thanksgiving, we are each writing one thing we are thankful for on a tablecloth. I am hoping to use the tablecloth each year around Thanksgiving, so we will be able to look back over the years at what we're thankful for!

This year, one of the many things I am thankful for is the schooling decisions God has led us to. Last summer, I really had to give them to Him, focus on Him, and follow His lead. Each day I am able to be home with this little guy. . .watching him learn and explore (yes, milk jug lids in a hole in an ice cream bucket make a great toy under my sink).

I am able to do "home preschool" with this little man. . .
and thanks to my mom, I can help on field trips and party days with Porter's class.
Ainsley is such a bright student and I treasure our time together.
And Porter is doing so well, learning not only his "ABC's and 123's" but Bible Verses and also that school is fun! Recess and friends are probably his favorite parts although he enjoys doing artwork too :)
Thank you God, that each individual child is having a good school year.

Today we celebrated Thanksgiving, by delivering meals to those that needed them. God has blessed us with so much and we feel called to serve others.

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

The Day the Forklift Came to Play

The boys were pretty excited to discover a forklift outside our house :) They spent an entire weekend playing on it, before another big machine showed up that next Monday morning and work on our shingles began!

Ballet

Dreaming of being the Sugar Plum Fairy

Ainsley has been dancing around the house nonstop lately, asking me to "watch this!" I have been watching a lot of twirls :) She is very excited to be an Angel in the Nutcracker this year. . .
but she is dreaming of the day that she can be the Sugar Plum Fairy :)

Taetum, Ainsley, Madison, and Grace at rehearsal (did I mention her leo is more purple due to washing it with her red soccer shirt?) ;)

We recently got a pass to the Childrens Museum and plan on spending many days playing there this winter!

"Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children" Eph 5:1

So very much

to be thankful for. . .

American Girl Mystery Sleepover