Today's Pic

One of my "goals" for this new year is to take more pictures. So, in that effort, I've decided to try to take and post at least one picture a day. Realistically I know I won't do it. I will miss days, but that's ok. My overall goal is just to take more pictures, and ultimately I think I can do that. So, let's get started...

The kids and I learned how to play Risk tonight. Don't play with Ron. He's quite the strategist. (But ultimately Danielle won.)

2013 Highlights

I asked everyone to give me a couple of their highlights for 2013. Without hesitation, we all agreed on this one:

Our vacation to Maine, by way of Cleveland, Niagra Falls, & Gorham NH



Here are the other highlights topping Tyler's list this year:

Learning to scuba dive

Going diving with Grandma & Grandpa

 



His birthday, or, more specifically, getting an Ipod for his birthday.

Here are Danielle's additional highlights for the year:

Making the travel softball team

Her 10th birthday

Making the travel basketball team



Christmas, or, more specifically, getting an Ipod for Christmas.

Ron's list was a little shorter. In addition to Maine, here is the only highlight he could remember:

Selling 28 pens in one order.
And they did finally arrive at their destination, almost a week after their guaranteed delivery date.

Some of my highlights are the same: watching Tyler learn to scuba dive, surprising Danielle with a trip to AG for her birthday, and Ron's success with his pens. I would also add

Watching Tyler improve on the trumpet

Watching Danielle play sports, any sport, whether she wins or loses. I just love to watch her.

But I think a mom's most memorable highlights are probably a little different than everyone else's. My all time favorite highlights from 2013 are moments like these:

(The occasional kid-free dinner with just my husband.)

 

As 2013 comes to an end, I want to thank God for the blessings of a healthy, whole family and that we always have more than enough - of shelter, of food, of clothes, of jobs, of money, of things. But mostly of love. Happy New Year!

For the Birds

Christmas Highlights

Tyler & Aunt Nikki

 

Danielle's first attempt at quilling, courtesy of Grandma & Grandpa R.

 

Playing Suspend with Grandpa C while Danielle designs some outfits in her fashion sketch book.

Ron's homemade gifts for the kids - a doll chair & a Minecraft chest

 

One of Clara's presents. It says "bite me" on the back.

Using her new book to make clay charms

They turned out great!

 

 

Danielle's butterfly

 

One of my Christmas gifts

Teaching the kids to play Clue

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

 

Christmas blessings from our family to yours.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

One of our Christmas Eve traditions is to read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas before bed. Tyler offered to read it this year. In case you haven't read it yet tonight, here is Tyler's interpretation...

 

(He didn't realize I was taping him, but Danielle did.)

 

Merry Christmas!!

Candy Cane's Adventures - Self Portrait?

This was yesterday's adventure. Today Candy Cane was hanging out in the garland upstairs. He'll be catching a ride back to the North Pole with Santa later tonight.

Candy Cane's Adventures - Snooping

Oops! Sometimes it's better to just mind your own business!

The kids challenged a couple of the words Barbie & Candy Cane used in their game of Scrabble. They pointed out that proper names should not be used, and they did not consider "brr" to be a legitimate word. Barbie and Candy Cane did not care.