Goodbye 2012...

Here are some of my favorite final pictures from 2012... and Christmas!

It definitely felt like a blessed Christmas! The kids LOVED all the traditions- both old and new! They loved shopping for each other and were so excited to give! The most surprising part was Stennson's lack of interest :). Usually he gets so excited about what the other 3 find exciting, but not gifts! He had no interest in opening any presents. He was happy to just play! As always it was refreshing and encouraging to study, learn and talk about the story of Jesus' birth. It is always a gift to me to see it through my kids eyes. Their insightfulness and wisdom never ceases to amaze me. Lord, give me faith like a child! 

Christmas eve...

 There have been a lot of concerts performed at our house...

 Christmas morning fun...

 So excited to give Monreau the 1 gift she had been asking for and asking for :)

 The girls LOVE little house on the prairie, so for Christmas I had someone make them full outfits! They wear them to play all the time!!! (It always makes me laugh!)

 And my mom and I made the boys super hero outfits...

 Fun at Grandpa and Grandma's... where they gave the kids a camping theme Christmas!

It was pretty exciting when McKenna arrived at the end of Christmas break! Shae had been waiting for a month :)

We hosted a little Christmas party! Each of the girls got to invite 3 friends from school. We played games, did crafts and decorated cookies! It was a lot of fun!! 

Monreau and her cute Kindergarten friends... 

And we ended the year with a night away from our sweet 4 to celebrate 11 years of Marriage!! Such a blessing! 

18 Months!!

It's hard for me even to say that Stennson is 18months! I'm not quite ready for him to move yet another month farther away from all things baby!! But, he is :) and he is so much fun! 

It's been fun to watch Stennson's role in our family change. He has gone from the constant observer to a participant. A participant with an opinion! He wants to be in on everything and is convinced that he is old enough to do and try anything! So cute to see! Only thing holding him back is his size and lack of vocabulary! Compared to my other 3 he is not talking much for an 18 month old, but I totally understand why when you watch the other 3 talk for him! He has plenty of sound effects though to get his thought across! He says "yes" and "no", so he will answer any question you ask him. He follows right along with our conversations and understands everything!! 

At 18 Months you....

Say...

Da da

Mom Mom (is what you call me! Makes me smile every time!)

Ro Ro

Book

More

Ball, Football, Basketball

Grandpa, Grandma

Nanny, Papa

Cookie

Turkey

Apple

Please

Thank you

Yes 

No

Nuh-night

Oh-yeah

Bye-bye

Num-Num

Every animal sound you can think of! 

Baby

Me

(I'm sure there's more :))

You Love...

Books, Books, Books!! Its your favorite activity!

Balls!! Playing with, watching sports... you love them!

Your brother & Sisters!

Your cousins!

Your Dad!!

The library!

Grandpa and Grandma's house! 

Wrestling

Fruits, pasta's, breakfast! 

You take a great afternoon nap and sleep for 12-13 hours a night! 

You have the sweetest smile and you give the best snuggles! 

You have been SO healthy all winter. Not even a runny nose! I'm sure your turn is coming, but it's been such a gift! Hopefully we can keep this streak going! 

You are a very easy going, happy, sweet boy!! You add SO much joy to our family and you are so loved and adored!! 

Some very random pictures from the last few weeks... 

Muscles with daddy! So strong!! 

I love this one and how McLleyton and Stenn are looking at each other... and how serious Matt is :)