Florida..

Matt had a work conference down in Orlando February 9-12th! So we planned a little family vacation before his conference and headed down on February 4th! The kids and I came home on the 11th and it was an awesome week! The perfect mix of being busy and slowing down! I loved having Shaelyn for a week and it was a blast to watch the 4 of them have so much fun together! I am so thankful for their sweet relationships and how well they get along! We went the entire week without any fighting! During this phase of life there are moments when taking on a trip, traveling with 4 kids alone, conquering theme parks can simply feel like a lot of work, but I am 110% convinced that all the work is so worth it!! I love these memory making opportunities and I cherish the time away with the kids and the break from normal routine! I love their little conversations, the laughter in the back of the car, their pure giddiness as you tuck them in bed! This getaway was definitely a blessing ... and from all the conversations we've had since coming home I think memories were definitely made!!

Overall we had great weather! A couple of days it was cooler or cloudy, but the resort and Orlando had a lot of fun things to do ...

Favorite picture of the week! All 3 crawled in one morning to wake Stennson (who slept in our closet :)) up! So sweet!!

So great to be outside!...

Shaelyn's basketball skills improved!

First time swinging! He loved it ...

Nothing like pure joy...

Being silly...

We spent a morning checking out the Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge! It was beautiful and they had animals out back you could watch and a fun playground!

Sweet Stennson slept any where and every where! He perfected the stroller nap by the end of the week!

One morning after Matt had left the kids and I went to "Downtown Disney" and had fun playing at the awesome stores! The Lego Store was amazing!! ...

A sweet old man insisted that I get in the picture with them :)... Funny!

The Lego creations were amazing!

The Character that McLleyton talked the most about was Woody... super cute!

Dancing to all the Disney music..

A Woody costume ...
Another fun store....

My sweet SEVEN year old!!

Shaelyn is 7! We are SO thankful for the precious gift she is to our family! She is such a sweet girl! Always quick to help, responsible, kind, thoughtful and loving!! I could not ask for a better first born child! She is an awesome example to her sister and brothers and she is my little helper! Always by my side, I cherish my special relationship with her!!

Shaelyn LOVES crafts! Any and all crafts! So, we thought we would get a little crafty with her birthday treat for school!

Here's all the girls working on them one afternoon...

7 years... 8 missing teeth... :) her constantly changing month is the opposite of her sweet, consistent personality!
They turned out cute!
(it says Happy 7th Birthday Shaelyn on the back)

Shaelyn loves her sister and brothers ... and they adore her!
McLleyton picked out a gift for her and was so excited to give it to her that we let him do it early!
We told the girls that they are going to take turns having birthday parties. This year is Monreau's year (we will do the same with the boys). But, we did have a dinner on her Birthday night with Matt's family.

Here are the fun cupcakes! Shaelyn doesn't like frosting or anything too sweet ... so hers is plain :). (yes, she did not get that from her mom!)


Since she doesn't like frosting, she loved the idea of making them rainbow!
These two have such a sweet relationship! Stennson lights up when she's around!
Aunt Emy and Monreau! Monreau got "dressed up" for the birthday dinner :)!
Grandpa!
Sweet gifts from Grandma!
Mario for her DSi from Mom and Dad! (which we have enjoyed as much as she has :))
McLleyton with his Great Grandpa!

At 7 Your ....

Favorite Breakfast... Pancakes

Favorite Lunch... Mac-n-cheese

Favorite Dinner .... Chicken Alfredo with Biscuits and Broccoli

Favorite TV Show... Wild Kratts

Favorite Movie... Princess Charm School

Favorite subject at school .... Writing

Favorite special at school .... Gym

Some of your friend are... Monreau, McLleyton, Sophia, Lauren, Anna, Taylor, Mya, & Rose

Favorite outfit to wear ... A dress & leggings

Favorite dessert... Ice Cream

When you grow up you want to be... A Teacher or a Nurse

You favorite book ... Little Sister, Big Sister

If you could go any where in the world it would be ... Florida

Favorite thing about sharing a room with Monreau... Playing Together

Favorite way to wear your hair ... Down

Favorite Restaurant... Panera Bread & Chick Fil A

Favorite Date... Going to the Movie Theater

Favorite Color ... Blue

Favorite Season ... Summer

Favorite Sport... Basketball

Best Thing about being 7 ... I get to do more things than when I was little.

Great Wolf Lodge...

We took the kids up north to Great Wolf Lodge for a long weekend a few weeks ago! We went with the Herweyers and it was a great weekend! The kids had a blast and loved it!

Well, 3 out of the 4 loved it! We got in Thursday afternoon and by bedtime I could tell Stennson really wasn't feeling that well. He had a cold that week, but now had a fever too. By 10pm he was awake and miserable. By 3am I was 110% positive he had his 1st ear infection. At 6:30am (after a night of no sleep and walking him around a tiny room) I was at the urgent care doors waiting for them open :)! By 7am we had a script for antibiotics, by 9am we were headed back down to the pool area! He was a trooper!! He felt miserable, but he went with the flow and by that night the meds were helping some! I thought several times how different his life is from Shaelyn's. If she had an ear infection at 6 months I would have never left the house for a week - let alone had her in a water park 2 hours later! But, in many ways I feel like he is better off for it. We survived, he was sweet as can be and we all really had a super fun weekend!!

6 of the 7 kids! (Jacob was in bed)

Down for the story hour they do at bedtime! Kids thought it was fun!

They make it "snow" with bubbles, very cute!
Love this girl! (yes, you can tell poor Stenn feels miserable!)

Off to the awesome water park!!!

Hanging in there...
Being silly with daddy!
This one is crazy!! Totally our dare devil and LOVES the water!

Such a fun group!







Dads and their boys! Think of the adventures they will have over the years!

An afternoon treat...
Feeling a little better...
Our sweet Lauren! She is 10 tomorrow... AMAZING!! I adore this girl!!

Happy Valentines Day...

Happy Valentines Day....

...and Happy Birthday to my sweet SEVEN year old!!!!!!!

I have so much to catch up on! We've had such a fun 3 weeks :)! We did two wonderful "Memory making" trips with the kids! One long weekend to Great Wolf Lodge (an indoor water park) with cousins and a family vacation just the 6 of us to Disney World! In the middle Shaelyn had her Birthday!!! LOTS and LOTS of pictures to come :)! I can't decided which are my favorite!

Love...

....these two boys and their sweet little friendship that is starting to grow!!!!!