A NEW cousin!!!

We are so excited to welcome a NEW cousin & I get the joy of being an Aunt for the 14th time!! How amazing is that!! 

Welcome to the world sweet Remmington Jayne Jonker! We love and adore you! 

We were waiting for weeks for her to arrive! Kelly was on full bed rest since 30 weeks (including a week in the hospital), but much to everyones surprise when she was allowed to get up Remmi seemed content to stay put! 

The kids and I were so bummed because we were headed to Florida and thought we would miss her arrival! But, at 5am that morning my brother called with the amazing news that she had arrived! I hoped in the shower, ran around like a crazy woman finishing our packing, woke the kids up early, showered & fed them and we hurried down to the hospital before heading to the airport! There is truly nothing sweeter than holding a newborn baby! We instantly all feel in love with this beautiful, sweet girl and we can't wait to be a part of her life! John, Kel & Remmi we love you!! (and we love her name :)). 

Shaelyn in a natural! She LOVES babies! Makes us both dream of #5 :)

 So much fun to see my little brother become a dad! He is going to be an awesome one!

 He has a lot of helpers too!!

 Sweet Monreau seemed so grown up!

 Beautiful mom!

 I didn't really want to let her go :)

 Then it was off the airport :)... Where my amazing little travelers did awesome! Flying with the 4 by myself gets easier every time! It helps that they all LOVE to travel! (I will admit you get some not very kind looks when you get on the plane!)

Dates...

We have helped these last few LONG weeks of winter pass a little faster with some really fun dates! "Dates" are, our favorite thing around our house :)! Matt and I make sure to get one just the two of us every week! Our babysitting budget is huge (not so fun!), but we have realized how valuable they are and how much we just love to have time being the 2 of us! 

But, our kids love them just as much! Matt does a lot of dates with the kids! Occasionally, I will sneak out for a date with one or two of them too! Grandpa (Matt's dad) will also get in on the fun a lot and is the best at donut dates! It's fun to hear our kids affectionately talk about "dates!" There is really nothing better than a fun date :) 

For Valentines Day I surprised Matt with tickets to the IU/MSU game! 

 It was such a FUN night! Especially with it ending in a WIN! 

 Watching IU basketball games has been a fun family activity this year! Our kids were a little upset we left them at home! But, it was such a fun date!! 

 Girls date! 

Dinner and a HS production of the Musical Joseph and the Technicolor dream coat!

 Cute Sisters! 

 My girls LOVE shows! And this was pretty impressive for being high school students! 

 Maroon5 concert with friends! (of course I didn't take many picture!)

 IU basketball "dates!" The kids LOVE to watch the games and are pretty big fans! Shaelyn totally understands the game now and its so much fun to watch with her! 

 Disney on Ice! 

 So much fun to have an afternoon with these 3! 

Just because he is cute :) and getting so old!! 

Happy 32nd Birthday to the one we LOVE! I set out a bunch of stickers and card making supplies and let the 4 kids make Matt birthday cards! It was so sweet to see their words and finished masterpieces!

Birthday Dinner Date! (Looks like fun, right? :)) (Don't worry we are going away for a weekend just the two of us!)

We took the kids to Wild Chef (a Hibachi Restaurant) 

Stennson HATED it! He was SO scared of the fire! Poor 4th born, we all thought it was funny! 

 Back home we had gifts ready... 

 And Cake too... (decorated with McLleyton's IU instructions...) 

 Opening gifts and cards... 

 Happy Birthday babe, we love you!! 

And too many dates to the Dr for this sweet girl! Come spring come!!! 

 Off to donuts with Grandpa for these two cute boys!!! 

Dear President Obama...

Earlier this month, Matt went to Washington D.C for the National Prayer Breakfast, which the President attends. The kids thought it was pretty great that he would be "having breakfast with the President!" Matt asked the kids to each write President Obama a letter and ask him a question. So, the night before he left the kids made their letters. I LOVED each one. It was cute to see their little thoughts and each of their personalities shine through! Shaelyn wrote hers all by herself and I transcribed Ro and McLleyton's exactly like they said! Sweet Monreau asked for half day kindergarten :). McLleyton said he prays for "you, Mitt Romney and Aaron Rodgers!" Funny!!! 

And here is Shaelyn's... I'm so grateful for her kind, caring heart...

"Dear President Obama,

I pray for you! I would like you to share with the United States that if you trust in the Lord and pray He is always there. Even on a stressful day! I hope you pray a lot!" 

Sincerly, Shaelyn Shatto

May I daily take the leadership of my children to heart and get on my knees for our President and our country! 

Pure Michigan!

Nothing like an afternoon out sledding and enjoying Pure Michigan fun!! 

 Cousins! 

Not so sure... 

 Matt "Was that fun Stenner?"  ... Stenn "No!"