Hoppy Easter!

(better late than never)

We had a pretty quiet, laid back, Easter this year. The kids woke up to baskets of goodies, and they each had 8 eggs hidden around the house. Normally we do all the eggs, everywhere, but then we have to make sure everyone is awake before they start searching, everyone only can find so many eggs, and the big kids have to leave all the easy-to-find ones for the littler kids. This time around we decided to give each kid one color of egg, and then we were able to hide them easier for Levi and Piper, while making it harder for the older kids - best part, Isaac didn't have to wait for everyone else to get up before he could hunt for his eggs! (He's always always the first kid up.)

phone pics ~ December

Dec 11
waiting for band kids to finish, snacks welcome!

waiting for Levi's preschool to be done, she loves playing in the snow!




Dec 12
kids' meal, Levi gets a toy

Piper gets a new hat!


Dec 14
doesn't everyone nap like this?


Dec 16
coloring



Dec 23
decorating sugar cookies for dessert!




Dec 24
Christmas Eve, a full tree! (and then Grandma and Grandpa came in the morning and filled it even more!

Ruth's band concert

Ruth had her band Christmas concert in early December - they have come a l.o.n.g way since last Christmas!! Wow!
(she's the flute on the end)

Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas! Hope all our friends and family did as well!

Christmas Eve jammies!

after Santa's visit

opening stockings


Santa gifts



(he was excited - note the hands!)




Such a busy day, we didn't take many photos, just enjoyed being together!

Christmas photos!

We managed to get Christmas photos of the kids done last weekend - then found out, when we went to the store to have them developed for cards, that the wait time is ridiculous... so cards will be late this year (again, I'm sure!). Maybe New Year's cards is a better idea from us?!



Piper - and her many faces





Levi





Isaac




Zech


Ruth

Happy Halloween!

I have seriously neglected this blog the past... 3 months! We've been busy with summer, school starting, activities beginning for the year, and birthdays and holidays! I'll try to catch up with sharing photos (I have some great ones from summer, we'll just look back and remember being warm!), but I'll start with Halloween.

We carved pumpkins a couple nights through the week. Levi helped me with his and the older 3 did theirs all on their own!
all the pumpkins

Ruth & Piper's - a kitty

Zech's - minecraft sword & pickaxe

Levi's - a minion

Isaac's - pirate ship

And of course last night we got everyone dressed up and went 'trick-or-treating' around town.

Ruth was Alice

Zech was bacon!

Isaac was a ghostbuster

Levi was a Sheriff

Piper was a kitty!!


They had a lot of fun, lots of fresh air and walking (everyone slept well!), and got WAY too much candy. A good night, I guess!