{Random Wonderfulness}

This one pretty much speaks for itself...

The power stance. Rock on!

Elizabeth earned this from her primary teacher for reading the entire New Testament!

Wonderfulness.

 My bestie and big sister moved away.  NOT wonderfulness. 

But these pictures of her and hers and mine are...

 Why...?  I dunno.  But it makes me laugh!

The mutual admiration society.

...or...

Todd and Tiny Todd

...or...

Todd's Mini Me.



{Daddy Daughter Date}

The Daddy Daughter date, aka, now you can no longer ignore the fact that your daughter really is growing up right before your eyes.

The big night included a fancy dinner and dancing. The theme was "A Pearl of Great Price" and their leaders gave them a beautiful necklace and some wonderful words to live by. I'm so thankful for strong, wonderful women who reinforce what I'm trying to teach at home and are good examples!

Todd and Elizabeth won 2nd place in a the dance compition. When the music stopped Elizabeth had to sit on his lap and not tip over. Todd reports feelin' the burn!

These two are amazing together. Todd just gets Eliabeth in a way that I don't. She adores her daddy. And I adore that.

{Picture Time}

I've wanted a decent family picture since Levi was born, so one Sunday before Christmas I decided I'd make it happen so I could send out cards. One good picture, that's all a mom wants! I had to wake Mr. T up from a nap (thanks for your sacrifice, babe) but we got it! (With the self timer, no less!)



I even got a pretty cute one of the kids! Miracles DO happen! ...now getting the actual cards out before Christmas? Not so much, but there's always next year.

Every year for Christmas I make a calendar for my mom and dad, and they'll probably get one until the day they die. It's become a Christmas staple, like pajamas. I took these of all the grand kids, numbered in the order they were born. I LOVE this idea and want professional family pictures taken this way when baby grows up enough to hold his own number.

#1 Elizabeth

#2 Angelina

#3 Caroline

#4 Elyse

#5 Aiden

#6 Louis

#7 Maren

#8 Levi

{Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year}

What an amazing year we've had! I am often overwhelmed by all the blessings I have received this past year. In fact, it's a few of those blessings that have kept me so busy and away from my blog this season! I'm sure things will calm down eventually... right? Just know that my heart is still out there and thinking of all our friends and family. I count you all among my blessings!

(I have to give credit to my amazing cousin for our photo idea! Thanks! Lurve you!)

{Merry Christmas!}

Christmas started this year, just like it did last year.  By begging Louis to get out of bed.

Even Grandma (who has Grandma magic and can get this stubborn kid to do just about anything) didn't have much luck.

Finally, success!

 Since Christmas was on Sunday this year (I LOVE having Christmas on Sunday!!), we decided to check out the stockings before church, but save the rest of the goods for later.  G&G forgot their stockings, but Todd was happy to lend them his best pair of woolies.

How did Santa know that Todd's pickle ornament had broken?!?

Not many 10-year-old girls ask Santa for army men.  I kinda feel sorry for the little guys.  She has big plans that involve them and her pink BB gun...

Apparently, Levi found his first Christmas simply memorizing.

Here we are all fancied up for church.

Then, present time!

Then off to Nana and Papa's house for more spoiling.  What a wonderful day!

{Christmas Eve}

For Christmas this year we were super spoiled.  We got to have both sets of grandparents come to our house to celebrate with us!  We did all the traditional things.  Posed in our new jammies in front of the tree: (I even got 3 out of 4 sizes right this year!  Levi's were too small but luckily G&G Becraft swooped in with this little elf number to save the day.)

Future Levi, let it be officially documented that this outfit was purchased and put on your cute little bod by your grandparents.  I had nothing to do with it.

This was Todd's first year as official Bible reader.  He did an amazing job and made me all teary!  It's like we're finally a real family now!

Then we tracked Santa's progress on Grandpa's phone and ate snacks while lounging on his belly.

We drank our traditional magical hot chocolate.  

Elizabeth says she's growing out of it's magic and that it doesn't work on her anymore.  All it did was give her the giggles!

 She did manage to time the loosing of a tooth just as she wanted.  She was really hoping the Tooth Fairy and Santa would bump into each other at our house this year.  I'm sure they appreciated the excuse to catch up!