snow days in 2014

we were out of school 3 days last week due to a winter storm that gave us about 8 inches of snow. it was not the best conditions as it was between 10-15 degrees outside-but the kids still braved it to hit the slopes :)

and my favorite thing about snow days is the extended amount of time for playing together. no basketball practices, no waking up early-just being together. this bear is one of ben's new favorite things to carry around. he says bear 'bun'-so it is very cute to listen to him talk about his 'bun'.

another fan of snow

we have another snow bunny in the family. luckily the older 3 are getting more independent at putting on snow gear-although i am constantly looking for dry gloves and the snow board has been a novel and fun addition to the activities. ben was hiking up the hill without a problem and would have stayed out until his little cheeks were ice cubes. 

happy winter!

christmas 2014

despite the stomach bug invading our lives and UPS failing to deliver 1/2 the gifts-it was a very nice christmas. my mom was the christmas fairy-and we actually made it through the gift giving with good attitudes and thoughtfulness. my favorite thing was the gifts the kids bought for each other at our local high school's 'joy of giving shop'. funny moment to remember was emily gave ben a small back scratcher "because his bottom is always itchy with diaper rash".

christmas portraits for 2014

tether ball at ryan's house

christmas eve service at bethany

christmas morning-girls working together to hand out presents!

emily gets a joke book

out of order-grant and emily had their piano recital right before christmas

anneliese's furby-she played with is for a solid 2 days and then on the way home she put it in the way back of the van and declared that it was 'starting to get annoying'

ben loves to color on most everything-sometimes paper :)

we had snow before and after christmas but the temperatures have been so cold that we haven't done as much sledding

mandatory new year's eve walk-a very cold one this year.

happy new year!

from october to december-

more family pictures

18 months

flashback

my answer for being overwhelmed with my professional photography...procrastination by looking at my own pictures. these were a 'real day' look at our morning when ben turned one.
he is so much bigger now-walking, running, jumping, talking...18 months has come and gone and i really do cherish all the moments we have :)