Our January...

January has been a wonderful, busy month. A true blessing has been how healthy we've been this January! Just one little cold.

We had the Bezanson's over on New Year's Eve and we stayed up late watching Nanny McPhee. Graci and T~Bella had so much fun together and we enjoyed the company. A new year, how exciting! Then Aidan turned 8 on the 10th. What a delightful young man he has become. He's so tall all of the sudden too! Nearly up to my shoulder!!! His birthday party was simple and sweet. After Ethan's expensive party in Oct we decided that was not us, and 'production' parties were a thing of the past. I love to make a big deal of birthdays but am striving to spend less, stress less, and put more emphasis on the birthday child's special place in our lives, and on the plan God has for their life.

It's been a busy three weeks though because even though the parties were smaller and more simple, we had three of them in three weeks. Aidan's 'friend party', then a 'family party' for both Aidan and Ryland, and then yesterday was Ryland's 'friend party'. We were able to have Dylan back for the night two weeks ago, as well as last night.

Chad even let me go out with girlfriends last night and he put 5 kids to bed; I put the twins down before I left but he was still in charge of 7 kids for the night. And 5 of them only have 3 years between them. Anyway here are pictures from the last few weeks...

T~Bella always sleeps with Shiloh. And Shiloh loves it too.

A few little rascals in footed jammies.Halle is nearly crawling! She's such a joy. Nearly 19.5 lbs now!

Dress up time for T~Bella & Ryland in Mom's closet.

Some girly time; but do I really want to encourage this!?

The girls...
And the whole crew...
Some snow! Finally!
My 4 boys on Aidan's 8th bday

He was thrilled with his Optimus Prime mask
Princess Hope, has 4 teeth now, and an even sweeter smile than before!

She is 17.5 lbs now, rolling both ways, and clapping her hands!

Ry loves reading to Hope. ("Cuddle")