Zoo With Friends

Poor Mags, the sun was so bright. She was timid at first with brushing the goats, but saw this guy all by himself and she seemed to really take a liking to him.

Cute little Jack and the boys.

Marina (aka Karen Jr.) kept asking to have her picture taken.

I asked Gianna if I could take her picture and expected the famous dirty look as she walked away, but she actually posed for me! Such a cutie!

Caleb wanted a picture with Jack but said he had to act scared that they were going to be eaten by a giant clam.

Noah apparently thinks you need to simulate having a lasso when riding a lion.

Love her!

The adorable couple.

Happy Birthday Caleb!

My final catch-up post for December! Our little guy, Caleb, turned 7 on New Year's Eve. 7! It's so hard to believe! Caleb is in 1st grade and is an awesome student. The little boy who stunned us by walking at 8 months and then had me scared to death when he wasn't talking at 2, has turned into one smart little cookie! He is one of the best readers in his class, is a little math wiz, and is such a perfectionist about his writing looking absolutely perfect that the teacher sometimes worries about him being a little OCD. (One of my kids? Never!) He still doesn't like to sit still for very long, occasionally gets in trouble for doing one-handed cartwheels in the hallways and has a little temper when things don't go his way. His current source of irritation is that everyone in his class are constantly losing teeth and he still hasn't lost his first one. But overall he is such a funny, handsome, and crazy boy that we just can't imagine our lives without him. Happy Birthday Caleb! We love you!

Posting pictures of the kids throughout their years on their birthday has become my thing and in doing that, so has posting pictures of Erin with them sleeping on his chest.

Already posing at 3 months.

6 months and look at those curls!

He is a picky eater, but put any sweets or junk food in front of him and it's on. Here he is at 2 enjoying some cake.

He is such a ham! Here he is at 4.

One of his many amusing faces at 5.

My sweet boy at 7!

My "New" Sister

Some of you may know that I have been looking for my 1/2 sister from my Dad's second marriage (got that?) for several years now. In September I found her! Long story short, we began speaking by email, progressed to phone, and over the kids' winter break we went to New Mexico to meet her in person. It was a short, but wonderful visit. I feel so lucky to have found her and have her in my life now. And I have a handsome nephew and 2 beautiful nieces!

My sister, Stephanie.

Our niece Jillian is 4. She absolutely adored "her Erin".

Our nephew Branden is only a few months older than Noah.

Our niece Jacey is almost 2.

What great kids!

I told you she loved him!

Cousins are the best!

Christmas 2010

I wasn't very good about taking pictures on Christmas this year. I think that after I had everything done, I was just too exhausted and so happy to just sit and watch. It's been one of those years!

Noah got his first BB gun!

Besides her new nose, Darian was excited to get a Blu-Ray player so that she can stream Netflix into her room.

Santa brought Caleb a new bike! Luke got one too, but didn't want his picture taken on it.

Christmas afternoon we went to Erin's sister's house. Luke was so tired and was enjoying cuddling on the floor with his cousin Dylan. Oh, and of course laying on his new puppy pillowpet.

Zoolights!

Still catching up from December... We had a great time going to Zoolights with the Tobin Family this year. They took our pics as we came in and I had to get them. Otherwise we would have had a picture without one of us in it.

Luke's Winter Party

Time to play catch-up for the month of December! Luke had his last winter party for preschool. I'm starting to have a hard time that my "baby" is getting so big! Since he is off to kindergarten next year, all of the little parties and field trips have become a little bittersweet. This is our 4th year with this preschool since Caleb went there too. We are really going to miss seeing all of the teachers everyday. Luckily, they have become friends so hopefully we will get to still see them.

Luke asked to ride the carousel with his Miss Teresa.

We were the first ones to board the train, so Luke got the coveted caboose.

I have really loved seeing his personality blossom since he has been in school.

My little momma's boy.