A sneak peek...

 Had our pics taken by Auntie Jess this last week...

 These aren't my favorites, but runner's up, for sure...

 My favorite ones you will see in this year's Christmas card...

 Including the one pic we got of all the kiddos together, looking fairly decent... ;)

 We are thankful to have such an amazing photographer in our family... Thank you, Auntie Jess!

home away from home

We have been living with my parents for the past two weeks while our kitchen is being remodeled.  We will stay one more week and then come home to the basement while they put finishing touches on.  The kids have been fabulous!  They have adjusted well.  They are sleeping well.  They love having Grammy and Grandpa around.  I love the help.  We are so thankful to have family so close that will take in our large, loud, crazy family!  Looking forward to seeing the finished product and then using our kitchen to bless others.  Pictures to come...

Happy Halloween!

One of my favorite holidays!!!  We love Halloween!!!!!

6 months!

Time flies!  This guy is still as sweet as can be.  He's been eating baby food for about a month now.  He enjoys being on his tummy, finally!  He loves the jumparoo!  He still thinks the world of his siblings.  He is constantly laughing and smiling.  He is taking three naps a day, but is also super flexible cause we run around a lot.  We are so thankful for this little man. 

Jess and Aaron's wedding

What a perfect day!  Congrats, Uncle Aaron and Auntie Jess!!

Fall

 Our kiddos started school... I'm just a little late in posting :)  Addison is loving 2nd grade.  She's reading all the time.  Loves everything about school- teacher, friends, learning, etc.  She's also in the middle of her fall soccer season, where Brandt is coaching her team.  It's been so fun to watch her improve as a soccer player.  Her dad is a pretty fantastic coach as well.  :)

 Elias started preschool for his third year.  He walked in with no tears, head held high, confident as ever.  He loves being back into a routine again... as do I  ;)  Eli is also playing soccer and loving it.  He is a terrific kid!

 Our Izzy started a dance class last week.  She's starving for attention and is constantly carted around to the older kids' events.  We just needed to give her something for "her", and this is it :)  She counts down the days!  So fun!  She's spunky, sassy, and sweet all at the same time, but we adore her. 

 We are blessed to raise these babies.  Thank you, Lord!

Our Oliver will be 5 months old tomorrow and he is such a JOY!  He's rocking the baby food twice a day and is constantly rolling from back to tummy if we leave him on the floor.  He's happy...he loves the kids... he goes with the flow... he sleeps well wherever we are at (poor guy may never get on a normal sleep schedule!)... he's a dream.  We LOVE him. 

Eli is 5!!!!

We love you, Elias James!!  Happy 5th birthday!! 

Oliver is 4 months!

... and still sweet as ever.  We feel so blessed to have such an easy-going, sweet, baby boy. 

 We love him to pieces. 

10 years!

Celebrating 10 years with this man!  Best years of my life.  Love doing life with him.  So blessed.

Oliver Dale

Almost three months, my little man.  He is amazing.  I am taking in every minute of this baby stage, not wishing it away.  He sleeps great, eats great, smiles and now laughs!  LOVE.  We are blessed.

4th of July

Got to spend the 4th of July with my parents out on the lake.  It was wonderful!  A perfect day :)

2 months old!

We love Oliver!

We are loving our little Oliver.  He is so sweet.  Definitely not in the "sleeps all the time" stage anymore, but sleeps enough and is pretty content when awake.  Been smiling for a long time now!  Almost two weeks old.  Funny to think about how much Brandt and I went back and forth on having a fourth kiddo or not... now I can't imagine our family without this little guy.  He completes us :)

Happy 7th Birthday, Addison Noelle!

 2007

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2014

Happy Day to our sweet Addie!  You bring so much JOY to our family!  We are so proud of you!  

We love you very much :)  Happy Birthday!