Happy 3rd birthday, Izzy!!!

We LOVE you!!!

Can you tell I have four kids!?

Too busy to post regularly, and for that, I am sorry!!

 Oliver is 10 months old and walking!!  Craziness!  Walks across the room from one of us to another.  Hasn't attempted standing/walking on his own yet, but I'm sure that's just around the corner.  Went up ten steps the other day as well.  My life is about to change... :)  He's been sick with a cold/cough for far too long so super needy.  Can hardly put him down.  He wants to be held all the time.  But I'm trying to enjoy it cause he's my last and he's not a baby for much longer :(

 Sweet, spunky, and sassy!  Izzy will be three years old this Saturday.  She's counting down the days.  We think the world of her and love her spunk.  She can definitely be the most challenging in our day-to-day, but she can also be the sweetest.  Looking forward to see what the next year brings for her!

 Eli is becoming a Dad's boy.  Finally ;)  He even prefers Brandt when he's hurt or sad!  That's a change!  He loves playing football and basketball with Dad in the basement.  He has started collecting football cards.  He still enjoys preschool, but tells me it's too easy and that he's ready for Kindergarten.  I am not, on the other hand, ready for Kindergarten.  I cry every time I think about it.  We adore this boy.

 My new favorite pic.

Sweet Addie.  Love her.  She's got an incredible heart for the Lord.  She's obedient.  She's bold for Christ.  She genuinely loves her family, friends, school, sports, and life.  Her joy for life is contagious.  She challenges me to be a better person.  Love.  

It's been awhile...

A few faves from our trip to Colorado and Christmas!!  Colorado was so much fun.  Long drive, but such an adventure!  My parents and brother were able to join us for the week, which was perfect.  Older two skied with us and did great.  The weather was perfect.  There was no one there.  It was wonderful. 
Christmas included lots of family time!  Kids were spoiled, but seemed to enjoy giving the gifts they picked out for each other and us just as much as they enjoyed receiving gifts.  We've done a lot of hanging out, but we are all ready to get back into school, work, sports, ect... a normal routine starts tomorrow!  
Happy 2015!!  It's going to be a fantastic year!

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.