Eli is 6!!

Happy 6th birthday to this handsome fellow!  I love my Elias James.  Here are a few facts about this crazy kid...
Favorite food- pizza
Favorite show- Justin Time
Favorite color- yellow
Favorite sport- soccer
Favorite thing to do outside- play football with dad
Best friend- Audrey Weber
Most looking forward to (regarding kindergarten)- recess
When grows up, he wants to be- football player
If could go anywhere in world- Mall of America

Love this guy.  Happy Birthday, Eli!  Looking forward to another great year!
So blessed to be his mama :)

I love this man with my whole heart.  Had a blast running Tough Mudder with him this last weekend. So much fun!!  So blessed to walk through life with him. 

updates

 Izzy and Eli-- best friends, these days.  Love to watch them interact with each other, play with each other, and comfort each other when sad.  This pic is exactly them this summer.  My sweeties.

 Spending time at the beach and in the water!  Eli and Addie have tubed a couple times this summer.  Hope to do more!  I love having these two around all day, every day.  Although some days feel very long, I'm trying to treasure the moments, realizing these two will be off to school in a month and a half.

 Oliver- my main squeeze.  Walking, talking, etc.  Blonde hair, brown eyes.  He's a catch!  Sleeping well.  Eating well.  LOVES being outside.  Loves snuggles and kisses.  He's amazing.

Soccer season finished up this week for both Addie and Eli.  What fun experiences they both had.  We will miss Addie's team-- they were such a family.  Great girls.  Great coaches.  Great parents.  Looking forward to next year already!! 

Thank you, Lord, for these unique and incredible kids.  Thanks for allowing us to raise them.  Thanks for blessing us with these gifts for a short time.  I pray we love them as you do. 

Yesterday was Eli's Jesus birthday.  We celebrated with him cause one year ago he committed his life to Christ... best decision he will ever make!  I can't wait to see how the Lord will continue to shape and mold him and use him to reach the lost!  This kid has an incredible heart for other people.  I know that is the Lord working through him.  Happy day, buddy!  We are so proud of you!

Happy 8th bday, Addie!!

This girl is such a gift!  So beautiful inside and out.  She has a huge heart for people and for Jesus.  Looking forward to having her around this summer!  Love you, Addison Noelle!

Erik and Bri's wedding!

Happy 1st birthday, Oliver!

Happy 1st birthday to our Oliver!  He is the sweetest guy in the whole wide world.  We love his snuggles.  We love his ability to go with the flow.  We love how he adores his brother and sisters.  We love watching him grow and change.  This year has flown.  Trying to treasure the moments as they seem to be passing by so quickly.  Looking forward to this next year in his life.  Oliver Dale, the Lord is going to use you in big ways!!

My loves

My friend Amber captured the four of our crazy kiddos yesterday.  I love how much they are the same and how much they are so very different.  Despite the occasional fights, they really do love each other and take care of each other well.  I am blessed to be able to raise them.  I treasure these moments.  :)

11 months old

It's crazy that we are about to have a one year old.  No more baby.  Kind-of exciting yet kind-of sad, being that he's our last... our baby forever, I guess ;)  I'm trying to hold onto these little things that still make him a baby-- cuddles after night-time bottle feeding and open-mouth kisses, and of course still wanting to be held as much as possible.  Won't last for long, so I'm trying to treasure the moments.  We think the world of this little guy.  Our sweet Oliver.

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!