Snow tubing & skiing at Wintergreen

I know you can't see much but this is our church property and they are laying the foundation. I need to get some better shots. It's coming along!

We were blessed by a couple in our church who allowed us to use their friends condo in the Mountains. It was a quick but fun trip!! Shaun and the boys got to ski all day. It was the boys first time ever and they loved it. The only pictures I was able to take were at night. At night, they went tubing down some big hills in the picture below. It was so fast and they had a blast. Lauren really wanted to join them but she wasn't old enough. I keep telling her next year when you are bigger. Lauren and I had fun watching them for a few hours and relaxing in the condo.

Basketball Season

Usually every season my boys are playing a different sport. Now we are in the basketball season and they are in upwards. They have been doing awesome!! I wanted to post some action shots that I got of them last weekend. Sorry some are blurry.




Josh, even though he's small he still can get some air!!



Of course I had to add a picture of Lauren!! My sweet little girly girl!!

What a FUN day ...

It was one of those rainy days!! FUN!! After we wrapped up homeschooling, I was on the computer and the boys were building this HUGE fort. They had lots of fun and I enjoyed the quiet while Lauren was still napping. Of course once Lauren woke up, she had fun as well. Toby had to join in too!! He actually loves being in small places like the basket. And yes, he stays in the stroller while Lauren and Josh push him! He loves all the attention and love from my sweet children!!

I know this isn't new "news" but I love this picture and just wanted to post it!! This is all the cousins, Caleb, Eli, Will (in the back), Josh, Lauren, Lilly, Zach and Abby (in the front). Lauren being so cooperative!!

Familytime at Bald Head Island, NC

After our family opened up stocking stuffers early we headed to Bald Head Island, NC to meet up with the whole family(Brown's, Steffens, Tennyson's & Gehman's). It was such a fun trip! We were blessed to be able to stay in a Huge house right on the beach. The "big" boys (Caleb, Josh & Eli) were basically on the beach all day everyday. They played endless games of ultimate frisbee and loved to fish each day. Thankfully the weather was great!! The little ones (Lauren, Will, Lilly, Abby and Zack) also enjoyed building sand castles, digging holes to play in, and eating the sand. Lauren and Will loved playing follow the leader walking up and down the sand dunes in the itchy grass. It is so much fun to be able to see the cousins play together and build memories. It makes me miss my family and wish we all lived a lot closer so we could build these memories more often!! It is such a blessing to have a wonderful family who love the Lord and each another so much!! It's always so hard to say goodbye!! Being able to enjoy the beauty of God's creation and the awesome time we had together as a family made me think... I thought about how this could be a glimpse of what heaven is like but it's probably not even close. So imagine how amazing it will be when we are all together in heaven for eternity enjoying each other and all that God has made, I can't wait!!

Christmas at Thanksgiving

Each year we swap between our parents houses for the holidays. This year we were at the Brown's home and we celebrated Christmas early.



Gramma got Lauren a Hello Kitty umbrella which she had to carry around inside of the house and outside as well.


Aunt Virginia got Lauren a horse outfit (how funny is that), since she is obsessed with horses! Ever since she rode a real horse at Oma's house she is forever talking about riding them again.



This is Lauren's new baby, Toby, who she loves to mother!She really warmed up to Toby at Gramma's house.



And Joshie as well!! They both fell asleep!! How precious!!




Shaun with all the girls, well almost, Hudson had to get in on it!! Where is Josh and Caleb?



Paige has a thing for Josh and they are cousins. But Lauren has a thing for Paige!! They were always together. It must be a "girl" thing!

Our New Family Addition

We have a new little family member a Yorkipoo who we named Toby!! He's so sweet!! And you ask they replaced Nicki so quickly, but I found a great deal on a non-shedding dog!! I had to get it since that sweet face captured my heart!! I must be losing my mind, it's only a dog. This was the kid's early Christmas present and they were so surprised. The poor thing was so worn out by all the attention it feel asleep in Josh's arms and almost every one's by the end of the night. We still miss our Nicki though!!