family photographer

 Family pictures are expensive... and hard... so for the past two years, we've just run out with our point and shoot, set up the tripod, and bribed our kids to smile.  We haven't gotten the most amazing shots in the history of the world, but we are happy with them.... and it generally costs about $7 to print them all... collages included :)

Sundays can be exhausting

We put on a church movie and within minutes found this.....I agree... Sundays can be exhausting!

Oh... and I think I forgot to post that we will be an estrogen dominated home in 2014!  I have to admit, I was a tiny bit disappointed when I first found out it was a girl.  I liked the symmetry of two boys and two girls.  But it didn't take but a moment for me to be ecstatic about a baby girl!  Kolton, on the other hand, wasn't as easily comforted.  He insisted that it was a boy.  He also adamantly exclaimed, "Jesus wants it to be a boy." Which we assured him simply couldn't be the case.  Then, in desperation he pointed to my belly and said that it was a baby girl.  Then, pointing to each of my boobs said, "there a big baby boy in there!" Silly little boy.  Now he seems on board and is pretty excited for a baby... even if it has to be a girl.  I'm happy too.  I'm grateful for a new year with new starts and a new baby.  I'm hoping it will be vastly better than last.

Brian's birthday

Brian's mom made a feast for Brian's bday... the kids happily ate ice cream and cake. We did a lot more shooting, and Ekco took the littles on an exploration.  It's wonderful when she comes with us because she adventures in the outdoors and we don't have to worry so much about Kolton.  The only bummer is her outright refusal to shoot guns.  She and Xiana both are on a new kick of disinterest.  I hope it will pass, at least for Xiana, because sources say she has a lifetime of outings involving wide open spaces and firearms.  After we got home, Brian and I went to see the Hobbit and ate sushi.

Tradition

The day after Christmas we did what we always do... went shooting! Kolton was particularly impressed this year... and also a little scary.  He wanted to shoot every gun, called most HIS, and was fairly incorrigible.  It was followed by scooters, bikes, helicopters, great food, and Simon Says.