12 YEARS

Tomorrow is our 12th, yes, 12th anniversary! I cannot believe it has been that long. We have had our ups and downs just like everyone. Lots of struggles to help bring us closer, is what I like to think of them as. We have also been greatly blessed, which I sometimes have a hard time remembering. I am so grateful for Mike and our little family we have created. I am also very grateful for my family and his family (that is mine now too) for all the love and support from them.

Here are just some of the reasons I love Mike so much:

-He is the best daddy around, he loves our kids and so many others (and all babies like him too)

-He will do (almost) anything for anyone, he is very giving

-He can make me smile and laugh even when I am in the worst mood

-He holds me when I cry, and just lets me get "it" all out

-He works hard to support our family, he's one of the hardest workers I know (most of the time)

-He also knows how to play and have fun, which I tend to forget

I LOVE YOU MIKE!!!!!!

What the...

So lately Jenna has been spending extra time on the pot. Not sure why, but she has to go in and take off most if not all of her clothes and then she sits there for at least 10 minutes (even just to pee). She also keeps saying she has to go and then sits forever and a few minutes later goes back and sits and "tries" again. Whatever! Anyway, we were joking yesterday that she was like an old man, (really any man, right!?!?). So today when I walked in and saw her totally nude and just sitting there I handed her the paper and snapped this hilarious pic! Isn't she soooo cute, even if she is a little strange!

Christmas Trees

Our tree from "Santa"
Grandma helping the kids decorate "their" Christmas tree at her house
The kids and the tree they decorated at Grandma Carol's

Mike's mom has a nice Christmas tree upstairs that she decorates beautifully each year. She usually does another, smaller tree downstairs for the kids. We were still out of town for all the traditional Christmas decorating on Thanksgiving and the day after so she saved the tree downstairs for our kids to decorate. They were sooooo excited! We went over Monday night and they had a blast decorating the tree with Grandma Carol while Grandpa Bob made them toast. (That is another story entirely that I will have to post on some time).

Since then they have been complaining to Mike and I that we hadn't bought our tree yet. We told them we would in a week or so. I am having a really hard time getting into the Christmas Spirit this year (another long story as well). Anyway, I am trying to overcome the "mood" that seems to have overcome me. So yesterday morning when the kids got up they were all excited about something......They told us that there was a nice fresh Christmas tree in our living room and they wanted to know who put it there. We told them we didn't know, maybe it was Santa. They were trying to figure out how Santa got a tree into our house and all set up in our stand without us knowing. We had to remind them that Santa is "magic" and can do almost anything. Seeing their faces light up and be soooooo excited about the tree (even without lights and ornaments) helped lift my mood some. Tonight we are going to take them to the annual light parade (which we've never done) and to pick out their new ornaments(which we do every year) and come home and drink hot chocolate and decorate the tree. I think that will help my mood even more.

Devon

Here are a couple pictures of Devon the day after his surgery. We were able to go to the hospital and see him on our way home. The doctors say he is doing very well, and were impressed with how far he is walking already. He is a tough kid with a good attitude so he should heal quickly.

The Dogs

Jenna and Rylee with Cleo. She is a 10 year old pit bull that is the calmest sweetest dog.
Mike & Jack, Cole & Russ, and Jenna & Cleo
One day while we were there Jenna found a quicker way to get in the house and continued to use the doggy door for the rest of the trip.

Cheryl & Jon have 3 dogs so we brought Truman with us this trip. They loved "playing" together. The kids all loved the dogs as well and wanted to bring them home with us.

Skateboarding

Mike was very excited when he learned of a great skatepark that was only 10 minutes from his sisters. We all went one day and since school was still in for the kids there we had the place to ourselves. Mike spent time teaching the boys to skate and even the girls wanted lessons. Actually, Jenna seems to be the most "natural." Mike was very patient and they were all having a great time and no one got hurt so it was even better. After a few lessons Mike was able to enjoy the park himself. He was also able to visit this park a few other times during the trip plus a few others.

Riding the Quad

Cheryl & Jon have 20 acres and a 4 wheeler which makes for a fun time. We took turns taking the kids on rides, they loved it!