12.31.12 - Little Settlers

When you have 3 children and staying up until 10:30 scares you 

because you know your children are early risers you know you'd

better play it safe....which we did.  Went out to eat when all the

silvers are enjoying dinner, started a fire in the fire place 

and played a little Settlers. 

12.30.12 - Daddy's Good Luck Charm

Lauren & Diet Coke of course

12.29.12 - Oosting Family Christmas Fun

12.28.12 - 2 Intense Fitness

I use to have a love / hate relationship with this place

but now after spending at least 4 days a week sweating

my butt off at this place I'm addicted.

12.27.12 - 1st Sledding Day

We didn't quite get a white winter this year BUT it wasn't

long before we had just enough snow for the boys

to try out their new sleds.

12.26.12 - Ty's On Everyone's Side

As we rounded robin asking yes | no questions in a family game

of Headbandz we found that Ty would always help you out.

After only a few questions he would laugh at your questions

and just tell you what card was on our head.

12.25.12 - Christmas Morning

12.24.12 - New Christmas Eve Tradition

We decided to start a new Christmas Eve tradition by

opening one "family" present.

12.23.12 - Still Trying...

...to get the picture perfect 2012

Christmas photo for the books!

12.22.12 - Willing to Try Anything

Over rated...only able to breath freely for 10 mins before 

everything clogged right back up.

12.21.12 - Lauren's 1st Birthday

Finally some girl toys!

12.20.12 - Poor Guy

From Lauren, to Dad, to Ty and Mom...Jalen's the only one 

whose immune system has been strong enough to avoid it.

12.19.12 - Real World

For some reason we just can't seem to keep up with

a family of five's laundry.

12.18.12 - After School Fun

Kindergarten buddies - Ferris & Jalen 

12.17.12 - Seems Weird

...that these two are only 2.5 years apart. At times it seems like

a big difference but as they get older even over the last few 

months the gap has begun to narrow...Lauren's becoming 

a little girl, soon she'll be one!

12.16.12 - Oo's Bakery Helper Day 2

Oo's Bakery was in full effect - we made three different kinds

of cookies over the last few days.

12.15.12 - Christmas Cookie Fun Begins

12.14.12 - Pick Me UP

If you would just carry me with you 

everywhere both our lives would

be much easier

12.13.12 - I Got A Donut...

I got a donut since I was so good at school 

because I got a donut I was good at school.

Well folks...what the cause and effect here:

good at school = donut or

donut = good at school?

12.12.12 - She's Right In the Middle

Sooner or later the boys will learn if you don't want her to

play you too then they'll have find a place to play where 

she can't get to it...which isn't the middle of the living room floor!

12.11.12 - Where's Waldo

I mean, Where's Jalen?

12.10.12 - Baby Love

That's right...she loves that little baby!

12.9.12 - Christmas Card Picture

Well we tried to get a picture with all of us together...no luck!

I would have settled for one with just the kids but getting three 

to all look at the camera at the same time and smile, yeah right!  

These will do...I realized I was behind on getting our christmas 

cards when others started arriving and I hadn't even order ours yet.

12.8.12 - Gingerbread Fun

These kids are lucky...every year their Aunt Jamie ensures

they spend time decorating gingerbread house or trains.

12.7.12 - He Had a REAL Beard

According to Jalen that is how you 

know whether or you are with the REAL

Santa...just see if his beard is real.

12.6.12 - Giddy UP

Something tells me this isn't 

going to end well.

12.5.12 - In The Zone

A little post shower TV and this kid is zoned.

12.4.12 - These Goofballs...

...were having just too much fun that I had to snap a picture.

12.3.12 - Take a Picture of Me!

There are times when he can just 

ham it up for the camera.

12.2.12 - Looking For the Perfect Picture

If only Ty would have been looking this could have been our

Christmas card picture.

12.1.12 - Sippy Time

This sweet pea loves being a big girl!

11.30.12 - Not Too Big...

...for an evening cuddle.

11.29.12 - Where's Baby Jesus?

I've always loved watching the kids play with their nativity

scene.  Lauren quick learned which one was baby Jesus.

11.28.12 - Mara Lee Thomas

Two weeks early

Nov 28, 2011

5:42pm | 5lbs 9oz | 19''

11.27.12 - Love Awaits Her

We got the call that Aarika and Corey are heading to

the hospital...excitement, worry and prayers begin!

11.26.12 - Won't Be Long...

...and this little girl will be all done with bottles.

11.25.12 - Decorate The Tree

"Decorate the tree, decorate the tree, decorate the tree,

one, two, three."

This year we retired a few ornaments and decided

that we need to get Derk a separate tree for all the

#1 teacher and Michigan Fan ornaments that

he continues to acquire from his students every year.

11.24.12 - Picking Just the Right Tree

Every year we head to Rockford to cut down the perfect tree.

Jalen's humor came out by calling us all to see the perfect

tree he found.  Then we tried a new tradition by getting Jalen

down under the tree to cut it down...given how cold it was and

realizing quickly he wasn't getting anywhere Derk joined

in and we were shortly on our way home to decorate it.

11.23.12 - Kyle & Aubrey's Wedding

These two have loved on our kids

while we've been at work.  Kyle is

the son of Toni & Rex who care for

our kids when we're off earning a living.

It has been such a blessing watching these

two fall in love over the years and 

then say "I do".

11.22.12 - Tryptophan Kicked In

This picture is one of my favorites with Lauren and Auntie A.

11.21.12 - Checking Out Something New

This toys seems to be child's version of

a stair stepper.  As you step it counts 

and encourages you.  Ty got it as a 

Christmas present a few years back...

Lauren is checking it out to see if she likes it.

11.20.12 - Lipstick OR...

...licking the beaters?

11.19.12 - Part 2 of Got Wood

Stacking some in the garage for winter warmth.  There is nothing

like curling up next to the fireplace with a warm cup of coffee knowing 

it is simply to cold outside to go anywhere.

11.18.12 - Loving It

These two have become the best of buddies.

I love watching and listening to them play.

11.17.12 - Got Wood?

We took some trees down in the spring in order to get more

sunlight in our backyard.  Since we LOVE having fires keeping

the wood was a necessity.  We'll see how long this lasts us.

11.16.12 - Friday Morning Cuddle

Priceless!

11.15.12 - Popular Parent

I think the kids missed you today!

11.14.12 - Building Each Of Us A House

The tower on the left if Ty's house, then he build 

Jalen one (which he said is a little smaller), then

Lauren's (which again is a little smaller).