Happy Birthday to Aunt Susan~

We were so happy to celebrate Aunt Susan's birthday with her sister Jan

and brothers~

 The kids love spending the night with her and LOVED celebrating with her!

Scott, Susan, Jan, and Larry!

A beautiful family!!!

IG Moments this Week~

This week via IG...

My mom and dad's garden is full at the moment and we have enjoyed lots of corn this week~

The silly bitties after our sweet social worker visited for Holly's one month~

We enjoyed dinner with Scott's sisters, Jan and Susan~

After an awesome visit to the dentist and NO cavities, we celebrated with Happy Meals~

Do you remember us sprouting seeds in bags on our window then transplanting to pots then our yard???~

 Well EK and SJ picked green beans and butter beans this week and I cooked them tonight... YUM~

We have enjoyed evening walks and the littles LOVE visiting to pet the horses~

There was much swimming too... here they all are with their person~

A great week and can't wait for tomorrow...

Ben Curtis!!!!!

Christmas @ Aunt Susan's House~

Over the last year Payne and Evie have had SO many firsts.

Tonight was another because we shared a Christmas dinner with Scott's side of the family 

along with opening the first gifts of Christmas.

Everyone had a great time with their cousins~

 Payne was so cute when opening the first gift and couldn't believe he got to open two!

It was nice to spend time with Scott's sisters, Jan and Susan, and his brother Larry plus all their families~

 Jason seemed to be the life of the party with the littles~

 They all had such a great time they were asking if we could go home so they could go to bed.

Worn out from all the fun.

Always such a fun time and so thankful for family!!!

Thank you Susan for having us.

We had such a wonderful evening!!!

Christmas Dinner~

Tonight we were so blessed to be together with family celebrating Christmas. Jan and Ray were in town so we all met @ Susan's house for dinner and gifts. We found it the perfect time to freeze time with photos~

 It was a time of making new memories and remembering old ones. There were loved ones missing and we thought of each one. Family is precious and time spent together is priceless! Having all my children home this weekend is all I could ever want for Christmas! Thinking to next year when our new littles are in middle of the little crowd.

Merry Christmas!

On a sad note, EK's fish Bluebell passed away while we were away. We shared the news with EK after she was ready for bed and she was completely broken. Cried and cried and cried. Scott, Amelia, and she buried him by the pool. She cried and cried and cried finally falling asleep about 10pm. I can't even describe the heart wrenching cry that came from way deep inside her and as I held her, I cried too. Cried for her heart, for her brokeness from long ago, cried for the families in CT that have lost their children and would give anything to be holding them while they grieved their pet fish. I can't even imagine their pain and pray God is SO close to them they actually breathe Him in. 

Psalm 34:18

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 

245 Years~

That's the cumulative number of years

Scott and his siblings have been alive.

And they all turn a significant new age in 2011.

Scott-50, Susan-60, Jan-65, and Larry... 70~

AND I only got the photo above after these~

You think they love to have a good time???

I'd say that's reason enough to celebrate SO

celebrate is what we did yesterday in the mountains

at Susan and Tony's new getaway...

It was SO wonderful to have everyone together...

All the big kids~

Scott/Larry (missed Jennifer), Ray/Jan, Susan/Tony, Scott/Me

And the Bigs and Littles~

Just can't say how wonderful it was to be with ALL of them!!!

Pure sweetness~

We spent the day...

Opening gifts~

(thanks Aunt Jan & Uncle Ray)

Eating~

(This girl can clean a chicken leg:)

Horse riding~

(EK's dream, SJ... not so much)

Just being together!!!

And a birthday party~

(you guessed it... more laughing. :)

Happy birthday to 4 very SWEET siblings...

who learned a lot about having fun, laughing, and love

from their precious mom and dad...

Curtis and Louise Ankerich~

They are SO missed and loved

and without them...

NONE of us would have celebrated such happiness!!!

Thank you Mama and Papa!!!