2015 In Review

So much happened in 2015 and as it comes to a close I want to make sure and highlight some of our wonderful, crazy life:

John took Bryant on a 3 day camping trip. Bryant will remember that for the rest of his life.

 We had backyard bonfires with friends and family...

 We trick-or-treated in torrential rains...

 My men...

 We 'graduated' over 70 chickens with friends...

 We saw precious family...

 We went on hikes...

 ...and met some village people...

 Superheroes were at our house daily...

 The kids built their first snowman at our new house...

And our old fireplace...

...became this, thanks to John's hard work and Dad Petersen and Doug, our mason friend.

 This boy loves all things related to working with his hands, including stoking fires...

 We hunted for our Christmas tree in the snow...

 Aubrey performed in the Nutcracker, as a party girl and a soldier. She was wonderful.

 She has a very large fan base. These boys are so wonderfully cute...

 Most of the cheering squad on opening night. Aubrey also had almost an entire row there for her on the 2nd night of the show. We so love our family and the support they give.

 Christmas with Nana and Papa and all the grandkids...

 Christmas with Grammy and Grandpa and all but 3 of the grandkids...

2015 was full of new things and we look forward with joy to 2016.

Stuart Graham

Stu-Bear, you turn 5 today. Time just seems to be going by so fast with you. The days (weeks, months, really) before you came were some of the most dramatic of my life. The doctors thought you weren't developing kidneys, they could never find your heartbeat within the first 10 tries or so, and you got lots of special pictures taken via ultrasound because no one was quite sure that you were okay. And then the day of your arrival came and it was like no big deal. It was the smoothest labor and delivery I had out of all four of you and it was almost as if you were saying to the world, "What's the big deal?" I've come to understand that you are kind of like that, sweet boy.

 Drama doesn't suit you. Your insides don't handle a lot of chaos all that well. Everything about you wants things to be, "no big deal."

 And when life is functioning in a "no big deal," kind of way, you are the most charming, sweet, funny kid I have ever met.

To my wonderful, tender, kind-hearted boy, you fill our lives with such wonder and joy. You encourage us to slow down and see the gifts in every day. Simple things matter and you model that so well. We pray you understand deep down how very much you are treasured by God and that you pursue His desire for you in all things. And we love you to the moon and back.

Happy 5th birthday, Stuart Graham. You are loved.

Emmett Craig, You're 3!

Emmett, it's your birthday today and I'm not quite sure where the time is going. This was you, 3 years ago:

You were one of the sweetest babies I had ever been around, truly.

Your personality quickly started to come through.

By year one you were full speed ahead, little man. Always with this mischievous look in your eye:

 Life is exciting and fun, especially when there are people around. You LOVE being around people and I giggle to myself whenever I hear you meeting new friends, "My name is Em-mett. Dis my brother Tuey." Stuart is always your companion when meeting new people. He is always included in the introduction.

Emmett, you are intense, and squishy, and affectionate, and opinionated, and so very sure of yourself. Your quick smile and fun-loving demeanor are such a gift to us.

 You keep us on our toes, Emmett Boy. We are so excited to see what year 3 will hold for you...and for us. We pray you will learn how much Jesus loves you and that you can use all of your spunk and spitfire to show others how much He loves them, too.

 

Happy 3rd birthday, sweet, snuggly boy. You are such a tremendous gift. We love you.

Beautiful Courage

Sweet girl, you are so very brave. Walking into a room of strangers with great hope each time to meet a friend. My heart breaks for you, because I see the disappointment and confusion when a kindred spirit is not found. My heart aches for you because when I was your age I had never moved locations and had never had to start again. I had my closest friends and they were mine forever. My heart aches because I know the longing in your heart to be known and to know.

And yet you stand tall, with a smile on your face, paving the way for the many younger ones behind you. What will you become, my Aubrey girl? You are so beautifully courageous. I just don't even know how to express my gratitude to God for you. You teach me so many things about believing the best about others, about unabashedly opening your arms to those who cross your path, about forging ahead when your world has been tossed and turned by the waves.

I hope to teach you that YOU have such great value, just as YOU are. You don't need to be competitive (though you wish you could understand this, "Dodgeball game,") and you don't need to think it's somehow your problem when others don't see your worth. You are wonderfully, beautifully, perfectly woven together by the Creator who loves you more than I do.

Aubrey Grace, I anticipate greatly watching you become all that your King has made you to be. And you will do it.

Bryant's Yellow Belt Kata

This is Bryant doing the Yellow Belt Kata. He earned 1st place in his division!!

Fall Photo Shoot

I headed outside today to attempt a few pictures of the kids. 3 out of the 4 made it. We'll get Emmett later.

My country girl...

So stunningly beautiful.

The girl with the curl in the middle of her forehead. (Or to the side, but so, so cute.)



My farm boy... 

 He kills me with his cuteness. But don't tell him I said so. He'll go, "Mo-ommmmmm!" with an eye roll.

 It was going so, incredibly well...

 ...and then this happened:

 "Bryant, look at me and smile." He is so accommodating.

 "Just smile for me..."

 "Aaannnddd, we're done."

 Stu-Bear's turn!

 Mommy needs to practice her picture taking directions: "Put your chin down, Stuey."

 "Now smile with your teeth."

 "Hmmm..."

 "Pretty good, there, Buds!"

 And I lost him. Bryant may have been in the background causing this.

 Stuart is the BEST at taking purposeful awkward photos.

 You might think this is a candid shot, however, I had about 10 pictures with this exact face right in a row. Totally on purpose.

 This is a true Stu-Bear smile. So handsome, my quiet (except when squealing at Bryant or Emmett), tender-hearted boy.

 This one decided to take off all his clothes. All of them. Then he was cold. Because he didn't have any clothes on. Not any. So we will get "official" mommy pictures later.

These pictures make me happy. 4 unique personalities. 4 little bodies that create all sorts of fireworks level chaos when added together. 4 of the greatest gifts I could ever receive. They are not mine to keep, but how I love that my name is Mommy to them.