Etc.

My sister, Anna, created a blog finally! Head on over to Etc. and check it out! You are in for a treat. She is an aspiring photographer/photo editor, and a generally silly, fun person. I am anticipating an entertaining read.

Christmas Through the Years

2006

2007

2008

2009



2010

Our Christmas 2011 is still to come. Tune in after Christmas to see the latest and greatest of our clan!

Circa 1987

Me, Mom (Becky), Ben, Dad (Jim), Andy

Celebration of Life

We set today aside as a celebration of life in honor of Flynn. Jared took the day off, and we spent the morning together as a family.

First thing this morning, we woke up and headed to Lakefront Park to feed the ducks

Next stop, the CANDY SHOP. Naturally.

Knokes





Then, off to the park...

the boys chillin at the park

Sophie Cole

The Brode Toad!

Restin with Mama

Jazi Lu

i love him.

By that time, the kids needed naps, and Mom and Dad needed some quality time alone to digest everything. So my amazing sister, Anna, came to play with the kids while we escaped for awhile. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Agave Kitchen, talked, cried together, and made the final decision on his middle name, Vidal (full of life).

It wasn't all smiles today. Many tears were shed. I broke down (again) when our onion petals arrived and this was the first one Jared picked up.

YUM-O

Chimichanga!

Me and my loves

Tonight, to finish off the celebration, I am making a big batch of banana smoothie. For the past several weeks during the pregnancy, one of the things that always sounded good when nothing else did, was a banana smoothie. Ironic, since I'm normally not crazy about banana flavored things. But I guess Flynn was ; )

Family Photo

Check out our new family photo we had taken this weekend...

December

Our December has started off with a BANG. December 1st (Jared's birthday), we were moving into our new house! Two days later, we left for Milwaukee for a family wedding.

All dressed up for the wedding!

Jared's side at the wedding

Upon returning home, we spent the week painting and unpacking (next post), and then in our insanity, braved the 8th largest blizzard in the history of the Midwest to get a Christmas tree...

Ready to conquer the elements

Marshmallow man

Brutal...

and insane.

The girls with their favorite man in the world!

How can this many people ALL be so crazy?

Decorating the tree!

Please note the amazing ornament placement. This is my FAVORITE Christmas tree yet...

Our deck after the storm

Our picture perfect picture window.

Each morning brings a new delightful present!





On Wednesday, we brought the girls to their first movie at the movie theater!
Please note: they both wore their Tangled dresses that they got for their birthday. So funny :)

We saw Tangled (HIGHLY recommend!) and they have not stopped talking about it since.

And THAT has been our December so far.
Now, on to Christmas...
Here we go.

Happy Halloween!

BEST Halloween yet...

Cinderella

Tink

Pirate

Arrr!

Our princesses ready to go!

First up, trick-or-treating with the cousin Emma!

Next, over to hang at Minnie Mouse's house!

We spent the evening with Baboo, Uncle Tom, Josh, Shinae and Phoebe!

Yanni (obviously) and his pirate baby

Yanni, Yanni's wife (obviously), and their pirate baby

YARRR!

Sophia RAN from house to house, exclaiming after each one "Oh Mama! This is SO FUN!"

Stopping to inspect the potentially dangerous pumpkin

Ding dong!

Best Halloween ever!

What a perfect little pixie

Going through the loot