Christmas Morning

I am in the middle of working on a real work project but I couldn't help wanting to look at some Christmas photos. Turns out we didn't take much. I was trying to be good with video this year and so my photos were very little! I am so sad. But I do have a couple of fun ones.

It's our family tradition on Christmas Eve to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and then the youngest throws the first piece out to the birds. My Nana says she does that because she had wanted to show that God cares for "the least of these" and the tangible way to show that to children is giving it to the birds. Caed was able to throw the piece out this year- what a fun memory for us! We were all at my cousin Karen and her husband Graham's home. (Look at my niece Olivia with her hands in the air at the end of Happy Birthday- Precious!)

Throwing the piece to the birds (with help from dad)

Christmas Morning we got up from my sister Kristen's home and went to my Nana's in our PJ's. That's where we opened gifts.

My mom, Caed's Nana, reading a book Christmas morning. (no, it's not the Christmas story, it's just a book of trucks!)

The cousins with my Nana's Hess truck collection. (Caed was in heaven!!)

No more grass

So I know I am skipping Christmas photos- but I wanted to post this in follow up to a picture I posted before the leaves on the Willow tree fell. They almost all fell while we were away and you would never believe we have an actual lawn with the way they cover the ground. Thousands of tiny skinny willow tree leaves!! Since I am suffering with a cold I'd say this was going to be my husbands project this year. I took this picture this morning before I took our lovely dog out for her mandatory walk. Shortened of course, because my energy level is low!

Back after Christmas

Sorry for the depressing nature of sickness in my last post. I wrote it shortly before leaving before Myrtle Beach, and unfortunately we couldn't get out the door before my grandmother passed away.

We've been in a sort of haze, enjoyed being with family at Christmas, and we are back home. I am unfortunately under the weather with what is hopefully only a severe cold. I am taking day quil and nyquil like it's going out of style. I think it's helping me to be able to manage looking after Caed with only minimal TV occupying his attention while I lay on the sofa.

Too bad I couldn't have gotten this while I was in Myrtle Beach with lots of family around! Oh well, we are working it out.

Christmas photos to come soon.

Change of plans...

we weren't supposed to be leaving for Myrtle Beach for Christmas until tonight. My mom received a call about 5 am this morning that she needed to head to the hospital for my grandmother, her heart rate was dropping. My mom made it up there along with my sister Kristen and Ken. She seems to be doing okay again, but we are packing up and heading down now. We were just at a family funeral this week for another family member and waiting any longer to hear my grandmother be better and worse is too much. 8 hours in the car today will seem like years until we are there with her. But better on our way then waiting around.
I'll repeat the same prayer on the drive down "please Lord, let her hang on a little longer"

Live Nativity

Last weekend our church put on a Live Nativity for the Capitol Hill community. It was a great way to keep focused on the reason we celebrate Christmas- not for santa and presents...Jon volunteered to be a wise man with camel (llama), and so we went down and hung out there for awhile. Caed took a late nap, and so he woke up late and this was a great way to burn off some energy. He loved seeing dad all dressed up, and some of our other friends as well. He even warmed up to the animals and pet them himself. He was a little too comfortable! It was also a good reinforcement of learning animals and their sounds.

Caed and sheep: Baaa!

Donkey- He was only a little scared after the baby donkey backed up into him!

Here's the baby:

Caed looking very enthusiastic to be sitting with Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus (real baby!):

Isn't dad looking handsome? I think he should try this look more often!:

Dad's "camel":

Friends, Mom, Grace, daughter, Violet:

Looking at the baby goat:

Building Zone

We went to the Building Museum a few weeks ago and a few of the mom's joined us. They have a great (free) kids area. We had a great time, and it really was so great for Caed- I think we'll be visiting more this winter. They had a life size playhouse and Caed loved the locks. Miss Katrina tried to show Caed how to lock and unlock things. What a nice friend to do that to his mom!

Knocking over Lego's with Aliyah:

Pushing trucks off the porch:

Caed loves "trina". (probably because he senses that she's one of 3 girls):

Grace was so funny with the goggles on!:

Aliyah was having a great time too:

David was having a little of a hard time, probably because he wanted to do everything the older kids were!:

Doing okay

My grandmother came through the surgery well. My mom visited her yesterday evening with other family members and she was awake and aware. She held my mom's hand and asked the other's questions which showed she was alert. We thank God for her ability to get through the surgery.

First day is over, now for continued progress and her comfort as she deals with the pain management...

We just had the rest of the work completed on the back of our house yesterday- our third back door was converted into a window and our bathroom had a window in it onto the back room, so we had that closed up as well. Done until Spring!

Just trying to take one day at a time getting ready for Christmas...I still have pictures to post, so hopefully I'll be able to get to that soon.

Not too busy

I'm not too busy to think of my grandmother Mary tonight. She heads to triple bypass surgery tomorrow morning. My mom e-mailed us family tonight and I am just reminded of my grandmother's faith. This is what my mom wrote in her
e-mail, after talking to my grandmother on the phone:

the surgeon met with her and after discussing everything he asked her if she wanted to discuss the risks and she told me that she told him basically - "Please don't worry about the risks - you just do what you have to do and know that if anything happens I know I am going to be with the Lord and I have complete peace about all of this and please don't you ever feel bad - I don't want you feeling bad if I don't make it."

What a woman.

I am reminded of this verse as a comfort: Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

very busy...

Who wouldn't think it was busy this time of year? I think it's compounded with the extra events for the season and just trying to make it through planning and budgeting and keeping my one child occupied with meaningful activities while I try to keep crossing the things off my list.

Not to mention the fact that we found out my grandmother, my dad's mom, is having open heart surgery on Thursday. She has hardly ever to have to be at the doctor's and although we trust the Lord with her care, this kind of event in your 80's is a little worrisome. We are planning to celebrate with her at Christmas so we keep looking to that and praying for her health and recovery.

Last night we had Jon's company holiday party and it was at a Moroccan restaurant. Wow was it an experience. Auntie April stayed home with Caed, so he was in great hands, although I think he was on the cranky side. I wasn't thinking that Moroccan was exactly holiday-like, but a wiser friend of mine said that it was probably better then the standard hotel catering room party. I agree. We did have a good time, 7 courses of Moroccan goodness! There was even a "belly" dancer. Although since she had a six pack it was less "belly" and more "toned abs" dancing. We ate everything with our hands, and although we didn't really know the other couple we were sharing our community plate with, it was fun. And the other couple was really nice and since the wife used to work for Jon's company he enjoyed getting some insight from her- so it was good. Other then the belly dancer, the other interesting part of the evening was actually arriving. The restaurant is on the border of a sketchy area of the city. The only indication that it's the restaurant that we were invited to was the ornate red door, and some Moroccan writing on the front of the building that was otherwise void of any restaurant signs. You have to actually knock to get into the restaurant. Apparently this is a very popular restaurant with celebrities (mostly the political type) as pictures are adorning the hallways.

We did have a good time! Now I probably won't be posting for a couple of more days, I've got this logo project that is keeping me busy and making this time of year even more hectic, because I have to work at nap time, not clean up and plan like I would prefer to be doing.

Still Snowing...

Wow, two posts in one day- must be an important day! Lots of snow and it's still coming down. I think it was supposed to stop at 8, so I bet it won't go on very much longer, but it's beautiful out there. I took a couple more shots of just the snow- and one fun one of Caed while I was making dinner and he was goofing around.

I am always trying to get different shots of snow instead of the same photo of the house in the snow- one snowy house in the snow looks the same year after year...

Christmas light:

Flowers:

Cool overgrowing plant at the back of our house:

potted plant:

Caed lifting the stool from underneath:

Tonight's snow:

And a couple with flash since I didn't want to bring the tripod out but still be able to get the snowflakes. Jon shoveling like a good husband!:

Snow!

Today we got some early snow! I am sure that the global warming debate is mum for the day. It hardly ever snows this early. But if it were warm, I am sure the debate would be loud and clear.

Anywho. When I first showed Caed the snow this morning out his window he looked baffled, and then I brought him downstairs to check out the snow out our front storm door- and he exclaimed "Truck!" as a truck drove by that was timed perfectly to our arrival at the door. The excitement was clearly lost on him until Caed and I went to visit our friends on Capitol Hill for Bible Study. He enjoyed tromping through the snowy leaves and so I took a few photos when we were outside. We happened to arrive with Taylor and mom Laura, and left at the same time as them too, so both directions I got the kids together in the fun.

You can tell what photos were taken arriving and leaving...and it's still doing some sort of precipitation out there! FUN!



Checking out to see if Taylor is playing along. It gives Caed such satisfaction it seems when he can get another kid to do what he's doing, or laugh with him. I wonder how that plays out in our adulthood and if I could identify that in either Jon or I.









Taylor and her gloves- Caed doesn't keep those things on! Taylor is obviously privy to the fact that if you keep them on your hands feel better!

New Doors and a fridge moved

So here are the pictures of our new back doors- properly opening. They were delivered earlier in the morning the day the construction guy put them in. It was one guy "delivering" or doing a drop off service from Home Depot. I, nor Jon knew this detail, and so the guy was flexible and delivered them himself through our back gate. Luckily our back alley was paved last year and made it feasible to drive up in the back. Caed enjoyed watching the construction a lot and getting him away from the workers for nap time was hard. But our doors are so nice- and they obviously aren't decaying like the replaced ones were- and pretty soon we'll have our new window to put where the other door is and the back room will be in good shape until we do some more work in the spring on our kitchen and bathrooms. We are really blessed to make these upgrades when we need to and honestly thank God for providing for us.

No more fridge in the dining room! (moved the Monday before Thanksgiving) and notice the new artwork on our wall- Thank you to Jon for the wonderful birthday gift! I think that wall is a nice home for our two headed person! (I like to think of it like two getting married and becoming one..)






Our new out swing opening french doors (blinds in between the panes of glass!):






The new home for our fridge:






And the old home of our old fridge. Notice the radiator- that used to keep our freezer from opening completely up which is why we didn't bring the fridge back to this spot.

To-Do's

I thought I was going to have more pictures to post, but evidently, I didn't do it. Something to add to my to-do list.

Speaking of which, I just read on the Blogger page when you sign, in about this blog that posts to-do lists. http://www.todolistblog.com/ The Blogger apparently has just published a book about to-do lists, and it makes me smile. I love lists. Recently we ran out of notebooks around here and my lists have been created on the back of receipts and anything I can find- but for the most part I haven't been writing as many lists because of this paper shortage in our home. (yes, I do have computer paper, but that large white space isn't conductive to good list making for myself.) In fact when preparing our budget and gift ideas for Christmas, Jon grabbed his computer notebook and starting putting his list in there. This evening I was talking to my mom and she mentioned that she doesn't have the time to do the things on her list and how unsatisfactory it feels to only cross off three things on lists that she's made recently. My advice was to write more things that she can cross off, and she named her favorite list item "get dressed". That's a good "crosser off-er" if I've ever had one myself.

Lists also help me as a new mom keep track of the things on my mind. Lately I can have the thought of something I want to accomplish, and I go to the place where the task needs to be done and it's left my mind. So I try to write my lists more often. I did come across recently a spiral notebook and that did help with my lists for Thanksgiving day. I don't think that the back of a receipt would have cut it for the 5 pages of lists just for the day. I can even write lists of what I want to communicate with someone- or e-mails I want to write. It's a busy world out there and you don't want to fall behind!

Well back to my lists- yes, even at 10pm at night! Oh and here's one photo from the small amount of fall photos I took. With the way the weather turned today, I am sure all the leaves have been pummeled to the ground.

And this is the willow tree in our back yard that before today's incredible wind still had most of it's leaves! I hate the willow tree's leaves. So I am dreading when they fall.

New Video

I think we've (Jon) gotten the video to work. Check out the quality of this not so much on the content.... This little video recorder is pretty cool. I highly recommend for someone who wants to shoot something of quality easily. Those digital camera videos don't compare! And this hooks directly into the USB port, so you don't have to fuss with wires either...

2004 and 2005 Christmas Cards

I thought it would be fun to post our past two year Christmas photos too. Complete with added Santa hats. This year, no Santa hats, no cute (mostly) naked babies, a pretty boring photo...but trying to plan ahead lost some creativity for us...

2005:

On a Segway tour here in DC the first few months after April had come to live with us.

2004:
This photo is from our trip to France- and the snow is added as well, seeing as how it was March in Paris. And there's an extra special guest in the background.

2006 Christmas Card

I just ordered our Christmas Cards on Tuesday and we got them today. I like them, but this was our picture from last year, and I don't think it compares in cuteness.

A week late

Happy Thanksgiving! I took this photo when we were out at the Pumpkin farm with our church a few weeks ago. I meant to blog it for thanksgiving, but obviously I didn't get to it! We did have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Lots of people to help get us ready and meal ready only 2 hours later then planned! (that turkey just didn't want to warm up enough!) It was all delicious though and only my rolls ended up not so good. April and I taught my soon to be sister in law (my only one!) Sally, our favorite card game, and she was so much fun to play with. It's a quick game, so speed and having fun is important! It's called Dutch Blitz, and we recommend it!

Having fun

Caed kept crawling in the laundry basket yesterday and saying "night, night". I had to catch the shot, mostly for his size and fitting in the basket...more pictures to come. I finally am moving over pictures and working on some photo gifts for this Christmas...


Oh, and I never did write that we finally got the fridge out of our living room the Monday before Thanksgiving- so we had maximum space for eating! Pictures of that are coming too. It really feels so much more spacious now that it's gone...never mind retraining myself to go to the back room instead of the dining room to get something out of the fridge...

Jon and I

I only have a minute to post and so I am posting a random photo- of Jon and I at my cousin Courtney's (and now husband Nate) wedding. I want to post video but I didn't get Jon to help me figure out my issue tonight, so it will have to wait- and I don't have the few Thanksgiving pictures I took because my camera is upstairs. So here is a lovely reminder to me that Jon and I are a team. Sometimes we get so caught up with parenting Caed, and all the other responsibilities that I think we let it slide that we are the original team. On Sunday, at our couple's group we reviewed a chapter that the theme was Children. I think Jon and I thought differently about some of the sections (based on another understanding, not that one was right/ wrong) in the chapter and so we weren't chatty, but it gave us the opportunity to hear what the other's had to say, and it was good. I was reminded (again) that Jon and I are the team here, and that Caed, Khaki, and everything else should be incorporated into us. Not that Caed, Khaki and everything is the center and we revolve those situations. I don't think I am writing it how I figure it in my head, but nonetheless. I don't ever think that our world should revolve Caed, but I think it so easily slips into that.

"jon, I can't talk right now, caed is talking"
"lauren I can't hear you right now, Caed is screaming"
"we have bills to pay tonight"
"i have to finish things around here that I didn't get to this afternoon"

I am again thankful for the people that have come into our life, and how the Lord is using them to change Jon and I and refine us.







And a final thank you to our parents who braved the world of parenting to raise us! I am feeling more and more gratitude for all the hard work they put into us. My perspective now makes me realize on those really hard days, that it possible to make it. Can someone be responsible for disciplining Caed's tantrum's beside us? (Nana? Grammie? Grandpa?)

Technical Difficulties

I have been trying to post since yesterday some of the video I have from my new video recorder, but I am having technical difficulties. I also was frustrated because it seemed that I lost some formatting controls in posting, but I just realized what had happened. So all of this has hindered my posting since my birthday. We've also had a lot of family in town for Thanksgiving and Jon's brother and fiancee Sally were down here where my desktop is.

I also have a new logo project I am working on, so that's going to keep me busy as well. I am excited to have this project, it's always a lot of fun to keep my brain working in non-baby ways.

There will be a real update here soon!

Birthday!

No picture from my birthday celebration, but yesterday was my big 30th birthday! Jon and I celebrated by going out to eat on Saturday night to a french restaurant downtown DC called Bistro Bis. It was excellent, and another french restaurant to cross off the list. This was ranked up pretty high! We then went to see a movie- a big treat for parents of a young child. We saw the movie Into the Wild. I am currently reading the book, and although i would have preferred to wait to see it, I had to take the opportunity now. We didn't get home until after 1:30, so it was definitely a late night for this mom and dad, and a special treat.

Jon's parents had arrived on Saturday afternoon so Caed was taken care of for the evening. On Sunday, on cue, Caed woke up normally about 7, and we stumbled out of bed shortly after that. I opened my loot, and my sisters and mom sent me a really cool digital video camera, small & great quality. Supposedly featured on Oprah's favorite things! It will be with me wherever I go. I have to figure out how to hook it up to my computer and see what it looks like on here. Jon went through a huge hassle to buy a piece of artwork from a place we visited when we were in St. John and I can't wait to get it. I really wanted it when we were there, and he didn't want to go for it. I've still talked about it, and so he decided to surprise me. That's because he's a great husband who I appreciate so incredibly.

Then at about 9:30am my sister April called me and was singing Happy Birthday- but she was with someone else- since I was expecting her at my home any minute, I walked to the door and there was April with my sister Heather! Heather left her home before 6am and picked up April and surprised me with her visit and Dunkin Donuts, Coffee, Balloons and Flowers. It was so sweet. It made my day so special. I love surprises like that, and quite frankly those are the kind that make the day out of the ordinary. We didn't do much, and the biggest thing we did together was go to the grocery store and shop for the week/ Thanksgiving! It was so nice to have two of my sisters here- and we missed kik! Heather stayed until after lunch and then had to head home...what a surprise for only a few hours!

Then my birthday was also great because Jon got baptized yesterday. In short, it's a decision he just put off making, and well, since we believe we get baptized by choice, he finally felt it was time- and our church scheduled it last night. It was really cool and awesome to be a part of.

No new pictures yet, but I do have some waiting....and a couple of new projects to work on too!

Ogre

Today I found out a new word that Caed has learned. He learns new words from his friends all the time, but this is the funniest one yet. Last week when he was with a his friend Taylor, and her mom Laura, he learned the word Ogre. I didn't know this until today when Laura told me that they were looking at a picture of Shrek and she told them it was an ogre. Apparently they kept saying it....and well tonight, to test it out, I grabbed our DVD's of Shrek and sure enough- "Ogre, Ogre, Ogre". So now he will be able to identify when an ogre comes near, a very good skill to keep him safe on the DC streets.



An additional 'word' note: We have a lift the flap book from our friends Jeff and Carrie Moses, and he's always loved it because it's these big flaps and really large pictures of the farm animals, and when you lift the flap it's a close up of the animal and a bright colored flap with the sound written out that the animal makes. Today for the first time he said all the noises that the farm animals make on his own- even the goat with his "maaa", and cow actually had a "mooo" not the typical grunting noise that Caed has been identifying to larger four legged animals! Yeah he's learning something!

Sunday...

This morning I wanted to blog immediately after our church service. We attend a church here in DC that has phenomenal speaking. Today's message is part of a larger series speaking based on some box office hits. Yes, the theme is based off of movies. Not usually a series I would be so enthusiastic about, but last week's message and this week's have broken down my preconceived thoughts about what I would get out of it, and it's biblical applicability. The service was based on the movie that I have never seen, The Pursuit Of Happyness. It just challenged me. We have so much we are blessed with despite the hassle's of leaking roof's, fridge's stuck in our dining room and other small things. I normally don't sweat the small stuff, but compiled together it all seems very large. Anyway, it just helped recenter me. The sermon isn't online yet, but I plan to post a link once it is.

After church April put up with the Peterson's bickering and took some shots that we can hopefully use for a Christmas card. The photo below was toward the end, and one we won't be using, but I thought it was a fun one to post. I think this is the first time Jon and I have swung Caed together between us- he loved it, and I think we all really did have a good time.



*warning sisters: comments about dad*

I don't usually post anything about my dad. He died 3 years ago (and it's taken me 3 years to write/ say that!). All of my sister's wrote something last month when he died. I didn't. I thought of it, I just couldn't think what would be appropriate. But today for some reason I miss him (probably related to the movie message at church!). I miss his quietness and his laughter. And I miss his love for us four girls and our mom. He was a special man to all of us and it seems so strange to just have someone so important just gone without any warning or goodbye. Caed looks at the picture of my mom and dad that I have, and I explain that it's Nana and popop, and so when he looks he says it like he knows him. I wish he did. Silly to blog about this I guess, but nonetheless....such a random day for the thought.

Auntie Kik is a new passenger

Tonight Caed was "talking" on the phone to my sister Kiki- he said "please" so that I would let him talk to her- and after a few "hi's" he set this up himself. Like the phone and my sister talking were a toy, a part of the truck and trailer game. Notice the penguin (penny) up front driving! My cell phone was the only camera I had! Even though this is a poor picture I just had to capture his budding creativity. Something new all the time, it makes those crying fits after his nap bearable.

Resolution!

I don't like confronting things that make me uncomfortable. Who does? But finally confronting things feels so good. The resolution of issues brings such joy.
Sometimes I am able to confront knowing that on the other side is the joy, and other times I want to back away as far as possible. I am still a work in progress.

I went to court today to resolve an issue with a former client who didn't finish paying me for two projects! I really liked the client, so it was a bummer to be resorted to this. Today came resolution. I have a check and a payment plan worked out through ourselves, but officially with mediation. It's such an answer to prayer on a lot of levels because I really deserved to be paid for these two large projects I did for them, and I didn't have to go in front of a judge and try to be factual with him.(I am a girl who needs a little emotion involved) It was resolved before 12 noon and Caed was watched by some good friends who tagged teamed the effort. I brought Jonathan along with me, and he wouldn't have been able to help in front of a judge, but in mediation he could speak and help all I wanted him to.

Addendum to the first draft of the post: I don't think I adequately spoke of why today went so well and it's because Jonathan is actually the one who helps me face these uncomfortable situations. And it's a learning experience for me. I value that I have a spouse that helps me navigate running a business and being a non-business person. He stretches and challenges me all the time, in such a great way. Some of these things I would never attempt on my own and Jon is there to support and help me along the way. I am so amazed at the confidence that he gives me just to get through the ordinary and the rough spots of life.**end of addendum

It's so nice to have this issue mostly crossed off the list of things to take care of around here. Now to move on to replacing our back doors to get our fridge in the back of the house, renovating our kitchen and bathroom and getting the leak in our roof repaired.

Now I should be working on a logo for my brother in laws business, and a business card for my college roommate, but I am too busy feeling the weight lifted off our shoulders. I'll start those this weekend.

And today of all days, I can honestly say Thank Goodness it's Friday! I promise more is to come. We had a busy week this week....

Minny

Tonight the funniness of this word was stamped in my brain. April called us at bowling (we had just called her and she called us immediately back) and said she was feeding Caed and he kept saying "minny, minny" and what did it mean. Only a mother. I never thought I would be the kind of mother that understands her children's language and had to do the translation- especially in the dire circumstances of someone else trying to get her child to eat.

But I swooped in!

"April, it means Money. He likes to play with the jar of change at the table. I've hidden it, so don't bring it out!"

Caed was enjoying playing with this big ceramic tub of change that we had. At first it was at a scary height that he could access himself. I got smart and moved it to the table. We would count ('nine, nine, nine') and toss them in, clinking away. We talked about Lincoln and George Washington, and the other men I realized I didn't know....we talked about the different state coins, and the fish and planes on there. It was fun. Until in meant that he wanted to play with "minny" all the time, crawling up into his chair, going through the same process every time. I decided it was time to give Minny a break and hide it.

Caed hasn't forgot about the fun with Minny, and apparently he even remembered with Auntie April. I am not sold that he know where it's been stashed, but he does motion like he knows. He wasn't near me when I hid in on the hutch in our dining room, and it's covered with lots of stuff...

Oh, to have a son that loves money!

Low Key...

This weekend is great. It's been uneventful- and going through my usual blogs, other's seem to be offline, and hopefully enjoying family too. It's still only Saturday but it seems we have endless possibilities. I think it may be the extra hour. When I was not a mom, the extra hour guaranteed a little extra sleep or lingering on the couch with my coffee in the morning. Tomorrow, I am sure, will start with Caed's natural time clock, keeping us to our normal wake up time. Maybe this will be how we make it to church on time. Still, our day today was pretty low key, and some good time as a family. We need these unplanned weekends to keep our sanity.

Tomorrow we meet up with a high school friend of mine who lives in Rhode Island, Stephanie Kissam. I value getting together with her on these visits because getting up to New England is quite difficult with three of us now.

After meeting with Steph, April is going to babysit and Jon and I have plans to join our small group of other couple's for some bowling. I can't remember the last time I bowled for real. I specify that, because we played bowling on our friend's Christina and Jeff's Wii that they brought to our house one evening. I actually won, but my physical talents end at the video game. I am a pretty horrible player...

Well we are going to watch a movie from Tivo, so more to come, after bowling tomorrow probably!

Family Photos

I hadn't posted these fun family photos from our trip to PA for my sister's birthday, so here they are finally. Me and my three amazing sisters. They are the best sisters around and incredibly different, yet so alike. I am very blessed with them in my life. I think how siblings don't get along when they are older, and I couldn't imagine that. My sister's are so important to me.

Everyone was wearing a white shirt already, except for me, and since we were leaving right after my nephew's soccer game, I had a white shirt in my bag and went and changed. Made for interesting light balance.

Anyway, so here we are, purposefully out of age order:

Heather (#2), Me (#3), Kristen (#1), and April (#4)



Here are the grandkids/ cousins:

Olivia (5), Aden (17), Caed (1), and Chantz (8)



Ken and Kik: (ken is ridiculously good at squinting when the shutter goes off, and so you have to take a bazillion pictures in a row to hopefully get him with his eyes open- this was decent I thought)




Jerry and Heather: