Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

 

If it looks as though our tree is only decorated from the middle up, that's because it is.  Although I put only plastic or fabric ones down low, Aiden found it enjoyable to remove them from the tree and throw them againt the wall. 

 

Outside with our crazy pup.

 

Thirteen-years-old!  We can't believe how grown up Ciala is!

 

Lauren is always ready with a smile.

 

Our little man...

 

Aiden wasn't quite sure what we were going for here--we usually give him a hard time for playing on the stairs!

Probably our last family photo before 5 become 6!

 

He's Baaaack!

It took him almost 21 months to get sick for the first time, and a week to fully recover.  Except for a lingering runny nose... he's back!  Clyde and I agreed that, as much as we often wish for peace and quiet, we prefer his boisterous, messy antics to sick, listless Aiden!

There's my best pal!

Big throw!

Time to run!

and run...

I really missed my pup, Kona!

(Okay, maybe its time to get a few more friends!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a great time cooking, eating, and playing this Thanksgiving!  Aiden was especially thankful to have his sisters to play with him... Ciala was thankful for her first taste of game hen... and Lauren was thankful for pumpkin pie with whipped cream!  I was thankful for the gender balance shift our two girls brought along, and Clyde was thankful that I had someone else to help me plan our Christmas cards this year (I'm pretty sure he is tired of mustering up a false opinion!).  We hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful!

Clyde and I worked together in the kitchen.  It was delicious!

 

Clyde isn't ready to be the father of a 13-year-old (Dec 25 is coming!)

 

Lauren is always ready with a smile.

 

Aiden was so excited from his sisters' arrival, that he missed the dinner.  We saved him a plate.

 

Our bookends (for a few more months!) spend some quality time together.

 

Reindeer games!  I'm not sure if you can tell, but only the top half of our tree is only decorated.  Aiden found it way too enticing to pull ornaments off the tree and hurl them at the wall, so a compromise was reached!  Fingers crossed for next year's normal tree!