14!?

Kenzie turned 14 in December....


         ...she had a sleep over and took a couple of friends snowboarding.  She did well for her first time out and she didn't fall once.... [on purpose]

Birthday Boys

The boy's birthdays are the middle of November.

Aiden turned 6 this year and Brigg turned two.... it's hard to believe they are getting so big ~

They play hard and have lots of fun together 

[ This is our new 'photo face' ... whenever someone says cheese, this is the face we get ]

Happy Birthday Lauren!

Lauren celebrated her 11th birthday this past Wednesday ~

She was born in a birthcenter with a FANTASTIC Midwife
Lauren was born with a valvular heart defect which was repaired a few months after she was born
She has always been our "little" girl : )

Lauren is a great big sister to her brothers!

Happy Birthday girl! We LOVE you ~

Happy Birthday Mackenzie!

Tomorrow night at 10:55 p.m. Mackenzie will officially be a TEENAGER!

Here's a quick glance at the last 13 years ~

This little girl had a rough start! She was born with a Tracheo-esophageal Fistula [an extra part if you will] connecting her Trachea and Esophagus. She underwent major surgery four days after she was born to correct the problem. This photo was taken on Christmas Eve 1995. Not exactly how we envisioned spending our first Christmas with our new baby ~

Three months later, she was strong and relatively healthy; you would never know this little one had such a beginning ~

~ Look at this cute baby [and her baby-faced daddy] ~

Mackenzie was a great big sister from the start. Maybe I should remind her more often how excited she was when Lauren came along.....hmmm...

Mackenzie has always been a very social person ~

This poor, deprived child has spent two of her birthdays at Disney World!

First year at Girl's Camp this past summer!

....This picture captures Kenzie's attitude perfectly!

How did she grow-up so fast?

Thirteen years......I'm not sure where they went ~ [I feel so old!]

Boys' Birthday Highlights

Here are some of the highlights from the boys' birthdays this week ~

Aiden took cupcakes to school to share with his class. The kiddos devoured them, but I think Aiden enjoyed them the most visually : )

Who doesn't love presents? .....

Aiden making a wish......looks pretty important. He says he wished to be a superhero! Hope he's not holding his breath on that one : )

The big one-year-old birthday boy. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do with the presents, so of course he got lots of help from his brother and sisters.

Presents, presents, and more presents....

Enough excitement!

Diggin' into the cake.....

....I think Mikey liked it!

Grandma came for the week and endured all the noise and excitement. We had a good week, but I'm sure we all gained 20 pounds with all the cake and ice cream!

Happy Birthday Brigg!

It is incredible to me that a whole year has passed by already! It is hard to remember our life before Brigg arrived. These are a few things we love about Brigg:

He is such a happy, sweet-nautred boy! He is usually smiling and laughing and he keeps us doing the same.

This little guy is the world's biggest 'Daddy's Boy!' From the second Lonnie walks through the door, he wants nothing but his daddy. He has even been known to push me away! [gotta love that]

Brigg gives the best hugs and great kisses; you know the big, slobbery, open-mouthed kind....right on the ole' kisser. I love them!

Even though Brigg caught us by surprise, it is hard to remember life before he arrived; It feels like he has always been here. When Lonnie saw Brigg for the first time the thought hit him, "Yea, we have been missing him."

Brigg's our only child named by someone else...thanks Melissa for the suggestion! It was definately meant to be.

Brigg loves his big brother! He thinks it is so cool to play with Aiden and his 'big-boy' toys.

He is the cutest baby ever! [of course we are a little biased ~]

Happy Birthday Aiden!

Aiden turns the big five today! Here are a few things we love about Aiden:

He has a special little spirit. When asked by his Sunday School teachers at church how we can be more like Jesus, Aiden answered, "We can have faith." Great answer! He also quickly added, "We can also have power over the weather!" That boy is ALL about having super powers : )

Aiden is always the first to tell you 'great job' and give out words of affirmation. Last Sunday when
Lonnie said the closing prayer in church, Aiden told him, "Good job Dad! I'm so proud of you!"

Aiden is a great big brother. He has had a special bond with his little brother since the beginning. Aiden was the first to know that Brigg was on his way. [and boy weren't we surprised when he told us!]

Aiden loves ALL things masculine: tools, working outside with Lonnie, fixing things with Dad, getting dirty, riding his 4-wheeler, catching the assorted wildlife that lives out here [frogs, horned toads, snakes] and of course weapons, weapons, ......weapons : )

Aiden also loves to sing. His teacher at school tells me he can always be heard well above the other kids and keeps the class 'on key.' If it's a song he can really get into....watch out! Last year in the Primary program at church Aiden was right up front and you could hear him belting his little heart out on EVERY song. Too bad he didn't know all the words! : )