Spruce Mountain

It has been a few years since Hubby and I have been able to go for a hike, so we thought we'd try it this summer with our boys in tow.  Prince N rode in the backpack most of the way, and Prince M only talked us into a few piggy back rides.  Prince K and Prince L practically raced each other up the mountain.  Our day started out muggy and sunny, but just when we started our way back down it began to downpour!  Our boys love rain, fortunately, and we all ran down the mountain together, dodging rain drops as we could under tree limbs.  Our clothes were soaked, our shoes were squisy, and our hearts were happy.

 

We plan to do more hiking next year, but somehow we ran out of summer this year before we ran out of things to do!  How does that keep happening?!

Valentine's Day 2013

Lots of love in this house... even if I do forget to post for a year or so at a time!

 

Prince L

I found this draft post hidden in my archives... I have no idea where I was going with it, but the photos are TOO cute not to post!  So while he's 7 now, not 4, I still want to remember it all!

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This little boy marches to the beat of his own drummer (and I love that about him!)...

Christmas Prep 2013

My FAVORITE time of year with my FAVORITE boys!

 

 

I thought I could get some good photos of the boys wrapped in Christmas lights for our card this year... they had fun, but we hardly got any "card-worthy" photos.  To my surprise, they were all fighting for the spot light.  Prince N has mastered the infamous "cheese!" every time I whip out the camera (or the remote.  Hehe.)

 

So we picked a relatively warm day to snap some photos by the railroad tracks.  A little tripod and a lot of patience, we ended up with a lot of cute shots!  The boys each have solo pics as well, looking very handsome, but it was too much to post on here!

 

 

Last weekend we had the army Christmas party, and as yearly tradition goes we get our tree immediately after at a local tree farm.  Landon chose the perfect tree for our house (once it was decorated, he declared it "the best tree ever!").

 

Each boy helped with a few ornaments, the bigger boys excited more this year than ever to hang their "specific" ornaments.  In the background we listed to Christmas music, and baked cookies in the oven.  It was about as picture-perfect as it can get around here. 

 

I had to laugh at the above picture - the boys were mesmerized with the tree cutting!  Hubby hit a rock during the process, so the dull hack saw got stuck and the boys scrambled to help.  I love them so!

 

Now we are counting down the days on our homemade advent calendar; 24 pockets filled with chocolates and legos this year.  And Prince M reminds me every day that he wants Santa to bring him the Star Wars Angry Bird "piggy ship."  Sigh.  I sure hope Santa is listening!

Family

There's a whole lotta love goin' on in this house.

Prince M loves to be the "big" brother and snuggle with Prince N!

Daddy gets lots of lovin' from this little guy!

Well, from all of them really.

Even our stuffed animals get a little TLC!

Momma is usually behind the camera, so a little mirror photo will have to do.

Brothers, helping each other out!

Goodbye For Now, Brutus

With much regret, we decided to find a new home for Brutus.  We love him dearly, but he just wasn't getting the attention he deserved at our house... especially after the addition of baby #4 and moving to our new house.  We found an amazing family for him, and hope to visit soon.  Our boys each wanted to take picture with Brut before he left, and Brut "gave" them each a stuffed yellow lab to remember him by.  We read books about saying goodbye, and prepared for his departure.  Nothing could have prepared me for how hard it was going to be to leave him at his new home though! Hubby and I both shed tears as we drove home without him in our car.  But knowing he will be happier makes it a little bit easier!

 

 

We are sad that Prince N will never know this precious pup as we all did...

 

Farewell, Brut, we'll see you soon!

Basketball

Prince L was sad to have missed the soccer season this year (he didn't want to play until he heard how much fun his friends were having), so when he heard he could play basketball he was super excited.  Watching a bunch of kindergarteners play sports is pretty comical, but they try really hard.  Prince Lwas striving to be the fastest on the court, and wanted to shoot at the higher baskets (instead of the kid-friendly lower ones they dug out for first practices).  He listened intently to his coach and tried to be the first to do the requested activities. 

 

 

I fully believe that sports at this age are more about socializing than skills and winning.  I love to watch them all interact!

 

Shoot for the stars, little buddy!

 

And of course, Prince N slept through the practices...

 

And on Prince L's final practice he was given a medal with his name on it - made all those early mornings well worth it!