Christmas 2012

Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa Stanley's

With almost two years of lessons under her belt,
Brooke was excited to play her Christmas music for us.



The more people you add, the more interesting the pictures get. 



Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house...

 Christmas Morning

 



Love these PJ pictures - thanks Grandma Nancy




My girls



Legos, legos and more legos.  His FAVORITE!

Christmas Day was nice to just be at home, enjoy the company of family and celebrate our Savior's Birthday!

Walt Disney Trip 2012

Traveling to Disney with four kids....exhausting, but so much fun! 

(Thanks Grandma Nancy for helping us keep our sanity.)

 

We started the trip to visit Great Grandpa Ted and family in Tampa.

 

 

And then on to six days in the parks...



A little rainy but still a magical day at Magic Kingdom

 

On Safari with Mickey



Clayton defeating Darth




Brooke battling with flare

 

We did four character meals and dancing with Jake was at the top of their list.

They are already talking about our next trip...

One, two, skip a few...

Life with four kids is busy...busy with lots of fun stuff (and let's be honest, some not so fun stuff too)!  For as much as I had wanted this blog to be caught up with lots of great details of what we've been up to - I can't seem to get it to the top of the priority list.  Believe it or not, these kids like to eat, be played with and have clean clothes to wear...SO demanding of them, isn't it?!  And so, the blog has waited.  My hope is to do a quick run-down of the last 8 months and go from there with my best effort.

And mostly in order from where I left off in April 2012...

Grandpa Ken's Birthday

 

Evelyn gets bigger...

 



 



 

 

Memorial Day Parade in Merton

 

  

Challenges of Summer

 

Surviving errands with four kids



 

Grandma Nancy's Birthday

 

Enjoying the outdoors

Hiking



Swimming



 
 

Evelyn gets bigger...



Road Trip with the Seiler's to Tennessee

Love this family! And they survived with our craziness for the week.

 

First Day of School

Trip to Ohio to visit Great Grandma Braun

It was at this point, I was sure I could get caught up on this blog....continuing on...

Great Aunt Janet visits from Austria

Fall Comes

Picking out pumpkins

 

Took the Girls to Visit Aunt Laura and Uncle Eric in Texas

 

 

 

 

Halloween

 

Happy Turkey Day!

Preparing for Christmas

 

And this brings us up to just before we leave for Walt Disney World.  Whew...semi-caught up!

Clayton's Music & Muffins

Clayton's 4K class invited all of the parents and grandparents to Music & Muffins at his school.  The kids sang a few songs that they had learned and then we all enjoyed a little snack together at the end. 


Grandma Denyse & Grandpa Mark

Grandma Nancy

Brooke's First Piano Recital

Brooke did a great job on her first piano recital.  We didn't invite anyone, thinking that she might be stage fright, but she did a great job and played just like she had practiced.

Thanks Miss Tammy!

It's SPRING

Can I just say I love my tulips?!  I get so excited when they come up every year.  And with the move a few years ago to a bigger yard, it also meant room for more tulips.

Lincoln's expression reminds me of how I feel when we're finally
able to play outside again and enjoy all the new blooms

The Tree WON! Ouch...

Poor Clayton! 

He and Daddy were playing outside when Daddy thought he would be funny and pretend that he was going to spray Clayton with the hose.  Clayton started running but forgot to look to see where he was headed.  (George, George, George of the Jungle, watch out for that TREE!)  Similar concept and the tree won.  Clayton was very calm as Mike and I debated on home care, urgent care or the ER.  Given that it was the center of his face and we didn't want to risk making the wrong choice, Mike headed to the ER. 

The doctor asked what happened and Clayton proceeded to tell him all of the details (basically throwing Mike under the bus) but also remembering to mention that he was running with his eyes closed.

A new favorite - Thiensville Village Park

 We found this park mostly on accident.  I had to deliver our tax paperwork to the accountant and since it was a bit of a drive I figured we'd find a park close by before heading home.  Thiensville Village Park popped up on the GPS and off we went.  It was GREAT!  Right on the river, plenty of choices for play equipment, fun paths and a mini beach.

 

Round 1

 

 

Round 2 with the Seiler's and Grandma Nancy



Shhh...don't tell daddy how much fun we had on the Merry Go Round.
He has issues with them based on some childhood injuries.



Coolest water fountain!

Love these line-ups.