Spencer breaking boards.

Hunter breaking boards.

Merry Christmas to All!!

I am wide awake tonight and messing around with my camera in low light situations.  After taking some photos of my tree I began to realize how peaceful and beautiful my home is late at night.  I have always thought that my insomnia was a curse, but tonight I'm looking at it differently.  I have been day dreaming (I guess night dreaming) about how much fun Christmas is going to be this year, and thinking about how blessed we are that we were able to help out two little families this year that wouldn't have had much of a Christmas.  I am so excited for those children!!! 

But mostly, I am just in awe of the beauty of the Christmas season.  I guess I need these quiet nights to truly reflect on how blessed I am with a beautiful family and many wonderful friends, these bring so much joy into my life and isn't this what life is all about?

We will open presents on Christmas morning and then spend the day with family just like we always do, but this year, I am going to remember tonight and REALLY cherish. the. day.

I am going to care less about the details and more about the moments! 

Spencer's Form

A Night of Karate

Last night the boys had another belt testing.  Since Spencer is already a black belt, he is working towards his Second Degree Black Belt which is pretty intense.  I am trying to download the video I took of both boys doing their forms and board breaks, so stay tuned.

Now this is love.

I was just working on this picture today and had to post it because I love my parents (of course), but I love the way this pictures shows my parents. For me, it is the epitome of their love, it makes me happy. All is right in the world.

Last year Hunter went behind a chair in our family room and wrote this on the wall.  He had turned the area into a little fort and I guess he wanted some decoration on the wall.  I haven't had the heart to clean it off (even though the chair is no longer covering it up) because everytime I look at it, it makes me smile.  I may just keep it there forever because my kids are growing up WAY TOO FAST. 

It is my reminder to enjoy. these. moments.

Late Halloween Pictures.

Before it gets too late I wanted to post a few pictures of our annual halloween party at Grandpa and Grandma Cox house.  The kids and their cousins love to dress up and play games that Grandma Joan has all set up for them.  It is a highlight of the year for sure.
The boy in the bloody skeleton mask is Hunter, of course.

The whole gang with Grandma and Grandpa!!!

Rummikub Family Night.

4 of the 5 members of our family LOVE to play games.  So the 4 of us had a blast playing 2 games of Rummikub.  Hunter was the big winner, but the real fun was what happened between plays.

Spencer was on some kind of crazy hyper and kept us all laughing.  Haven't seen him that silly for a long time.

Katie was not happy with the distractions.  She wanted to keep the game going and she had to cover up her board so the boys wouldn't cheat.

Spencer has a new 'making steam' game that was crazy funny.

Hunter didn't quite get the game at the beginning.  We all laughed at this run that he put down.
And last but not least, Katie was having a fit when it finally became her turn.  Fun family memories!!!

Cousins in the Playhouse.

Grandma wanted all of the grandkids in the playhouse.  I love it!!

Aaron & Melissa + 3

Aaron and Melissa have three of the sweetest, cutest girls in the world.  Here they are at Wheeler Farm looking like the GQ family that they are!! 

10 cousins photo shoot part 1

I can't sleep, again, so I have been playing in photoshop with the latest cousin photoshoot.  Here is the first of many amazing shots!!!

My Three Favorites.

I've been working in photoshop on the kid's pictures and wanted to share a couple.  Actually, there are serveral.

Sneak Peak at Kids Fall Pics!

These pics are straight out of my camera, but I thought I would give you a quick look at my favorites before I start cropping and playing around with photoshop.