Family Wall

We took new family pictures back in October for the sole purpose of getting new ones on the wall so Alice would be in them.  Fast forward 3 months and I still hadn't printed anything out.  Things finally got done in January.  

I decided to put the pictures on canvas this time instead of just frames or on wood like I've done before.  It's a pain to cut all the wood to size and the canvas seemed like a similar option.  I painted the edges black, coated the canvas with mod podge, placed the picture on and let it dry, then put a layer on top.  It dries perfectly clear and protects the pictures from dust, etc.  

Not complicated.  The hardest part was deciding how to place them on the wall.  I only see "in the box," so I grabbed a friend passing by and made her come make a few arrangements for me to choose from.  I've loved having this on my wall.  Alice is now finally part of the family.  :)

Waking Up From a Sunday Nap

Just because she's cute.

Auto Expo 2015

This was our 6th year visiting as a family.  It almost didn't happen because last year I swore I would not be taking 4 young children ever again.  Somehow I got talked into it.  It actually went pretty well this year.  The last hour we had 2 overtired ones who just needed to leave, but other than that it was fun.  I gave up early on seeing anything I wanted to, which probably made things easier.

I was bummed when I realized we had left the nice camera at home, but at least we had Dan's phone for a few snapshots.

Misc.

A few random ones to catch up.

 Bear feet

 The best big brother ever

Hiding from bedtime

The only chore no one complains about.

Climbing on counters might have something to do with it.

Writing and leaving birthday notes for Daddy on his door

New Year's Eve at the Aquarium

One word:

BUSY!

Not all of my kids had been to this aquarium before, so we went on New Year's Eve as something fun to do since we didn't travel to see Dan's family at Christmas this year.  It was so expensive to take our  whole family that I don't think we'll be doing this very often at all.

There was a balloon drop countdown to midnight (a.k.a. noon.)

Some of my children liked it more than others.  

 3 of my kids in a bubble.  

Any way to get one of these at home???

More Presents

Christmas night with extended family means fun, laughs, food . . .

and of course more gifts.

Happy birthday, Jesus!!!

Christmas Morning 2014

Santa must love these kids or something.

He even left a picture of himself in our house for them to see he was there!!

Lucky kids!  I never got anything like that!

 So much work to create such a quick frenzy of opening.

But seeing their joy makes it worth it.  

Christmas Eve Dinner in Jerusalem

We've been doing this tradition a few years now.  Is it perfectly authentic?  Definitely not.  We turn off the lights, have dinner by candlelight (both fire and electrically produced,) and mostly eat food with our hands like cheese, almonds, grapes, and bread.  But the kids love it and it creates happy memories.  Mission accomplished.  

(Like Lacey's fingers?)