The End

This blog has served 2 primary purposes over the past 8 years:

1) to keep family and friends who live far away updated on the lives of our kids
2) to serve as a family journal/scrapbook which I turn into a photo book each year

In the past few years we have moved closer to family and see them much more often (praise the Lord). The photo book service I use for our yearly scrapbook stopped uploading from blog sites. Also, our last baby turned one thus her baby book via the blog can be completed. Considering all those factors I am sad/excited to notify you this will be the end of my blogging days.

I love this little space and I cherish the memories I get to relive when I look back, but as our family grows and evolves the time for blogging has diminished and now it's more of a chore than a joy. So, here's to a new year, a new start and more time off the computer!

Thank you for sharing in our lives over the past 8+ years!

And because I can't post a blog without a picture...here's the 1st photo I posted on the blog!

Me and Kyle at a wedding, Sawyer in my belly

And to highlight the progression...here's our current family situation

 Just a few things have changed ;)

iPhone Unload {December 2017}

Pictures (top to bottom, L to R): Evy just can't help herself; love those little toes; looking out the window; Evy's first selfie; my usual view; this girl is a hot mess!; my mini-me; Sawyer reading makes this mama's heart melt

Pictures (top to bottom, L to R): ya know just eating a snack naked; turning a fruit roll-up into a beard; hiding in the puzzle cabinet; Kolter loving Mommy's green smoothie; rocking' the sunglasses inside (also Evy's 1st ponytail); my sweet sleeping babe; my hot mess express dumping dish soap all over herself; the result = a bath in the kitchen sink; being cute at big brothers round-up; girl loves her pasta; a new craft endeavor...bias tape; someone learned how to climb on the folding chair all by herself and she's pretty proud!; Evy's POV

 Pictures (top to bottom, L to R): Mommy's Evy view most of the time, Mommy & Nora selfie, celebrating our 12th anniversary, sister love/mini mama

Christmas Card

Highlights:

Sawyer: 7, played basketball, baseball and soccer, loves Lego's (specifically Nexo Knights) and Pokemon
Nora: 6, participated in soccer and gymnastics, loves friends, arts & crafts, makeup and long dresses
Kolter: 3, played soccer and t-ball, loves dinosaurs, swords and super heroes
Evy: 1, a busy toddler who loves baby dolls, in typical 4th child fashion she is in the car or a gym waiting on siblings most of the time
Travel: we didn't take a formal vacation this year, but we did a bit of traveling...we visited grandparents in CO and KS. Kyle took a fishing trip to CO with his high school friends. Kristen had a girls weekend in Las Vegas with a few of her OH friends. We also visited Branson a few times to see family.

iPhone Unload {November 2017}

 

Pictures (top to bottom, L to R): a rare tender moment between these two #kolterhoward #evykay; all I want for Christmas is my 2 (or 5) front teeth #sawyermaddox #toothless; the strangest house we pass everyday waiting in the pick-up line at school; this is what 35 looks like (my bday gift!!!); someone likes a cupcake; happy birthday dinner date to me; Sawyer selfie; Nora painting pottery on a mommy date; going to the library; eating pie from the pan; Nora styling her stuffed animals; Sawyer stuck in a chair; the girls going down the slide

 Pictures (top to bottom, L to R): Nora loves a hair accessory; Kolter riding a cheetah; raking leaves so they can jump in them; my 3 little mustaches; a rare night at the theater (went to a Christmas musical!)...trying to step out of our date comfort zone ;)