Hello there, stranger.

It's been a month since I've posted. A crazy busy month. I'm not sure that I can recap it in a way that does it justice, nor do I think that I can even remember the whole thing. I do have lots and lots of great pictures and wonderful memories of December, though.

There were times that I just wanted it to be over, I have to admit, but in the looking back, I treasure some very sweet simple times, too. We kept to most of our traditions, spent fun times with family and friends and had the excitement of still having one little Santa believer in the house. We stressed the true reason for the season, Jesus, to our children and were blessed to see them embrace it in a deeper way as they grow older and more able to grasp the miracle of our Savior's birth.

Now, it's a new year. Fresh start, and all. While I haven't made any official 'resolutions', I have been thinking pretty deeply on ways that I can change my life for the better. Change ME for the better. Changes that will help keep my family's life more balanced. Lots of changes, big and little. I don't know if any of them will stick, but I figure if just one or two small things improve that's a good thing, right?

As you noticed, I also thought I'd try to jazz up the old blog a bit. Still in process so don't be surprised if you check back (and please do!) and it's all different even again. I work on it a little and come back in a different mood and change it again. Fickle, much?

So... that's about it right now I guess. When it's been so long I feel like I'm not sure what else to say cause there is just too much, so photos it is.

Hannah went to her winter formal, escorted by Matt Zupan. She also turned 15. There is a post to come about that soon.

Jonathan and Kate had their school musical. Jonathan was Joshua, the shepherd, which was a big speaking part and we couldn't have been more proud of him!

By the way, who is the crazy blondie in the background? her parents need to do something with her...

Then.... fast forwarding a couple of weeks... the dreaded 'photo shoot'. This is an except of the hour we spent taking pictures of the kids for Christmas. They actually turned out nice, but I think you can see who was trying to get "everyone" else to cooperate. I had one that wouldn't smile for a million dollars ( ok, maybe a million) and one that was a camera hog. The pretty brown-eyed girl in the middle tried her best to get the others to look at the camera and smile. Love how she is such a fabulous big sister!!! I'll share a few of the best from our shoot soon, too.