4 years old

I'll download more pictures of Ansley's party but this is all I have on my camera. Once the party started I forgot to even pick up my camera. My mom has pics on her camera though. I can't believe our little girl is 4. She has grown up so much these past 6 months or so. Apparently maturity does come with age. She loved celebrating with her cousins and family. Plus she even had snow on the ground for her party...that was a first. Before she went to bed she told me that was the best birthday she ever had. Fun times!

let it snow, let it snow

Our second "snow" of the year! It accumulated about an inch and is melting quickly, but not before the boys and their cousins sled, threw snow balls, built a snow man, ate some, rolled around in it until we had mud and they were soaked to the skin.

And Lainey got to go out in it this time. She had her sisters boots on (which were a couple sizes too big) and  all of her pink puffy snow wear. She was definitely the cutest little snow bunny out there.

Awwww, winter wonderland!

Day 25

These were the only pictures I took of Christmas day. Thankfully my mom got some good ones when we went over there to continue the festivities.

Day 24

Christmas Eve church service attire...loved having a message the night before Christmas to remind us to focus on why we have this holiday, our Savior.

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 Wood family tradition...sleep by the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve night...except mommy. I sleep snugly in my own bed.

Ansley's first year...we'll see if she makes it the whole night. So far all I've heard is "Jude keeps waking me up" and "Ansley, get off my feet" and "I can't go to sleep". All the while daddy is over on the couch fast asleep.

Day 23

Walked into my room and saw this lump under my comforter...

 and found this underneath.

I think Bella even thinks it's too cold.

Day 22

Meramac Caverns with Grandma and Grandpa Wood! So cool!

Day 21

I love these kiddos!

Day 20

Okay this makes up for the dreary, cold weather of winter...seeing my kids see their first snow (at least the younger 3). Even though it was hardly called snow, they still managed to scoop up enough to make a snow ball. So much fun!

Day 19

Trying to see the beauty in this gray, dreary time of year. I'm starting to miss the green, colorful, sweet smelling Hawaiian scenery...and weather.

Day 18

Thanks to nature (and God) again for our free decorations. These pretty red berried trees are everywhere around our house and I have no idea what they are called. But they worked great for our second Christmas party.

Day 17

Running is a favorite pastime.

Day 16

Day 15

I might do a mini-series on our trip out to Rockwood Reservations today. We love this park and all of its hiking trails. Trying to enjoy this nice mild weather while we can.

Day 14

I took these tree pictures from their reflection in a puddle.

Day 13

Got a little behind...

The boys sang in the kids choir at church...last Sunday. Picture is soooo blurry and then my camera died so this is as good as it gets. The boys are on the right...Ethan in blue and Jude in red. Jude stood there for most of it not singing anything. So I asked him later if he sang at all and he told me "I was singing"...maybe to himself?

Day 12

Lately, Ansley has taken quite a liking to being a big sis to Lainey. I found her "reading" to Lainey and had to grab my camera to capture the moment.

Day 11

Decorating on a budget: what do you do when the budget doesn't allow you to buy cute decorations for your house? Go to your backyard, trim some trees, give your kid a glue gun (with supervision) and hang these twig stars from your banister. Kind of rustic. They worked for our Christmas party we had at our house tonight.

Day 10

A little Christmas picture preview...

Day 9

Little tutu girl. 

Day 8

This girl is a very smile-y and giggly kid...but other days she has these drama filled moments that I think are important to document as well....so later I can tell her "see honey, you were always a sinner, even when you were 1". Can't remember exactly what the problem was. You would think it was the fact that she was all wet from trying to "drink" out of her brother's cup. But more than likely it was because she ran out of water and I told her she couldn't have anymore.