Did anyone else cry when Cybil died?

few random pics

I know we have been the WORST bloggers in the family, and it's mostly been because we've been so frustrated that our USB cords don't work, but we can do better!  Now that I know I can use my SD card to transfer pictures (thanks Kari!), I will just have to figure out how to do it.

Anyhow, thanks to all of you who are keeping our family blog going!  I love that we've had it for so long, and I hope it will continue to go on for many more years.

Lovin' the bald friend behind us

So glad my kids all love spending time together

Great Dad, big pacifier

Here are a few pictures that uploaded via Photo Stream from Jason's more fancy iPhone.  These will have to hold you over until I figure out how to get my own pics on here.  We were celebrating at Red Robin Saturday night...celebrating our better-than-expected TAX RETURNS!  Huzzah!  Oh, and my amazing baby slept through the whole thing...I have a blessed life. *smile*

North American Auto Show

Jim and I went with some friends to the Auto Show in Detroit. It was a lot of people, vehicles, and fun!

Our Trip to Jana's

 This doll is in the Fredericksburg Museum.  I saw it on the show The History Detectives on PBS.  They think it was used to smuggle medicine into the South during the Civil War (the head is hollow).

 This is the house that Jana and Jason are planning on buying.

 Addie dressed up in period clothing at the Fredericksburg Museum.

                                          Dad holding Sawyer.

                                          Dad and I in Culpeper, VA

                                        Jana and her kids in Culpeper, VA

 Macie eating an ice cream cone.  She eats as slow as Chelsea does!

A beautiful sunset out in the country where Jana lives.

Contact Information

So I thought it might be a good idea to update our addresses and phone numbers as well as list birthdays and anniversaries if you want. I'm not saying do it on here because I think this is a public forum but we could do it through e-mail. The only way I know it's someones birthday is if I see it on Facebook, which I'd rather it not be that way. Let me know what you think and if it's a good idea.

Jana had a baby

Jana, who lives about 4 hours south of us, decided to expand her family this past week with the addition of her fourth baby.  Lucky for me, she asked me and my kids to come and be the first to welcome him into the family.  We got there on Monday, expecting her to go anytime, but had to be patient-she had him on her due date (how often does that happen for real?) on Thursday.  While we waited, here are some of the fun things we did.

Puzzles,

 fed baby goats (aka kids), 

 slept, 

 made masterpieces, 

and went outside-Noah practically lived out there.

And then on Thursday, little Sawyer William decided to join us.

 He was so wrinkly and cute. 

 And immediately he received the love we had been waiting to share...

Hello!

Back to the grind...

Well my classes started again, yesterday, and I'm already behind. Was supposed to have read 2 chapters for one class and 1 chapter for another before class tomorrow. Didn't have a chance to today. Hopefully I'll be able to make some kind of dent in it tomorrow morning before class. This semester I'm only on campus Mondays and Wednesdays, but I'm there the whole day. I think it will be better than going to campus four days a week like I did last semester. I applied for graduation today. It still doesn't seem real yet. I've been in school for so long that I don't know what life will be like afterward. Weird!

Lynn Family

Jim finally met some of my family for the first time. I thought you all might be curious to see how that experience went. Here are some pictures.

 We played a game where everyone helps put a verse together. I got the idea from Mom. Everyone loved it.

We got a stuffed monkey for Zalen from my brother Jake.

Jim played Jenga. This game got pretty intense.

My brother Jake kissing Josh on the cheek. This later led to wresting each other. Jim just watched from a distance. 

My brother Jake, me, my Dad Jeff, and my brother Josh

I made a Photo Both with props. Jim loved the props. Can you tell? 

Zalen with his cousin's Andrea and Caleb. (My brother Josh's kids)

My Dad Jeff with Zalen and Jim. This picture was taken at the assisted living home he resides at.

Walter Reads!

Obviously a genius and an independent thinker.  "What, pray tell, is a wocket and what rapscallion placed it in my pocket?"  He's also apparently a dickensian baby.  Not sure which side of the family that trait comes from.

the rest of the party

For the second part of vacation we didn't go as many places, but we still made it a party.

 We watched Christmas movies-Muppet Family Christmas is what they're watching here.

 There was a lot of this going on in the basement...running and playing.

 A lot of invisible cupcakes were eaten.

We spent a rainy/snowy Christmas Eve in our nation's capitol. 

 Lots of presents on Christmas that are getting their use.

 SNOW!!

 These three are peas in a pod...I love the way they like to be around each other.  Jack is simply in love with his big brother and sister.

And on New Year's Eve we had super yummy fondue with really amazing friends and we played the funniest, most revealing game ever-Loaded Questions.

And New Year's day was spent as a family, just lounging and watching football.  

We had such a wonderful time this vacation.  

Goodbye 2012, it's been real, but we are psyched for 2013 and all the fun we will have.