Year of Family Snapshots 2015

January: trying to stay warm at home

February: all the cold and snow made it a great month for playing together at home

March: First day of Spring Break swimming at the Y

April: Jolie's baptism day

May: Mother's Day

June: visiting Portage Lakes beach

July: attending the Indianapolis temple open house

August: a pontoon ride on Sippo Lake just after returning from our Utah trip

September: listening to the Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom Music Center

October: Trunk-or-Treat at church

November: Thanksgiving day at home

December: at New Smyrna beach in Florida

365/365

This photo was taken right after a funeral. Eric was up on the stand during the meeting, and the boys didn't last longer than a few minutes before I felt they were being too disruptive. So I took them to the nursery and listened to the meeting from the Relief Society room next door.

Henrik was so tired tonight that he fell asleep before even eating his dinner.

364/365

Some great packing snow! The girls were making snowmen right after getting off the bus!

363/365

We took the van in for an oil change...and then needed some other things to get fixed. So, the boys and I hung out at McDonald's while we waited. The boys were thoroughly entertained with the touch-screen games and loved their lunch. We made it back to pick up the van, fill it up with gas, and get home just in time to get the girls from the bus stop.

362/365

Mierae made this cool drawing while Harry Potter was playing behind her.

361/365

LOVE the addition of all the girls' little sailboats on the bulletin board!

360/365

Taken at 11:04

Taken at 11:05

359/365

My little helpers did a great job tonight scooping out the cupcake batter.

But then three kids were fighting over who would lick the bowl, the scoop, and the mixer paddle. At least they each got one! And who can help but get it all over? :)

358/365

P is for Preschool!

I think Ollie enjoys it just as much as Henri.

357/365

I guess they both needed a nap!

356/365

Pink cheeks and nose, and he was only outside for 2 minutes! (And his hat is appropriate after the big Buckeye win last night!)

School was back in session today, but Jolie stayed home one more day because her pink eye spread to the other eye. We finally got out of the house for real, though: we drove to the library drive-thru. :)

355/365

The first time I set foot out of the house in 5 days...and I was getting the mail. The boys waited for me at the door wondering why I left!

After-dinner entertainment.

354/365

These three sickies stayed home from church today. (They've been watching Frozen a lot lately!)

And when I'm not at church for 6 hours, I have time to bake.

The boys took long naps today so they went to bed later than the girls. Ollie was able to fall asleep, but Henrik was too restless. He ended up with me in the couch room upstairs and looked at his books while I read The Fault In Our Stars. At one point he curled up on top of me and fell asleep. It was sweet just holding him as he slept. He likes to sit on my lap but can't sit still longer than 2 seconds! So having him lay quietly with me, peacefully sleeping, was a sweet moment.

353/365

These two... They can sure fight, but they can be good friends too. I wish they would stop climbing into our bed, though!

352/365

Mierae ventured out to help Eric shovel this morning. I stayed firmly in the house, so I took this photo of them from the door that goes to the garage.

On Snow Day #2 they got creative with their play spaces!

351/365

At the end of a Snow Day, the kids finally let me snap a photo of all of them wearing their scarves Leanne knit for them as Christmas presents.

350/365

Poor Henrik was up in the night last night with a fever and cough. Poor Eric got up at 3 with him and ended up on the floor next to him for interrupted sleep the rest of the night. :(

349/365

Some snow, a little wind, and lots of cold!

348/365

The girls always read before bed, and Eric often does as well, but it was fun to be able to do it all together tonight. The boys were in bed before 8, so it was nice having some time with just the girls. (Well, the girls played for a bit while Eric and I made a ganache tart, and then we were together.) :)

Our friend Dave from church stopped by today and helped us fix the water line to the fridge. It was so sweet of him, and we were so grateful!

347/365

The joys of homeownership. :(

Tonight the copper pipe that feeds the water to our ice and water dispenser of our refrigerator broke and water leaked onto the wood floors. Thankfully it happened when we were still awake and we caught it quickly. We also were able to call a friend from church who talked us through some things we could do to hold out fixing it until tomorrow.