The Van man is 4!

Honestly....I'm tired. So the pictures are staying in the random order that they uploaded. Deal wit it.   Van's birthday was simple and chill. I love seeing him grasp the idea that the day is about him before he gets too greedy. He had one request; a puppy cake. We did have some errands to run that day so we went to burger  crap for lunch and the kid meal came with a crown. How fortuitous!  He loved it and preferred to wear it over the felt one I made for him last year. I was okay with it.  Happy Birthday buddy. You are so much fun, and sweet and I can't imagine our family without you. 

Taking Shape

Yes....it's been going on for a while now. But things are really starting to happen! Just some progression pics for the curious minded.

February 2011

November 2011 

January 2012 

This is the back side of the house; the daylight basement.  Yes, there is a main floor to go on top of that yet. For those of you that heard me say that I wasn't sure if it was big enough, shut up.

2011 In Review

 JANUARY:

This guy turned 3.

FEBRUARY

This lady (my Grandma Lee) turned 90.

MARCH

This guy started to really get into things.

 

APRIL

Easter

MAY

This guy turned 1.

JUNE

Spangler Family Trip

JULY

This guy turned 10.

These two left their mama for to visit their grandparents in CA, had a blast and their mama survived.

AUGUST 

Family beach day.

Back to school; 5th grade and 2nd grade!

NYC trip for me with my dearest Norwegian!

SEPTEMBER 

Campout

OCTOBER 

Grandma Linda came for a visit.

A tease of snow.

NOVEMBER 

This lady turned 8.

This guy started a new adventure.

And this one FINALLY started walking.

DECEMBER

 

California family comes for Christmas.

Here's to a new year, with new challenges, opportunities, and adventures.

Christmas 2011

I hoped to get this in before the New Year but alas....here we are. We had a good Christmas. I was thankful that my family could come and be willing to travel and squeeze into our home. The one bathroom situation went surprisingly well and that's enough to call their visit a success! Extra special to see my brother and his son Knox (it had been a year!).

Cutting down the chosen tree.

Christmas Cactus bloom

Love this kid!

They wanted to play restaurant. E and V got dressed up and Jesse was the waiter.

My cookie helper.

Best. Snowflakes. Ever.

Loved our tree this year.

Hanging with grandpa.

Jesse completed the D.A.R.E. program at school and this was my view.

Celebrated my man's 38th.

Went for a wagon walk.

Cousin bonding.

Eating.

And more eating.

More bonding over books.

Rare family shot.

Christmas Eve at Den's parents, the girls.

J and Ethan read the Christmas story.

The cousins sang (we made them be spiritual before they could open presents).

Christmas morning.

I saw this Urban Essence du rag and knew that my brother HAD to have it.

You can see I was right.

Scooter!

Christmas PJ's.