Arizona cousins

Doesn't it look like I interrupted an important conversation. This is Eagan with his cousin Jacob. We just spent a week in Arizona introducing Eagan to both sides of the family. With the Elonen's we have all together 10 kids. And they are adopting so it will soon be 12 when we hang out. It's a good thing they all get along so well.

Here come the teens

I can't believe how big these guys are getting. Titus (who is just a couple weeks younger than Gage) is now taller than me. It wasn't that long ago that we were following them all around in their diapers trying to snap photos of them playing together. As two year olds they didn't get along very well, but now they have lots of things to talk about.

Braden's buds

Braden with Simeon and Braden with Isaac.

desert princess

This is Caleb's favorite Arizona cousin. She's cute and she's just his size. Her name is Talia, but Caleb calls her "the girl with all the boys" because she has four older brothers. It was so cute to watch them play princess and Mr. Incredible.

Becoming a man

This month was a big one for Gage. It was his golden birthday. Not only did he turn 13 but it happened on the 13th. Stacy decided to take this moment very seriously. He bought him a William Wallace sword and called him into manhood in front of all his peers in the junior high class. There were many tears as Stacy shared his love for Gage in front of everyone and presented the sword to him. This is a picture of all the junior high kids praying for him afterwards. This is a moment that won't easily be forgotten. And now the bar has been set high for the next four boys to have their entrance into the teens. Gage also got a trip to Medieval Times with some of his favorite men (including his brothers).

Think like a five year old

Caleb turned five this month. This was his first birthday that we celebrated in the U.S. We had a barbeque with the family and ate this awesome cake. Caleb is so much fun to be around. He's a chatter box and asks the funniest questions. Recently after we got home from yet another church meeting, he asked, "Why do you have to go to church all the time? Don't you remember what God's about?" If only we still thought like a five year old, we might not be such worried stressed out adults. We would just believe in God, know that He loves us, and know that He has a good plan.

Caleb and Beth

This is Caleb with his cousin Beth cute as buttons in their snow gear. These two are peas in a pod when we get together. Caleb loves to play with all Beth's girl stuff and she doesn't seem to mind that Caleb often ends up with a sword in his hand dressed up as some kind of superhero.

winter fun

We had the chance to spend a weekend in Big Bear thanks to some family friends. The boys were so happy to finally get their tushies cold again sleding down some hills. Gage managed to keep himself low to the ground at all times. He wasn't taking any chances after breaking his arm twice in the last two years playing in the snow. Nick had the opportunity to finally try out his snowboard (when his dad wasn't hogging it). I was just happy to be driving down the mountain without any injuries.