Three years ago, Emmie made history and got a strong neck! THREE YEARS! It’s been such an amazing three years looking back at how far she has come.

We celebrated, as usual with a homemade cookie cake (her choice).

We briefly had a ball pit/baby jail and Tobin had a blast.

Emmie loves to explore with scissors and made this person on her own with no prompting.

Four years ago, we “met” a sweet friend who ran in his undies to raise money for Neurofibromatosis with Cupid’s Undie Run. I say “met” because we have only talked on Facebook. Mr. Cliff decided that Emmie was pretty awesome enough to be the one he ran for. And so, four years later, he has consistently been in the top 3 fundraisers for Atlanta. He always runs with a fun heart with Super Ems on it. This year his costume was, well, let’s say, a little lacking and Ems heart kept falling off but throughout the day it always found it’s way back to Cliff. He sent her his medal from 2018 when he got second place in fundraising and Emmie was thrilled beyond belief. Our mission is to make sure we meet Cliff in person one day. Oh, and if you want to hear about the run and see the infamous heart, check out this video by a youtuber who participated this year (Warning…this is people running around in their skivvies…most are covered though. Just preview it for the younger eyes.).

I say “met” because we have only talked on Facebook. Mr. Cliff decided that Emmie was pretty awesome enough to be the one he ran for. And so, four years later, he has consistently been in the top 3 fundraisers for Atlanta. He always runs with a fun heart with Super Ems on it. This year his costume was, well, let’s say, a little lacking and Ems heart kept falling off but throughout the day it always found it’s way back to Cliff. He sent her his medal from 2018 when he got second place in fundraising and Emmie was thrilled beyond belief. Our mission is to make sure we meet Cliff in person one day. Oh, and if you want to hear about the run and see the infamous heart, check out this video by a youtuber who participated this year (Warning…this is people running around in their skivvies…most are covered though. Just preview it for the younger eyes.).

This boy is literally always into something. Ball box, oranges, a big bowl or just an empty box. He loves to get into things.

We got an exercise bike with some Christmas money. It’s supposed to be for me and Mark, but the kids are on it a lot. I’m not telling them that they are getting healthy though.

Trying to, and failing at, demonstrating how to fold a fitted sheet.

We painted our dining room, added two new reading nook chairs to the sitting portion of the dining room and I’m happy. The kids love to curl up with a book in one of the chairs. I think there is a kid in the nook at all times during the day.

My Lulu does whatever she can to get snuggles when she wants them. Sweet girl!

She also likes to read…and fall asleep reading.

After the Women’s Conference, Mark and I were re-capping our weekend and he lost it sharing a story about the kids. Ya’ll there were tears of hilarity. I love seeing him get tickled like this.

Ace scored jackpot of a holy chip! We’re not iconic people so to us, this was hilarious!

When my kids play together without fighting, we have to capture it in pictures.

For Christmas, I asked Mark for an opportunity to attend a conference with a friend about Biblical counseling for women and the theme was on suffering. He immediately agreed and signed me up right away. It was a wonderful time with my friend and her friends’ from church who were so welcoming. And the speakers. Ya’ll, if you don’t know who Katherine Wolf is, go to Hope Heals and grab her book. She’s got good stuff to say about praising God in the darkness and the unknown. Very encouraging for me.

While I was gone, Mark manned the fort solo and did a wonderful job. I so enjoyed seeing the pictures of my kids having a blast and making memories.

Forts were built and I didn’t have to be the one to tell them to clean them up.

Outside play. Note the four year old is without a jacket and the bigs have one on. Not Mark’s fault…these kids don’t notice climate differences (and seriously, she has a big ol’ brace on that holds in a lot of warmth).

At least she got bundled up for s’mores.

Needless to say, Tobin has no qualms about getting dirty and marshmallows are now on his happy list of foods (which is quite long).

Fire pits! Yes! See the 13 year old, in the middle of the polar vortex, in a t-shirt.

Babies bundled up and ready to go are my weakness.