seven sweet years.

our little madden turned seven years old last week, and we had a weekend long celebration to prove it. it started with a little family party on his special day,  a florida orange cake and a reading teepee that mark & i made...b/c reading is more fun in a teepee.  we surprised the boys with a day off of school and a day on the slopes, per the birthday boy's request. my sweet sisters and nieces put together a celebration for their mad complete with handmade decorations and doggy cake for madden's favorite living things. there were friends over, sleepovers, and enough left over cake to drive me back into the arms of hot yoga.  we love our sweet boy!

 some shark's teeth for our little sea child.

hate to see the end.

we said goodbye to these little beauties over the weekend.  after two plus weeks with my sister, jo, and her family; we were all pretty devastated by their departure. i, like little weston, said, "no, tank tu" to leaving us. 

merry christmas, mr. potter.

this was meant to be a christmas to remember.  my parents, sister, and her family came into town to celebrate the holiday. we had big plans, we even had those plans typed up into a schedule that was emailed to everyone. those plans were thwarted by the mother of all sicknesses that we all took our turn with.  so, instead of ice skating, light-seeing, skiing and sledding; this family was sleeping, sheet-washing, medicine-taking and snuggling. poor little, visiting elly had it the worst, and spent two nights (including christmas eve) at the children's hospital.  santa didn't make it our way until late christmas day afternoon, after the movie theater, and elly's return home. thankfully, because no one was much up for wrapping gifts and tying bows on christmas eve. but, alas, santa did come, presents were opened, children were happy, flights were missed, and love was shared. this was meant to be a christmas to remember, and that it surely was.

{christmas nativity complete with a pant-less joseph and batman.} 

{the most beautiful rug my mama made me.}

{a little house christmas for these two from their auntie.  girls after my own heart.}

{this is max going up an escalator...every time. max is buddy, buddy is max.}

{this does not cease.}