Karisa, growing and glowing!

January

February

March (strawberries)

March

March again

April: discovered the cupboard

May!

Panhandle trip: part 2

Another part of our trip was to a fabulous waterfall.  Enough water for swimming (if you're tough enough, which Mom is not), and enough rocks for climbing!

Corrie wasn't quite sure at first, but she got into it... way to go, Corrie!  

The last time we were at this spot, you weren't much bigger than Karisa is now!

Though freezing water, Karisa absolutely loved it.

How I love that boy's dimple!

A trip to the Panhandle

Beautiful mountain view on the roadside.

On our way to a popular cave.

Just before taking motorized canoes through the pitch-dark cave, 

all the way under the mountain!

Into the darkness at full speed... trusting the guides...

...and safely emerging on the other side!

Back in one piece (or seven)!  Great fun!

Family portraits (from December)

A huge thank-you to our teammate, Lauren, for taking these fabulous photos for us!

November catch-up

Karisa, growing in interaction and joy!

A random day, a typical game for Abbi and Corrie: a double coronation complete with audience giving due homage and refreshments.

Cutie.

Happy 10th Birthday, Micah!

*Disclaimer: this post was written back in the fall, and Micah's birthday was in August.  Not sure what happened to my blog posts this year!  Decided to go ahead and post it anyway.

We sure love Micah.  He is so helpful, kind-hearted, and cares about what's right.  He has grown a lot in the past several months in not arguing with his parents, and in being able to admit when he's wrong.  He's a great student and eager to learn all kinds of things from history to math, from handyman projects to computer programming.  He's funny and trustworthy.  And he's our only boy, which is a challenge in itself, but he sure is great with his 4 sisters.  We love that boy!

 Micah's present was too big to wrap (2 ripsticks)...

so he had to get past Mom and Dad to  get it out of the plastic tub instead.

Trying it out.  Rough at first, of course, but a pro within 2 weeks.  

We don't have a great outdoor place to ride it, 

but the whole downstairs works just fine.

It's not every day you turn 10.  No, nor every year, either!  

So this year Micah got to have a fun party, 

something our family doesn't do for most birthdays.

After about 20 minutes, one of the guests, a boy of about 8, said, "I see.  This party is based on cowboy things."  (And later, proudly told his mom, "I was the first one to figure it out.")  Actually, it was supposed to be rangers and outlaws, but close enough.  

The saloon doors lead into the dining room.

 Capture the Flag meets Flag Football-- with a Cowboy spin.

 Micah wanted a Lone Ranger cake.  

He printed out the picture and the girls helped frost the "hills".

Happy, Happy Birthday, Son!  We are so glad you're in this family!