That Was a Pretty Great (sometimes crazy, heartbreaking, not so great, yet sometimes Joyful) Year!

I'm excited to see what 2013 has in store!

Life according to my phone...

Walking the dogs.

Yes. I went to a roller derby.

How cute is my Dad (dressed up for Halloween)! My youngest sister just sent this to my phone.

Little Miss Sunshine and her new hat.

Davis likes to go metal detecting in all kinds of weather.

A sweet, very large nativity at a nearby park.

The warm before the storm. Little Momo carries a leaf.

What a big shadow you got there.

Davis and one of his invention prototypes.

Playing in the snow.

What a snowstorm!

The irony is that my son was going to help someone stuck in the snow. We needed a tow truck.

It may be cold and messy but it is very BEAUTIFUL!

Heart broken...

I was heartbroken over the senseless shootings and deaths of all those sweet innocent children and the adults that gave so much to help those kids.
So many thoughts have gone through my mind this weekend.
Including gratefulness for those around me that I love and adore.
And an extra hug for a little Miss Sunshine.

Here are a few links that touched my heart:
Here, a mother, with a 13 year old mentally ill son, bravely writes a touching article about the daily struggles of having such a son.
26 Reminders of the Beauty of Humanity.
A great article by Gary G. Porter. "Adam Lanza and Autism: An Unfortunate Connection.
"While the facts of the Newtown school shooting are still emerging, it’s appearing that Lanza may have had a host of psychological and emotional issues.  However, if a high-functioning autism diagnosis is eventually confirmed, everyone needs to remember the following: Adam Lanza carried out these horrific acts in spite of his Asperger’s, not because of it."
I adore Mr. Rogers and even more so after seeing this picture and reading some more about him.
He gave words of encouragement to many, many people.
Here are a few more of his words,
"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping," Rogers said. "To this day, especially in times of 'disaster,' I remember my mother's words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers -- so many caring people in this world."
Beautiful.

She's still his girl...

Yeah! It's Friday!

 Britni is 25 weeks!

 Rian LOVES to run and run!

 This is one of my favorites!

We are all getting used to each other.

Little MoMo

(or Froo Froo as Rian likes to call him)

seems to love everyone!

Happy Birthday!

 Tuesday was Christopher's birthday

(that picture was taken in the summer).

It's always hard to fathom how fast time flies!

24 years ago we brought you home 

to a small two bedroom apartment.

It was a cold snowy winter

but inside our little home

was warm and full of life and love.

You've grown into an amazing young man

and I admire how hard you work,

how kind you are,

how easily you make friends

what a great and loving father you are,

your tenacity, your creativity, your drive,

and the many, many, many great things about you!

Hope you had a great birthday 

and you will have a great year!

So Precious!

Love at first sight.

Little Miss Sunshine started calling little Mo Mo, Froo Froo.

It's really very cute.

We have been correcting her but she frequently would say, "Where's Froo Froo?"

We do have to watch both of them like a hawk. 

She would carry him everywhere if she could.