After some time and thought, 

we have decided to start a new blog.
If you like our craziness...

and want to 

see and hear more about our lives,

Follow us over to our new blog.

http://loveanchorsus.blogspot.com/

xo

Birthday Time

No better way to catch up and start our new year than with....

 Cloes Birthday!!!

 

{Presents and pics. at midnight. She couldn't wait.}

 My baby turned7! 

  I don't like that she is growing up so fast.

This years Birthday was bitter/ sweet.

the SWEET....

We had a friend get her a shirt at the Justin Beiber concert, his new C.D. and a Monkey.

She was so happy and loved her presents.

the BITTER...

She was super sick on her Birthday.

Poor girls had high fevers and was miserable.

 Which meant a trip to the doctor to find out she had strep.

Briar also had a huge wrestling tournament that started on her Birthday.

So... considering she was sick and we wouldn't be home, we planned a small celebration for Sunday!

 We took her to the store to order her cake and she didn't like any of the Beiber ones so she designed her own.

 And thanks to Stacey, Cloe got just what she wanted.

 {YES... she wanted her cake to say Happy Birthday Cloe Love J.B.}

She is so funny,

but... what ever makes her happy and... It's her Birthday and her cake right?!

 We had to cut her piece out to do the candles so she didn't spread germs during the blow out part.

I know good thinking huh!

 She didn't eat much more than that.

She just wasn't up to it.

But she had to try

2 of Cloe's sweet friends joined our little celebration on Sunday.

{Cloe has made dear friends through big brother and sister}

We were so glad that they could come, it made her day.

and Since Cloe got all of their favorite part of the cake we did lots of special cuts to make them all happy.

Iz got her pic. of J.B.

Karlie got the pic. of Iz

and

Sydnee got the J.B.

Cloes grandparents along with her family and her other friend Kels were all there to help her celebrate.

  These 2 are just weird!!!

& the next 2 just may be weirder!! 

{I don't know that, that is even a word, but I like it}

 Aaron is doing the duck lips!

I'm pretty sure that means he has been spending to much time with his daughters and their friends!

or something...

Anyways, I think considering the circumstances Iz enjoyed her Birthday!

We love her so much and are so proud of her!

We count our blessings that she was brought to us. 

She has brought so much into all of our lives, and we wouldn't be complete without her.

     

 

new beginnings & goodbyes.....

I'm not sure where to start or finish for that matter.

Things have been so out of sorts around our house lately.

From getting ready for Christmas, to having pneumonia, sinus infections and strep, new job, wrestling, computer dieing and a wrecked car.

And as bad as I want to crawl  in bed and never come out, cry and get it over with, scream and be mad, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

We have been extremely blessed.

Because as bad as things have seemed lately it could be worse. We have had some wonderful highlights and blessings that have followed that remind me to stay focused and grateful.

I want to write about everything that has been going on in the last few months but I would be here forever. So... I'll just hit a few for now.

We had a Wonderful Christmas and got a new nephew a week before Christmas.

And he is a CUTIE!!

Cloe is still in Gymnastics and is now starting to do back hand springs on her own.

She can't wait till they are perfected and she can have bragging rights on Tay.

Taylor is doing very well in school and her bridge classes, but is also ready for an easy trimester.

not that she will have one, but she is hoping.

Briar is doing very well in school and wrestling. He got the 126# J.V. slot and is doing very well. 

The wrestling team is also doing very well this year. They have been dominating the tournaments bringing home first place in Varsity and J.V.

Aaron and I are pushing through and trying to make progress on all our to do's.

Not sure if we will make it some days, new ones seem to pop on as we cross one off.

But... we keep on. For now

I might just quit and take him with me. (;

The year came and went so fast and now we are already half way through January.

We had so many goals and hopes for the new year, but this year has really thrown us around already.

So we need to adjust our sails and set sail.

I have so much to say about the year 2013 already but will save it for the next one. 

so.... until next time I find a sec. here is a pic. of my snow angel. 

A hunting we will go

 Briars first duck hunt

They all got some shots but no birds

.

.

maybe next time

.

.

In the mean time back home the girls and I...

 cooked some dinner,

visited a friend,

Watched some cake boss,

Painted nails,

finished homework

& played on the computer.

.

.

now...

Its time to finish up our day with a little relaxing family time.

 I HOPE!!

 

Brrrrrr......

Baby it's Cold Outside!!

A few shots of our first adventures in the snow this year.

imagination

Seriously?...

what an imagination

{chalkboard/x-ray machine}

 

After vitals and an x-ray of daddies hand...

 Doc. Cloe says he needs to use a sling.

(;

I love young minds!

here birdie birdie....

A little last minute late afternoon hunting before dark.

the boys and dogs were ready but the birdies didn't wanna play.

just the beavers.

 Copper is afraid of the gun shots.

sorry B no bird dog for you.

good thing dad and Tay have one. 

Me and the girls tag along for fun.

Tay hasn't got her hunters safety done yet ):

Duck faces are safe on this hunt...

they were hunting Pheasants.

(; 

passing the time

While Izzy does this 

Tay and B do this

 {Tay thinks B stinks after practice}

   

{B rocking his freaky new glasses}

P.S.

I never said we were normal

rules suck...

Magic of the Moment

.

.

This years Reflection contest theme

.

.

Cloe asked if she could do it and wanted to do photography.

So.. we took her out in search for her Magical Moment.

And I quickly found that to my Izzy girl...

 EVERYTHING is a Magical Moment.

She is so fun and Loves life.

And...

This is the shot she submitted.

not bad right!

NOW...

On to writing why she chose this.

Knowing why was the easy part for her.

{freedom to choose what she wants to be. etc...}

Writing it down is where the problem came.

 I wrote what she said on an extra piece of paper, 

then told her that she had to re-write it on her form.

not hard right?

well apparently it is...

It is too much.

I told her it was exactly what she told me and it really wasn't that much.

And that it had to be her work.

it was the rules.

"Rules are STUPID!"

but....

after a rest a cuddles, she got it all done.

and is now waiting anxiously for Mon.

she says that's when they will announce the school winners.

fingers crossed for Izzy!!!

Loud ...

But not very good.

Yup that would be our singing the other night.

Me, Tay and Iz had a girls night, 

while Aaron had the boys were at the pool conditioning.

We decided on treats and Karaoke.

We thought we were pretty darn good.

Until.... 

Taylor played us back.

OUCH!!!

We had to hurry and turn it off.

It was hard on the ears and ego.

But...

It was to much fun to stop,

  so...

 we agreed to NEVER play it back again.

And to keep on thinking we rock. 

 Matching mossy oak sweats and mis-matched socks

 

 multi tasking

 

Izzy rockin out the tunes

.

.

Girl time rocks!!

Halloween 2012

Have no fear...

BAT GIRL is here!!

 Is she not the cutest?!

And she got to dress up lots this year.

.

 the day before Halloween,

the first graders had their Halloween program so they got to wear their costumes to school.

They sang lots of cute songs and each had a speaking part.

Cloe did so good and also had to give the part after hers because they didnt show up. 

But no worries she had it down.

She spoke loud and clear.

And she even paused between parts so people would know.  

she's so funny.

then...

On Halloween,

 her school has a costume parade.

So she got to wear it again and march down the hall and through the gym for the parents.  

It was fun to see them all dressed up including the teachers.

After school we spruced her up a little before hitting the neighbor hood and heading to Mantua to meet up with cousins for some good old fashioned trick or treating.  

Caleb and Cloe our little twins...

Bat Man and Bat Girl

Bransen our Rodeo Clown

Abi our Ninja Turtle.

and... 

Aunt Tara...

the girl who swallowed the seed.

{baby seed that is}

   

 

 I am glad Cloe has cousins to trick or treat with.

Tay and B are so good to her but as they get older they do their own thing.

Briar had his own party to go to,

and unfortunately Tay had to get some homework done and study for a big test.

{The joys of wanting to be something after high school}

I am proud of her for knowing whats important.

And to finish it up...

A couple of days later, Cloe had a Halloween birthday party to go to.

They decorated cookies, bobbed for apples and played pin the something on the something.

{I forgot.... forgive me}

What a fun and SPOOKTACULAR  week!
 O yea!
This is how it left my Izzy girl feeling

Poor girl! 
   She fell asleep while I was doing her hair.

party time....

 Party pizza time that is!

and a little pink lemonade.

We don't get the boys very often,

 but...

we always have fun when we do.

 

finally....

Cloe finally got to go swimming with her dad.

That is after a few broken promises to go.

Which were totally not our fault.

but...

still broken promises that she tearfully reminded us of daily.   

So.... 

Aaron, Briar and Iz hit the Nat. for some splashes.

Total perks of going when they first open...

 pretty much had the pool to themselves.