Family pictures in the Fall

This really was a crazy experience.  A sweet friend of ours offered to take family pictures for us.  She spent hours patiently positioning us, snapping photo after photo, 1500 or so all said and done. To ask all of us to look in one direction and smile shouldn't be so hard, but it was.  I found 1 picture (above) where we are all looking and no kids have their fingers in their noses (ahem, Wes). If you notice the pictures below you will see that Wes was usually the one to be difficult.  When he'd finally had enough he kicked his shoes off, but that was the shot that showed his true personality, so I love it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clay is 1

A little late I know (by 4 months), but better late than never!  He is the sweetest boy imaginable.  He really truly just takes up happy space.  A blessing beyond measure this little one!

 

The kids love every moment that they can pound the treats

1st day of school

Jane started 1st grade

 

A teacher actually agreed to have Wes in their preschool class.  Of course after the first day she held both of Todd's arms and said "MY, Wes is soooo different from your girls!"  Yes, yes he is... it's one big reason we love him.  Life is never boring!

 

 

 

Sadie started her second year of preschool (4 year old class).

 

 

Celebrating 10 years in Mexico

We tried some ziplines in the jungle

The view from our hotel balcony

It was our 10 year anniversary in August so we celebrated in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.  It was an amazing place with white sand and turquoise water, but the best part were the dozens of GREAT restaurants within walking distance. 

 

 

 

 Not a single one of these family shots has all of us looking, but collectively you get it! 

 

3rd of July

 

4 kids, no wait that is Todd too

Jane has finally decided she was brave enough to try riding a bike this summer.  I am not sure why but this is the first time she even tried.  Go figure that her first try was all it took.  She didn't even fall once. 

Boy do I love these blondies!

 

 

 

 

 This is a classic shot of what life is like with Wes in the Layton house.  I'm not sure who posted flags on everyone's porches in our neighborhood, but we told Wes to leave them in the ground.  It's normal for kids to pull them out, yes, but with Wes he knows better.  He just likes to challenge.  The picture above is me saying no Wes don't pull that flag out, then it's him holding his pose with an unpunishable angelic face, and then he does just what you tell him not to.  That is my Wes!

 

 

 

 

Clay has a tooth