Expect the Unexpected

So this was going to be an end-of-the-year blog post with lots of lovely pictures and details about what we've been up to.  I had it all planned out.  When I had a moment, then bam! It was all going to come together.  I would unveil the lovely family photo that our good friend Brandon so graciously took of us.  I was going to illustrate my sparkling prose with pictures that would show off my cute little men.  So what happened?
Connor threw up on our computer.  On which I have all of our pictures stored.  And I'm feeling really sick and it's making me grumpy and if one more person asks me to transform their Transformer from a robot to a car then that's it. 
So said computer is out of commission, and I'm typing this from Kurt's work computer.  No pictures, but I still feel the need to fill you in on what we've been doing.  You know, for the edification of all five of you that might still be checking to see if I updated this blog. 
Anyway - how was your Christmas?  Aiden declared ours the best Christmas ever and we have a pile of new toys that Santa and/or loving aunts and uncles gave the boys so enough said about that.  We made salt dough ornaments, and cookies and I actually sent out Christmas cards.  We cut down our own tree and had fun decorating and then taking ornaments away from Trevor once he pulled them off the tree.  It was a lovely holiday season and I only broke down in tears once - what more could you ask for? 
Here's the update I promised:
Trevor:  Turned one on Christmas Day!  I loved not being in the hospital this year, though last year I had a really good reason.   He is crawling and creeping and getting teeth.  He loves to laugh at his older brothers and has a really great disposition - nice and mellow.

Connor: Turns three on January 16th.  He makes us laugh with his remarks and his independence.  He started sleeping in a toddler bed and will go upstairs at night when he's ready to sleep.  He loves to draw and play with his older brothers.  When he's not throwing up on the computer he's my little buddy - we have a lot of fun while the older boys are at school!

Owen: Turned four on June 5th.  He loves preschool and his teachers and friends.  I'll be registering him for Kindergarten soon - I can't believe it!  We are talking with the school district to see what would be the best placement for him - and I'm anticipating that he will still qualify for speech and occupational therapy.  He is daddy's helper in all sorts of home improvement projects and loves to play with his brothers.  Transformers and cars are his favorite things. 

Aiden: Turned 6 on September 26th.  He is in first grade this year and loves his class and teacher.  He goes to school all day and loves to buy lunch (he calls it the "hot entree")  He had fun playing soccer this summer and loves to play outside in the snow.  He is doing great with his reading and other school work and loves to read to his brothers. 

Wende: Turned a year older.  I took some photography classes this summer and fell in love with taking pictures.  I have an old-school SLR that I use and love to develop my own film and print my own pictures at a local Community darkroom.  Kurt also got me PhotoShop for Christmas so I'm excited to start using that.  I would love to show a few of my favorite shots - hopefully our computer will be up soon and running.  I signed up for an online Math class that starts this January at Monroe Community College.  It will be the first of a bunch of prerequisites that I will be taking before I apply to a graduate program in Occupational Therapy.  I'm excited and nervous - this is going to be a journey, but I really can't wait to pursue OT!

Kurt: Turned more gray this year.  He continues to enjoy his job and co-workers at ITT.  He is playing soccer at least once a week and refereeing the boys here at home when they start to roughhouse.  He recently got the basement all cleaned out and looking fabulous and is planning on doing some more home improvement stuff this year - like a backsplash in the kitchen, getting the attic ready to renovate, etc.  I'm so grateful to have a handy husband! 

Okay -  so that's us.   Adieu.
Happy New Year!