One. One. Four. Six.

Even before we had 4 kids, life was crazy during holidays and wrapping up Fall, our busiest photography time of the year. We were blessed to be

able to plan our kids during Winter, our slowest season, thank God, because ain’t nobody paying me maternity leave. So if I up and had a baby

during my main income months, we’d be broke. First we had our Christmas baby.  Then decided a birthday days before Christmas was nuts so

then had our next baby a few days after Thanksgiving. Smart. Right? :-/ For our “third” baby, we were certain we’d skip the holidays this time,

due January 31. Then my egg cracked and two babies came early, right on an actual holiday this time, New Years Eve. December is now just

plain crazy, to say the least, especially with all the hosting of holidays in addition to birthday parties. I guess forever and always, I’ll be drowning

in life for a solid 30 days.

In early December, we made our annual trip to cut down my Aunt Dale’s Christmas tree at a farm in Brookville.  Since it was such a mild day, we

brought the camera and I grabbed their birthday pics.

Ari and Ezra are actually only 11 months here.

The people out at the farm surely weren’t expecting a tripod set up and family pics taken in the middle of the entrance, I’m sure of that. 🙂

People always thought I looked like Dale growing up. I just noticed our kids favor her now too! Weird!

Six and Four. I can’t even believe it. Nori dresses herself daily, but usually I pick out outfits for pictures. This day, she dressed herself,

accessorized and came out all, “I’m ready.” And then I was like, “yaaaa, my baby really is a big girl.” SIGH. Nico, the clothing obsessed kid,

wanted to wear his Sunday best, a 3 piece suit and tie. Nope. It’s like pulling teeth to get this kid to wear anything that’s not “fancy.”

Unfortunately these were taken prior to Ezra’s snaggle tooth, which currently has everyone in stitches when he smiles.

I love that their excited faces are completely different. One leans back, one pushes forward. 🙂

Nori finally reached 40lbs this yr! On her hip was 23lbs. 🙂 Strong little Mama NoJo.

Some years we have to walk A LOT and someone always end up on Daddy’s shoulders. Then Adam does all the work by cutting

down and lugging it to back to the trailer. 🙂 What a good Daddy.

Next year the twins will be running and chasing the bigs through the mud, down the rows of trees. Hard to imagine, isn’t it? But here we were

walking along with two more kids, a sight I surely couldn’t process last year as I waddled ever so slowly, close to Adam hoisting me up and

carrying me back to the trailer on his other shoulder. :0 Making memories year after year is so fun! Even when you spend half the time screaming

at the kids to come back or to stop playing with the saw, or shovel or making swords out of everything item found in the dirt!

Heart, Melanie.