He's a Busy One!

Just to show you how busy Minte is, I took pictures! I've added pictures of what Ethan and Ana were doing at the same time so you can see how he's even busier than them!

10:52- Ethan is working on schoolwork

 10:53- Minte is helping Mommy with laundry.

 10:53- Ana is cuddled on the chair.

 10:53- Woody is following me everywhere. What fun.

10:55- Minte is putting a dump truck on his head. Strange.

 10:55- Ethan is still doing schoolwork.

10:56- Minte is getting into a bank. Naughty! (You know his history with pennies, right?)

 10:56- Ana is still tired.

10:58- Guess what? Minte is still playing with pennies! I wonder why? Maybe cause it's naughty... Naughty things seem to keep him busy the longest!  

11:02- He's finally been taken away from the pennies and is given a muffin to eat. And since he takes a long time to eat, this should be guaranteed to keep him still for 15 minutes. Hopefully. 

The Three Silly Kids

I was trying to take pictures of the kids. Like nice pictures.

 This one would be cute if MINTE WAS LOOKING!!!!

 I pretty much gave up after that because all my pictures were turning out like this one.

I think Ana was supposed to be saving her brothers. Don't ask me how. Or from what.


One of these days I will MAKE them sit nicely with nice faces and nice expressions and nice poses and nice everything. Until then I will be taking these pictures.

"Boo Boo Buddy!"

Because he likes Elmo, Santa got Minte an Elmo Boo Boo Buddy! Little did she..oops...HE know that it would be such an important thing in Min's hurts! Everytime Minte gets an "ouchy" he comes running with tears running down his face for kisses, hugs and cuddles. But it isn't long before Minte calls mournfully, "Booooo Booooo Buuuudddy!" That's when the magic begins. Sniffles slow down, and "ouchies" feel much better. It's just so amazing! :-)

Ethan's Birthday!

Today is Ethan's NINTH birthday!! He is getting way too old! Each year it's a struggle to recognize that he's turned yet another year older! Years go amazingly fast!

Happy 9th Birthday, E! We love you!!

Compare Heads

Two different hair-do's. Same smile. Two different places. Same face. Two different outfits. Same Minte.

Minte's Haircut!!

Min's hair was getting pretty long so Dad shaved it Sunday evening. Minte at first thought it was pretty cool since he had watched Luke's hair "come off", but after a while once the razor had gotten stuck in the snarls in his hair a few times, it was no longer fun. Towards the end he was screaming and crying. He was trying hard to be a big boy though and would try to calm down to answer a question or comment about a distraction.  

 Here Minte is before. Man, that hair was nearly as big as his face!

 Halfway done, Dad took a break with Min so that Minte could have a break and so that he could watch Ethan get his hair trimmed. So here Min is with his hair half done!!

 And the finished buddy boy!!! Oh my gosh, he's SO cute!!! And he looks so old in this picture!

So this is what Minte looks like now! I LOVE IT! I have to keep giving him hugs and kisses because I"m still not used to it and I LOVE his new hair!!!!

Our Family Growing in Size

2010

 2009

 2008

 2005

2004

2003

Balls and an Angel

Minte calls this angel on the top of our tree, "Barbie!" , (to Dad's delight.) :-) and it is hard for the little kid to understand why the barbie is on the tree and not on the ground where he can play with it. The other day when I was sick and confined to a chair in the living room, I caught Minte with a ball, (his favorite thing!) and was throwing it underhand towards the tree to knock off the barbie!!

Minte loves to toss balls around and gets in trouble sometimes for it! He doesn't get that balls falling into food is not a good thing and that balls flying through the air hit people and cause things to fall and break. To him, balls are great fun and are good for exercise, basketball, and knocking angels off trees.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!

Can you believe it!!?? It's NOW 2011!!! I was just getting used to writing 2010 on my papers and now I have to adjust again! Wow, years sure do pass fast!

I think the highlight of the year was leaving in late February/early March to pick up Minte from Ethiopia. We were talking last night about how wonderful he is and he is absolutely perfect for us! I can't imagine not having Minte!

New Year resolutions... I stink at these. I can come up with some good ones, but when it comes to doing it... I think Rachel and I were going to memorize Psalm 119 during 2010. We were so excited! (And crazy.) Honestly, I can't even tell you the first verse.

Hey, I just came up with a sort of resolution. Though more of something I am DETERMINED to do, (since if I call it a resolution, I'll fail at it). I am going to take each day at a time and enjoy each one, because otherwise days, weeks, and months go by fast and I'm left wishing I could go back in time.

But anyways, Happy New Year!

(Psst.. today's date is 1-1-11! How sweet is that???!!!)