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Prompted by the snowfall about 3 weeks ago, I’ve put up several sets of recent photos. I haven’t seen snow like this since I was about 10 years old and living in Wichita Falls. And, frankly, I’m not sure how much of that is exaggerated by the span of time. Needless to say, the kids were excited and had a great time playing in the rare Texas snow.

This set also includes all of the photo sets from the holidays until now.  As always, it has been several months since my last update, so there are many new photos.  And, since I’ve acquired the DSLR, I tend to take too many photos anyway.  If I were paying to develop film, I’d have to hold down a second job to support my habit.  Instead, you are subjected to an endless stream of pictures.  And, most of those are ones of a gushing parent no less!

If you are feeling particularly adventurous and want to take it to the next level of family video, you can find a link at the bottom of the photo gallery section on the main page.  As part of a rewards program, I just received a free bloggie. Since that will make transfer even easier, I’m sure you will be able to subject yourself to new sleep-inducing family videos more often. Aren’t you lucky?

Photo Updates:
• Thanksgiving 2009
• Trip to the Fort Worth Zoo with the kids
• Skip’s Birthday Party
• Jason’s 40th Birthday
• Supply Chain Systems Holiday Party
• Hanukkah 2009
• Christmas 2009
• The kids are involved in preschool gymnastics as their daycare. They held a “Mini-Olympics” toward the end of January.
• Playing in the snow during the record breaking snow on February 11th. This set also includes a few photos from following morning showing the final result.

I have finally managed to catch-up on all of the photo updates I’ve needed to get done for months. You’d think I would be able to get to these more often now that the kids are getting older, but it just doesn’t seem to get any easier – no matter how much I tell myself it well. <grin>

Photos Since Last Update:
Few Photos of the Kids from the 4th
Shana Visited Texas
Can You Believe Ben is Two?!??
My Team was Kind Enough to Take me Out for my Birthday
Few Shots of Ben and Rachel Together
Tim and Lisa Welcomed their baby girl, Morgan
Hanukkah 2008
Christmas 2008
Our Team got a cake to celebrate the impending birth of Thao’s second baby
Thao and Nguyen Welcome Rina
Edward and Emmelin welcome their new baby girl as well!
Great Fun at the Park with Ben, Rachel, and Grandad
Few Random Shots of the Kids from Early 2009

I’ve taken the easy route on captions, too. I knew if I spent anymore time coming up with excuses as to “not having time,” it would never happen. At least I know myself, right? <wink> As you can tell by all of the entries, lots of things have happened since the last update.

The kids continue to be the center of our universe and consume the majority of our time. (As it should be…) Ben has hit his speech stride and gets better at expressing himself every day. It is so nice once they reach this point. Although, sometimes we wish Rachel didn’t speak as well as she does now. <wink> They are still such a joy. And, as all children should, they are in full love of their grandparents. They speak about them constantly and always ready to see them.

Gosh, I feel so relaxed now. I don’t have to get another update for at least 4 months, right?

Mother Goose had it right again. “Snips and Snails, and Puppy Dog Tails” Compared to Rachel, Ben is the proverbial bull in the china closet. The poor kid has already beat Rachel hands down in the cuts and bruises department. The little guy has trouble letting a week go by without a knot on his head or a new cut or scrape. Rachel has her legs much better than Ben does currently. He still wobbles when he walks complete with the occasional unexplained fall.

Photo Sets Since Last Update:
Thanksgiving with the Brenners
Some just random photos of Ben and Rachel from November 2007
Becky’s trip to NYC in December
Typical Ben – Stuck in a chair
Christmas in Wichita Falls with the Lennards and Thompsons
Hanukkah with the Brenners
Christmas Eve and Day with the McCoys and Lennards

Photos from January 2008
Photos from February and March 2008
Rachel and Ben loved the egg hunt at Children’s Courtyard
Can you believe Rachel is three? We can’t!

Rachel is still very rough and tumble herself. But right now, more noticeable is the fact her cognitive ability is growing by leaps and bounds. It is amazing to watch her 3 year old imagination at work. She constantly creates imaginary worlds for us to explore. Typically the setting consists of her everyday experiences at daycare and here. Like going to the grocery store (aka the living room) to buy dinner with her friend Sarah (who is nowhere to be seen.) It is the best thing in the world. I’m trying to be fully present every moment of it. I realize it is a temporal thing and don’t want to miss a thing. Plus, I need these memories when she is tired and cranky and pushing every one of my buttons!

You’ll often hear yourself when she talks. Which she does constantly. For instance, when she asked our friend Eduardo, “Do you understand my words?” Or will question her brother. “Do you have your listening ears on?”

Remember galley kitchens? We recently learned that one of our cousins, Shana Gadarian was in the local paper discussing hers.

As long as it has been since a real post, I should really make this one longer. But, it is late, and I must prepare for a vacation coming Tuesday. Hallelujah! Perhaps my batteries will be recharged in a week, and I’ll post more often. <wink>