Sasha is 4 (and other January happenings)

Phil with the kids before gymnastics one Saturday morning. It seems strange to me now to see Jack with a pacifier. It "broke" about 2 weeks ago (as in I cut the tip off) and there has been far less crying since we got rid of it actually.

Phil putting the finishing touches on Sasha's penguin birthday cake. She spent much time deliberating which animal cake she wanted from the falling apart 1950s Betty Crocker birthday cake book (seen above) that has been passed down through the generations in my mom's family.

Sasha had a birthday party at the children's museum with friends from school and other friends too.

She loved sitting in the birthday throne and having everyone sing "Happy Birthday" to her.

The whole family at home after the party. Unfortunately we all came down with a stomach bug that night :(

Beautiful sunset glow over the mountains looking out from our front porch. Hence the name of the mountain range "Sangre de Christo".

Jack and Sasha are really starting to hit it off.

Phil and I dressed up for an 80s party. Good old hot rollers still worked!

I took Sasha to a jumpy house place in Albuquerque with inflatable jump houses and slides. She loved it!

Christmas in Goshen

We traveled back to Indiana to see Phil's family over New Years this year. We pretty much took over the Rise and Roll bakery the first morning. Best donuts ever!!

Spring-like temperatures made it seem more like Easter than Christmas. Sasha, Jake, and Mary soared on the tire swing at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

My niece, Lydia, was such a sweetie.

All the grandkids getting ready to open stockings.

We had a New Years Eve party over at Aunt Rachel and Uncle Ben's house complete with cheese fondue and shrimp, 2 of my favorites. The kids enjoyed watching Winnie the Poo before bed. We adults actually made it to see the ball drop after a rousing game of Apples to Apples.

Reading the Christmas Story with Grandma Jan before opening presents--pure chaos, but really fun for the kids.

We had a little family birthday party for Sasha (soon to be 4) and Mary (just 5).

It's always so wonderful to have lunch at Greencroft with my Grandma Gingerich. I miss her! Sasha always enjoys riding on the walker while Grandma pushes her through the hallways and checking to see what delicious treat is in her candy jar.