I've been reading some other blogs by people I kind of know. It's been pretty interesting finding out the little details of their lives. It really feels like spying on them, almost. It can't really be spying though if they are publishing it on the internet for anyone to see.

Everyone writes about all the people they are hanging out with and places they are going. It actually kind of depressed me, made me feel like I should be inviting lots of people over and planning trips with other families, but then I remembered that kind of thing stresses me out. It always sound fun, theoretically, but in practice I just feel frazzled.

Another thing I saw on a blog was "Flashback Friday" I really enjoyed those posts, so even though it isn't Friday -- here is my flashback. This is not long before Mark and I were married so I had to get in all the sleeveless fashion I could. The only excuse I have for the giant glasses is -- that is what they were selling at the time.

We are at Jodi's graduation. I love little Chris poking out to get his picture taken. That guy has been photographed more that any known human.

Ashton loved his first birthday party

He wanted to do all the decorations himself.

• But the Candle was delightful.

Ashton enjoyed his cake immensly. We enjoyed his hat even more!

He likes to hang out and look awesome.



We had to force the boys to do the Christmas Eve thing at Aunt Amy's
It was pretty torturous, but they managed to survive off of stored up coolness.

Ashton is not bothered by the "hot" candy canes like Mitchell is. Maybe he will even be able to handle mint icecream, but that may just be crazy talk

Ashton's first time in the snow. We had snow around for quite awhile, but I was just too lazy to pull out the super fashionable snowsuit. It was so attractive that Ashton felt like a model, hence the pose.

So "Mark" and I got this robe for Mitchell. They were actually out of kids robes (as I only got a 2 day notice that this was on the Christmas wish list) so it is a ladies robe with all the pink tags removed and the sleeves shortened.

He made me take all of these pictures of him posing in his robe. They actually turned out pretty creepy.

This one shouldn't land me in jail.

Parker got the sportiest cologne made -- Adidas. Too bad he won't be
able to wear it to any soccer games, as they are a "Nike only" club (very
little exaggeration here.)


Uh, oh. Caught you red handed.


The benevolent father wondering what he got the kids
for Christmas this year.


I had to get this tie!

Ashton received gifts bigger than his whole body.



Chloe was able to help Mitchell with all of his unwrapping needs


Chris was so jealous of my iPhone, imparticular the casing.


Zach had to rebuild his cool supply after spending Christmas Eve with the Family.

Mitchell keeps setting up whole fort conglomerates that take up the entire family room.