I don't want to forget....

Goodness, Keith and I have some beautiful kids!  Playing around with my camera, trying to make EK smile. :) My handsome boy! AC and one of her good friends at church. The kids sang in the evening service a few weeks ago. They did a fabulous job! (Notice AC has braces!! She's so happy!) Our little ham! Mimi goes shopping at Easter and Christmas so all the Hoyer cousins match (SO BLESSED!) but getting a picture of all 9 is quite the challenge. The poor babies were worn out after a morning of playing in the nursery. They did NOT want their pictures taken! Then we had AK's preschool Christmas program. This is EJ when she realized her daddy was talking. It was so cute!! "my dadda" Cousin C walking in Our boy...such a difference a year makes. Last year he said he was sick and didn't want to do the program. This year, he owned it! Front and center...sang all the words, did all the motions, watched his teacher. Go Andrew! ...

Some may look forward to getting pictures done, but I am always cautiously optimistic. :) I am so thankful for digital cameras that allow me to see right away if we have one or two that may work or know that we need to keep trying. Ha! Trying to take a picture with four kids is hard enough. Having a daughter with special needs who will smile when she wants to and has trouble sitting still AND a toddler who has a mind of her own is a challenge. AC and AK did much better about just smiling the entire time but then I had glare at times from AK's glasses. (We paid more for the non-glare coating earlier this year but it actually allowed more scratches on his glasses than we've ever had! So now we're back to regular lenses which are holding up better but then allow glare if his chin isn't tilted just right. It's always something...) Look at Little Miss pushing her big sister away. EJ thought her shoe was very interesting... EJ, what are you looking at? I...

This year we had a cow, a Storm Trooper, Wonder Woman and Queen Elsa. We didn't go to that many houses b/c it took us forever to go to the 20 we did. I had the wagon to pull EJ and EK, unless EJ wanted to walk. EJ LOVED trick or treating this year. She pretty much loves doing whatever big brother and sister are doing. :) 

This girl was excited to go to the Pumpkin Patch this year! We went on a Tuesday evening and it was packed! Didn't have a lot of photo ops without waiting a while. Here's my crew. :) AC did the big hay maze and I was worried I had lost her. Not really, but it did take her longer than I expected.  Didn't get a picture of her in it. AK went in the smaller one that was a lot easier (and quicker!) EJ wanted nothing to do with standing next to a character cut out. I even tried to sit her by one and she didn't want to. Oh well! These two were happy to oblige. Can't leave sweet EK out.

What a blessing today was for our family! AC realized her need for Jesus about 18 months ago and asked Him to forgive her sins and be her Lord and Savior. We wanted to watch her life for a little while to be sure her faith was genuine. We have definitely seen the Lord work in her life and change her heart in different ways.  Today she was baptized by her Daddy. I knew he'd get a little choked up but was impressed how well he held it together.  Keith's dad preached during the 11 o'clock service on his 80th birthday! Then at the end of the service, we dedicated Eliza. First time to take all kids up for it and I was proud of how well EK did. She has grown up so much the past year or two and handles change so much better. :) This picture of EJ pointing is when she realized PawPaw was on the front row. Mimi and Aunt Becky were over this way. (Thanks Becky for taking pictures!) Cutie!! This one is full of personality! :) How sweet is this that AK...

This girl is quite a ham and rather dramatic! She knows what she wants. ;) She loves to talk on the phone when no one's on it. If someone's trying to talk to her on the other end she just stares at the phone.  Her beautiful curls. Reminds me a lot of AC at this age.