Since I’m always so behind in publishing photographic evidence of our life, I thought this would be an apropos time to flashback to last year’s recital.

It’s so convenient having a makeup artist auntie who lives with you…especially when your mom didn’t even wear makeup on her wedding day.

Tada!

Enter photos–round 1.

During our first afternoon of exploring, we walked out to Bar Island on a sand bar that is only accessible during low tide.

Even my kids who were dreading going to Maine and claimed they are not into nature got lost in exploring and discovering.

We also got to explore for a long time at Thunder Hole. It was not nearly as thunderous as it was the last time we visited, but the tide pool exploration was way cooler with kids.

Some rare moments of unity. It’s amazing what a common enemy (the unfamiliarness of vacation) can do for bonding.

Ty was in his glory climbing and jumping off of rocks. I know what we need in our next backyard…

Thank you, Chris for photo bombing us

‘Til the next round…

We’ve now officially lived with every member of my immediate family.

Everyone needs a little baby therapy now and again. Even if that baby is now almost 20 pounds and not quite 4 months

With 11 people at his beckon call, this dude is spoiled rotten!

We tried something different this year.

We opened presents (except stockings) on Christmas Eve after church and after dinner.

I was a little worried it was going to be too late of a night and that we would have to deal with multiple breakdowns.

However, everyone was on their best behavior (despite what the attitude above may suggest).

There turned out to be multiple advantages to this schedule of events.

For one, everyone looks fab in the Christmas photos rather than in their pajamas with bedhead and sleep in their eyes.

More importantly, it takes away the need to get up at crack of dawn on Christmas morning.

We were all still asleep at 9AM. Now that is a Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve and Christmas morning brought to you by Pops and Nana!

He chose to ignore us.

After almost exactly a year, he realized his nappy mess was not going to get him any girls.

It was 9:30PM one night as he was heading (get it?) to bed, that he announced he was ready to cut it. Unwilling to risk a change of heart in the morning, we shaved it on the spot. Any other method of cutting was out at this point due to how matted it had become. It was quite the event with 4 kids recording the monumental moment on their iPods.

Seriously, it was like shearing a sheep. We should have carded, spun, and knitted what we cut to keep his head warm this winter.

Of course, he was mortified with his new do. I guess the grass is always greener. He only his behind a hood and a hat for a month. It will just keep our trauma therapist in business.

Yup. We’re excited as Ty looks.

We let the littles play from half court.

And proof, that you can’t take the dance out of the dancer.

Or the precision out of an engineer.

Or the attitude out of a teenager.

Keep watching Queen Attitude.

Nope. She didn’t have any fun.

The kid who is suspiciously missing from this post was having his moment of ridiculousness. Five out of six isn’t bad, right?

Despite warnings to pace himself, he started strong off the line, heading into the park in second place.

He was beat after that first 0.6 miles and had fallen back a few places, but he persevered.

It’s helpful when your mother is teeny, tiny and has an equally small road bike. Then you can steal hers for races to be faster.

This is the look that wonders who designed a course that ends on an uphill…

…that you have to do twice.

The race was so well-run with great volunteers to guide the kids.

And off to the second 0.6 mile run.

This kid gave his all just like a good endurance athlete.

And his hardwork earned him 4th place!

Not bad considering we forgot about the race until 3 days before. Yup, no training. Like 10 year old boys need training.

Who knew 6 kids could fit in 2 bedrooms so well?

Those were from 2 belt tests ago in February.

BELT UPDATE
Patrick, Melissa, PJ–Red
Mia–Blue
Ty–Little Dragon Purple
John, Kayla–Green
Grace–Orange