I can't believe it!  I'm finally caught up with pictures!!  

These past couple weeks have been tough at our elementary school, we've been hit hard with sickness.  Whooping cough has been going around, influenza, strep throat and colds have wiped out a lot of kids.  

One day, there was 85 kids missing school.  To give meaning to that number, an average grade has about 80 kids in it.  So basically an entire grade called in sick.  So far, we've been lucky.  Kade did have a low grade fever for about 3 days but all it did was make him feel run down.  No puking, no strep, no flu.  He did have a slight cough afterwards but that went away after a few days too.  

Knock on wood, we're in the clear!  Mason told us one morning that he had a headache (he was pulling our leg), so we let him stay home.  Let's be honest, with the way the school was looking, Mason was probably safer at home with his sick brother anyway!!

They even laid down and took a nap!!  That's when you know Kade isn't feeling good!!

Mason modeling his fishing gear he got for his birthday from my brother.

Last weekend Kade had a basketball tournament.

I packed a bunch of stuff to entertain Mason and Harper because it was going to be a long day.  Who knew mustaches were going to be the hit??

Kade and his team listening to the their coach.

They're all 3rd graders but they were playing in a 4th grade tournament.  They won their 1st game and lost the next 2.  Kade was still pretty run down from being sick earlier in the week and after that day, 3 more kids got sick.  Bummer because I think they would've had a good chance at winning if they were all feeling good.  But they still had fun!!

Winter Fun

When it's cold and dark and in the middle of never ending winter, you gotta do what you gotta do to pass the time!

Bowling with buddies requires a pyramid!!

I guess the snow is good for something!

Skate Day at school!!

Erik, Kade and Grandpa H went to their first gopher basketball game together, 

while Mason, Grandma C and I went to the movies.

Is there any better way to snow tube than being pulled behind a snowmobile?

Happy 6th Birthday, Mason David!

6 years ago today (it was a Sunday even!), we were blessed with Mason!  He lights up our lives with his amazing smile, funny personality and goofy laugh.  He's imaginative, witty, caring and sweet.  He's also stubborn as all get out, impossible to get up and going in the morning and a bull in a china shop in every sense of the word!  We love this kid with all our heart and thank God every day for him.  It took 10 years from the time we started trying to build our family to the day Mason completed it, and I'd do it all again knowing my boys were the gift at the end.

He chose a trip to Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate.

He brought his buddy, Nyle, to help!

Of course Kade spent the entire time over by the "sports" section!

He actually spent the majority of his time racking up tickets at the skee ball games.

This was the one and only time I beat him, so of course I had to document it!

We didn't sign up for an actual birthday party so Mason and Nyle crashed another kid's party when Chuck came out.

Whoopsies!!  I hope they didn't mind!!

We were able to talk him into skipping the pizza at Chuck E. Cheese (thank goodness!) and had burgers instead at a different restaurant.

These two thought they were so cool because they were drinking their root beer out of "beer" bottles.

Birthday morning opening gifts in bed!

He was so excited for this little ukulele!

Just like last year, he had a request for na night cake.

Nailed it!!

Happy birthday Mason!!!

FINALLY at the end of Christmas pictures!!  Only took until Groundhog's Day to bust them out, which it sounds like, spring is coming early so I better get caught up soon if warmer days are coming!!

I failed miserably at taking pictures of our family Christmas.

I did manage to get this picture on Christmas Eve before church.

Mason insisted on opening his presents on Christmas morning inside his new hunting blind.

Poor Kado woke up to puking on Christmas morning.  It was a rough day for him.  You know it's bad when he skips our usual Christmas morning scones and lays on the couch instead.

Take the present out of the box, put the kid in the box.

My parents surprised the boys with a "new to them" snowmobile.  That was enough to Kade off the couch AND put a smile on his face.  I think he put 20 miles on just driving around my parent's yard!

Oh Mason!

The following Saturday we had Christmas with Erik's family.

I'm quite certain this blanket was made specifically for Mason!!

Kade and his cousin Lillian.

They take a cute picture together every time they're together.