Other Spring Happenings

In backwards order:

We had the Keller cousins visit from Tri-cities for Easter weekend

 This is Emily after Easter Sunday.  She was the smartest keller of all this weekend.  After the kids went through their baskets and ran off to play she spent the rest of the afternoon rifling through all 7 of the Easter baskets that were left laying around for the best candy.  Needless to say she was super sugared up that day.

 Matchy matchy Easter clothes-mom's favorite

 David is too cool for school now that he is 13.  He and his cousin Jackson and his cousin Rick are all Deacon's quorum presidents in their ward.  David is also being inducted into the OA in June.

 Stop taking pictures of us mom!

 Good thing the bunny found the Keller cousins, my kids were worried they'd have to share their loot!

 Coloring eggs

 We visited OMSI and the temple on Saturday, to see the new visitors center.  It was a beautiful day!

 David & Jackson

 We always have to take a picture of the OMSI ear, seriously EVERY TIME we visit

 The LEGO exhibit

 Some other random sunday pictures.  David & Savannah must've gone to church early with their dad this day.

New Baby

James Mark Keller

May 8 1:30 AM  12 lbs 22 1/2 inches long

He was born with some complications because he was such  big baby.  So they whisked him away to the NICU immediately.  That was heart breaking because we didn't even get to hold him until 8:30 that night.  Or rather, I got to hold him that night since Dave was at home with the other kids.  He came off oxygen really quickly and was back in my room by the evening of the 9th which made us so happy.

We've been recovering at home and taking life pretty slow the last 2 weeks.  Everyone is in love with the new little in the family.

Bennisms

Ben & his best buddy E

Last night I went to tuck all my kiddos in bed.  Ben was *almost* asleep clutching a hanger.  When I tried to pry it out of his hands he gripped it tightly and said *with eyes still closed* no mom that is my bow and arrow for shooting brutes and these on my head are lasers.  I put them on after I say my prayers.

Oh the life of a little boy!!

December Fun!

Making Gingerbread houses with Grandma.  One of our favorite Traditions.  Grandma brings all the supplies and helps the kids decorate a house and a cookie!  YUM!  

We had a quick trip to Seattle to see fun cousins!  Matt, Ashley & the kids were visiting from Colorado

The girlie cousins, Savannah, Tristyn, Melissa, Isabella

Lance & Ben, new friends!  

Cinderella!  

Grandma Teuschers party is always a December Favorite!  We loved our little photo op this year!  Especially this classic of Kimberly & Talia!  

Savannah & Emily

Hyrum & Ben

And of course hunting for the perfect tree is always an adventure.  Especially when mom leaves her wallet at home, and then when running home to get it (after the tree has been cut and everyone is standing around waiting) she runs out of gas not he way back!  

Classic!

 Traditional Holiday photos before church in new church outfits.  I try to match the kids, which Dave hates but tolerates because I love it.  It didn't go as planned Christmas morning because last year church fell right at nap time.  Timing getting the kids dressed was always an issue, too early means food all over your clothes and a rumpled mess for church.  Too late means well you're late.  So the dreaded nap time picture session!

We started with this

Decided to just do some without baby

The girlie girls

My boys, seriously I have gotten to church the last 4 Sundays and either Ben or Emily has been  missing a shoe!  

This was as good as it got with the little princess!  She would have none of it!  

Luckily she fell asleep in the car on the way to church and slept most of sacrament meeting!

Granite Dental

December 16th we purchased a dental practice, formerly Erickson Family Dental here in Vancouver and now renamed Granite Dental.  This has been such a busy time for both Dave & I, thrown in with holidays and everything else.  But it is exciting and what we have been waiting for.  This is Dave & Dr. Erickson the day we officially signed all the papers.  Tom's last day of work.  Tom was a pleasure to work with and we were so lucky to get the opportunity to buy this practice.  He is happy, bought a retirement home in Palm Springs to golf and play in the sun.   

Happy Birthday Benjamin

 Happy Birthday to my sweet boy, it is hard to believe that 4 years have gone by since you were born.  But we LOVE your energy & humor.  

(Ben on left with his cousins E & J Dyer)  

Ben loves:  kisses, halo 3, legos, his baby sister, jumping, swords & guns

I think it is hilarious that you have been singing happy birthday to me all day long when you are playing your video game, and that you think your party is at your 16 year old second cousin Hayden's house.