Ten years and four kids later...

No, not me.  My sister.  She and her husband and doing a first in their ten years of marriage -- they are getting away BY THEMSELVES for four whole days.  Anyone who knows me knows that I feel strongly about couples remaining a couple even when the kids are around.  The marriage needs to take top priority.  This means date nights and trips AWAY from the kids.  It will make everyone stronger -- mom and dad will still feel strong in their own connection and kids will be secure in the fact that mom and dad LOVE and HONOR each other and man and wife, not just as mom and dad. So, I am SO HAPPY for my sister, that they are getting away for a long weekend in Chicago.  Go them!

We wanted to see them before we left for Indonesia so we came yesterday and got to spend the afternoon and evening with them before they left.  One of the things they really wanted to do for their ten years and before I left for a few years was to get some family photos.  The little one wasn't much in a cooperative mood so there will be no gorgeous canvas hanging over their fireplace anytime soon, but we did get some cute shots.  Not sure which ones to show, so I'll show a lot :)

The whole crew

This is their favorite picture of the bunch.  This is my cute 7 year old nephew.  He is definitely growing up and developing his own little personality.  Not a baby anymore...

This is their second oldest -- she is ten months older than Alaina.  I asked her how old she was (6) and I got eight fingers :)

Here is number three...one month younger than Caleb and just as quirky :)

And here is the little one.  This is about the only picture we got of him without a binky in his mouth or him screaming.  He is a real cutie in real life :)

And here is the whole gang...eight under the age of eight.  Wesley (7), Audrey (6), Alaina (5), Caleb and Ashton (4), Levi (2), Cole (20 months), and Katelynn (4 months)

And with that, I'm off.  We're heading to IKEA for breakfast and a *little* bit of shopping (I HAVE to keep telling myself that we DO have airline luggage limits!) Then we are meeting up with Jason's parents to have lunch with the grandparents.  It is quite possible that this will be the last time we see them (as in ever) and so it will be bittersweet.  A lot can happen in two years...

Have a wonderful Thursday!