::lovely::

we are so thankful for an amazing week we just spent with family at the beach.  

it was beautiful in every way.  finn and lily spent lots of time in the "deep deep" with their aunts and uncles.  crosby received so much love from everyone.  we all enjoyed lots of beverages pool side and loved every minute of sunshine that was poured down upon us.  it was blissful and passed by far too quickly.

but, as finn told lily while we were there, you have to "enjoy your life."  so, even though it was so hard to leave, we enjoyed every minute of it while there and are going to enjoy thinking back on it now that we are home.

thank you, smith family for a amazing vacation!!!!

FIVE!!!

oh my sweet lily! 

happy happy birthday!  it is so hard to believe that five years ago you made your beautiful entrance into this world.  i can hardly remember my life without you...you have brought so much joy and love into our lives.  we are so unbelievably blessed to be your parents.

as you turn five, you are filled with spunk, personality, compassion, tenderness and sensitivity.  you are the most amazing big sister and are constantly teaching and loving your brothers.  they both adore you with all that they are and absolutely love being in your presence.

you have grown so much over the last year and i am amazed to see all you are learning on a daily basis.  your heart is so big and has so much love and care for all those around you.  it is so much fun to see you becoming such a big and independent girl and i am so excited for what this year holds for us.

we love you with all that we are.  you are such a gift to us.

happy birthday, lily lu!!

love,

your mama and daddy

::adore::

::big man::

loving being so big and sitting at the table with lily and finn.

happy 10 months, cros!!

::christmas extravaganza:: (a photo recap)

we had an amazing whirlwind trip to z'ville for christmas.  it was absolutely wonderful to be surrounded by family and it was so hard to say goodbye.  we had two christmas parties, two christmas celebrations, weddings, time with friends and lots of precious time with family.  thank you so much to all of our family for making it such a beautiful christmas!

i missed capturing some of the highlights on film, but here is a little recap of our time at home...

 getting ready to head to the christmas eve service.

 it was so wonderful to get to meet baby quinn and it was awesome to have all of these colony woods kids together!  hard to believe that between us we have 8 kids!  so good to see you, wrights and smiths!

 wonderful christmas celebrations.

and one of the best parts was seeing our kids with griffin and diego.  they loved being together and lily loved corralling the boys and looking out for them.  i LOVED hearing griff call lily "ninnie"...it immediately took me back 3 years to when lily called herself that.  so very sweet...

we love you all so much.  

happy new year!