Are those your kids?: Happy Holidays and all that jazz...

I thought I better do a holiday post since we're about ready to send out our cards and it directs people here for more info. The problem is, it's been so hectic since school started, I haven't had time to add any info. So I'll try to recap the past year here, so anyone who cares can catch up:

After being back at work for 2+ years, Scott is back home again full-time. The two paychecks was dreamy (think luxuries like bathroom spray!), but our house was in slight chaos. We just have too much going on at home to not have at least one parent there. Truth be told, both of us could be home full-time and barely have time to mop the floor. Here's hoping we win the lottery in 2012! And we're also hoping for a minimal number of declines at the grocery check out.

School ended and then started again, and for the first time, we have no kiddos at home during the day! Everyone is in full-time school. Of course, there are typically anywhere from 12 to 40 appointments in any given month, someone home with a cold or a half-day or holiday of some sort, so the 6 hour window of bliss rarely goes uninterrupted. Scott is able to get a run in--once and awhile.
The kids range in age from 6 to 29. Our two youngest, Kiki and William, are in 1st grade, and our oldest (at home), Emma, will be graduating in June 2012. She's off to study Environmental Engineering at Washington State University in the Fall. Very exciting times! And we'll have to cook for ourselves, which could be scary.
Emma (17), our senior, is a member of the Mead High School marching band, wind ensemble, Model United Nations, Gay Straight Alliance and works for a local animal sanctuary, River's Wish, run by some friends of ours. She also plays varsity tennis and was MVP last year.
Bektu (16), a freshman this year, made the Color Guard as part of the marching band, and traveled to Disneyland for the first time. After being the US for just three years, she's an honors student and has competed in gymnastics, cross country and track.
Ginny (15) is also a freshman this year, and continues to excel in gymnastics. She's on the Mead gymnastics team and still competes in club gymnastics. She's exploring her interests in high school and really likes all the options. She's an awesome student and is looking forward to driver's ed this summer with Bektu.
Selena (13) is in 7th grade and is really enjoying the middle school environment. She's meeting friends from different schools and trying out all kinds of activities. So far she's done volleyball and is ready for basketball after the holiday break. She also joined a competitive cheer team and will be traveling to some fun competitions in 2012. Selena is also a great student and is just beginning to discover all her talents.
Zella (11) continues to compete in club gymnastics and is a Level 8 this season (10 is the highest). Her tricks are bigger and scarier, but mostly for us, not for her. She's also on an AAU basketball team, the Spokane Crush (and currently recuperating from a concussion she suffered at the last game). She's in 6th grade and enjoys school and does a great job balancing her studies with all her activities.
Koby (10) is in 5th grade and is proving himself to be a prolific reader and writer. He recently talked us into adopting a parakeet by writing an engaging story about budgies. He loves all things electronic, especially any Wii game, but we often find him at the table with a book and a bowl of cereal, his silky blue blanket curled up on his head.
Malachi (10) is also in the 5th grade and was a member of the Lego League this year. He can put anything together, with hardly a glance at the directions, is the family go to for any Transformer transformations and an excellent artist. His detailed drawings of dragons, monsters and other made up creatures are so detailed--he really has a gift.
Wyatt (9) is doing great after his most recent surgery--a bone graft for his cleft. He'll be on rest for another 6 weeks, but you can't kill this kids attitude! He absolutely loves school, and despite his early deprivation, is making leaps and bounds in his learning. It's great to see! He did baseball last spring with Carter and really liked it.
Carter (9) was called the "most polite 3rd grader" his teacher ever met this year. Wow! And it's true. He's always got a please or thank you to hand out. He really liked baseball as well and is trying out swim team at our local YMCA, which he calls his "best sport ever".
Adaecia (7) is in 2nd grade now and doing great. Her teachers continue to be baffled by her adult-like sarcasm (as are we), and she's turned out to be quite the swimmer. She was on a competitive team for a while but we moved to the YMCA program as racing wasn't her thing. You'd never know it however, because she's determined to out paddle everyone--especially the boys in her class.
Willam (6) is in 1st grade and the resident wild man. He gives his big sisters the what for whenever they are in charge and was a whirlwind on the soccer team this Fall--a good way to get the energy out. He's a great student and really seems to love learning. He and Carter are like wrestling magnets. Whenever they are in the same room, WHAM! They are attached and wrestling.
Kiki (6) is the baby of the family, and this role suits her quite well. She's an awesome student and had a great time playing soccer this Fall, coached by her older cousin Renesha. She's a real sweetheart deep down inside and she knows exactly what she wants--which we keep telling ourselves will serve her well someday...

Other than the kids, we're up to seven dogs...yes seven. We took in a foster dog this Fall who had five puppies, which we found homes for. For those of you thinking it, yes, Scott is actually a Saint. He puts up with all my dogs, and even lets my tiny chihuahua sleep with us and vacation with us.

We've still got the miniature horses and the goats, as well as three birds. The boys are lobbying hard for a turtle or a lizard, but I continue to hold strong on the NO. Having been raised with alligators and pythons, I'm just not sure I want to head down that path. Needless to say, I just received a fabulous report on turtles from Malachi in hopes of persuading me. Great report. Still no.

So there you have it...the big look back at 2011. I feel like some sort of music should be playing. Not Justin Bieber or anything. Maybe some Ke$ha. We're off to the YMCA to double-dip on exercise and showers. Our house is awfully small during Christmas break...

Here's a collection of some photos from throughout the year: