Family Pictures

It's post Christmas, my house is a disaster, laundry is in piles, I feel like 90 percent of my body is made of sugar.

Naturally, it's the perfect time to blog.

Katie did our family pictures last month. I told her I wanted BIG trees. We drove east to the mountains and she had the perfect places for us. So glad we went when we did, literally the next day it snowed and covered everything in slush. And as a bonus, this is the first year since he was a smiling fat baby that Lincoln wasn't a huge turd ferguson during the shoot.

I'm delighted with how they turned out. Every time she sends me our pictures each year, I cry when I look at them. I'm just so in love with my children and my family and they are SO BEAUTIFUL. Like mom heart explosion. She captured their personalities so well. She gave me like 160+ pictures so I'm probably going to over share. This is normal.

her little hand on his head. 

they are mine!

one of my favs

his captain america pose.

merry christmas, ya filthy animal.

Christmas came early for our family this year. Our little Basenji puppy was born on Thanksgiving! We've been discussing getting a dog for quite some time...hours of research, talking to everyone we know, reading everything possible--led us to a breed called Basenji. We knew we wanted a small to medium, family friendly, sturdy, hypoallergenic dog that could do well indoors and outdoors in the heat. In September I took the kids down to Vacaville to meet the dogs and see if it would be a good fit, and we were sold! We didn't tell the kids, but we got on their waiting list for their next litter.

I'm gonna be really honest. I am 60 percent excited and 40 percent terrified of having a tiny little animal peeing and chewing things in my house. Someone tell me it is worth it! We will crate train the dog, and do a puppy class, with expectations that it will take some time to house train him. I know it will be work, but I'm excited to have such a fun project for all of us as a family to enjoy. It's been a rough few years for us, we could use some happy.

A few days after thanksgiving, I wrapped up my childhood dog's leash (why do I have that) and we surprised the kids with their gift. We hopped in the car and drove down to meet the puppies and see which one would be ours! Because the puppies were born around Thanksgiving, they gave them all pilgrim names to keep track of them. Ours is named Bradford (for now). He will be tan and white and get to be about 20 pounds. Linc wants to name him Bolt or Poop. Izzie likes Tucker McFoxington.

surprise!

Izzie and three-day old puppy

Baby holding a fur baby.

so teeny and snuggly

Yesterday, Jazz took the kids down for another visit. The puppies were so much bigger already. 

Future Sorensen doggie

This is Izzie with Sandy, a full size female Basenji. Curly tail!

We are EXCITED. The puppy will stay with his mom for six or seven more weeks, and then we will bring him home to our house. It will be an adventure but I think we are up for it! Tell me your happy positive dog stories! I don't want to hear if they ate your couch.

turkey day

Ohhhhh, Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays. A day set aside for food!  Yesssss. And yes of course being thankful for erythang. But really, I love that I just show up with some dinner accessories as a buy-in for the main course. My mom always makes these orange rolls and my dad's stuffing is just THE BEST. Anyway.

I promised Leigh I would do the turkey trot this year and so at 8 am we braved the freezing weather to do six miles on the river trail. We walked and talked about our families and our troubles and triumphs and everything in between- a perfect way to catch up while earning our pie for later in the day. I love these girls, they've been with me through thick and thin. 

Katie looked too good to be trotting. Unfair.

letting the pack through

While I was doing that, Jazz took the kids to Williams to drop off Ellie to her dad. I came home to an empty house! I took a shower with no children knocking on the door! I ate lunch on the couch! Without judgement! Was so nice.

Later we took our sweet potatoes and cheeseball over to Mom's for playtime and dinner. We snapped this little selfie in my mom's front yard before unleashing them with their cousins. Guys I just love these people of mine! We probably should have ten kids.

my little sidekick in the back seat

dad smoked the turkey this year

While the women were prepping food and setting the table, the boys took the kids upstairs. Uncle Scottie brought over Mario Kart and taught them to play. LINC WAS HOOKED. It was so funny and hilarious, just like full power running in to everything and driving backwards but he was getting the hang of it. I have so many good memories sitting on my brothers' bunk bed playing the N64 at all hours waiting for Santa to come. (And damn if Sabrina didn't school us, especially freaking Koopa Beach) Now every time we go to my mom's house, Linc says "I hope unca scottie brought mawio kawt!" He's hoping Santa will bring him his very own. (uhh prolly not)

of course Grandma had a myriad of crafts on hand.

Baylor! And his cheeks and his rolls and I want to bite him!

After dinner, we cleared the plates and got out the bingo cards. My mom has legit prizes, and you can steal them from each other. Things get TENSE. But ultimately we walked away with some sweet scores and and a gift card for date night. My parents are the best, we have so much fun at their house and I'm so glad we live here! Every time I get in my car, my phone reminds me we are only six minutes from their house. How lucky are we?