How much we love cards from Great Grandpa and Grandma Klock!

This is just a little glimpse of how much the boys love good ol' snail mail.

Phoenix Zoo

Every 4 weeks or so, Jeff has a meeting in Phoenix, so we join him for the drive and do something fun. This time it was the Zoo.

It's a great zoo, you can get pretty close to the animals.

The Baboons, (this time behind the glass)

My little navigator Carter, loves the map. The only problem is he doesn't have a real sense of following a certain path, so we skipped all over the park looking for whatever animal he picked next. It was quite the workout for me.

Stopping for lunch, we could watch the giraffes from where we sat.

We fed the giraffes their lunch too.

Watched some monkeys.

And 2/3 of us were happy to ride the carousel.

The happy ones.

So sad.

But the day ended with mostly smiles.

Carter's 1st Day of Preschool

Our 1st born is all grown up . . . almost. He started his 1st day of preschool at Beautiful Saviour Academy last Wednesday. He goes 3 days a week for 9-12. He was a little nervous with what to expect but excited to wear his new "pack-pack" and pack is snack. Milk, apples, and string cheese!

Of course, Camden was certain he was going too.

After all, his entire life Carter has been by his side. But Cam and I get our one on one time now so that is just as exciting.

Walking in, Camden was so eager to see Carter's classroom. Carter not so sure.

Fun toys to play with . . .

. . . and a bright classroom to explore.

Camden and I gave Carter a last hug and said we would be back to get him after was ran our errands, he stayed right where he is in this picture playing with some animals, and said "OK bye now Mom." No tears, no fuss, and we walked right out. Didn't cry or ask for me all the whole time the teachers said. He didn't cry Friday either. Monday however was a different story. I'm sure he will have his days.

Annual Shepherd Family Pictures

In December 2005, yes only 4 years ago, there were only 9 people in this picture. Only 1 grandchild. Now 16 total.!

With Jess expecting again, that means 7 kids in 4.5 years.

The Aquarium

Only got 2 pictures of our trip to the aquarium in Seattle before my camera died.

But I like 'em.

Girl's Night

Everyone knows Jeff is wonderful but he insists on proving it over and over again.

This time, he sent just us girls away for the night to Hyatt Olive 8 downtown Seattle for shopping and some girl time.

We shopped all day, ate dinner out, caught a movie.

Woke up and started shopping again.

Sadly, it was a very quick girl's night, but I had the best time.

Cam is too tired to eat . . .

Some days the boys refuse to nap, Cam ends up very tired by dinner.

Story time with Papa.

DEEEE - DUB - YA! (I know that doesn't make any sense to some, but others with be laughing hysterically.)

The Best Part of the Season. . . .

The best part of the holiday season is forcing your children to take a "nice" picture in their cute jammies. As you can see, Carter wanted nothing~nothing! to do with it. But the jammies were still cute.

and then I get one picture that makes up for the 100 other sour faces.

Leave it to Cam and Jeff to light up my heart as I look back over these Christmas Eve photos. I am reminded how lucky I am. Even for the monster hiding under the blanket to the right.

Oh, there's the smile I was asking for.

Cookies for Santa, carrots for the reindeer. Cam had to make sure they were good. The carrots that is, he loves carrots.

Then he decided to try Santa's cookie. We were surprised and said, "You ate Santa's Cookies!" And Cam made the saddest most pitiful face we've ever seen and started to sob, "I ate Santa's Cookie." He was heart broken. So we all had to have cookies to cheer him up.

Stockings were hung by the chimney with care, (funny thing is after celebrating Christmas in that house for 16 years, this was the first time my dad figured out how to actually HANG the stockings, and he claims it only took him 5 minutes.)

Enjoying cookies, not Santa's this time. I just love my parents expression. Sums up their love for their grand kids.

Jeff read bedtime stories.

Santa came sometime after that. The boys thought it was great Santa ate so much of his cookies.

Christmas morning.

Looks like a rush of craziness but it was actually very peaceful and we opened presents for a very long time. The boys had to play with everything they opened before moving to the next gift.

Seriously excited about the FREE Buzz lightyear "pack-pack" (forget the Buzz, Woody, Jessie and Slinky that actually cost something, they loved the gift with purchase more.)

Now, I was excited about the Toy Story cast, I even lined 'em up all by myself.

Cam was elated about his big boy undies. He insisted I put them on over his jammies.

Cam's "Pack-pack" He wanted to wear it in the car, to bed, in the bath. . . . and on and on.