If we had to describe our family in one word, we would probably use the word “loud!”

And please don’t take this as a negative thing. There are just a lot of us.

Or at least it feels that way in most situations.

And although we are split with two boys and two girls with our children,

our house is very much a boy household.

Some evenings it’s like a WWE wrestling match.

We are just loud and rambunctious in that way.

Each of our kids have their very own distinct personality.

And they have no troubles voicing their opinion.

Our biggest challenge as a family that we are still working to overcome is probably the balance between work, activities, and home life. We feel like this is a struggle that we will keep dealing with for as long as the kids are still here with us in our home. We have gotten better as a family in saying “no” to the things that we just don’t want to do. We still are very active and have many activities, but we don’t really mind running them to those activities if it keeps them physically moving.

And as far as work, life’s too short. 

We are starting to realize time is way more important than any amount of money we could make.

We wish for all of our children to have the courage to be themselves,

to be able to see both sides of the story,

and to just enjoy life.

We hope they all find a partner that they can laugh with, and be best friends with as Aaron and I have found in each other.

We hope they get to experience the crazy, wonderful,

and sometimes painful reality of being a parent because really there is nothing else like it.

It’s both the most rewarding thing and the most challenging thing we have ever done.