Collect Moments, Not Things.

As we start our downsized life, this will be our new motto.

Blake and I even bought a sign that says these exact words and it will sit on top of the kitchen cabinets at Twin Oaks!

It’s the beginning of a new vision that Blake and I don’t even see completely yet, but we know the Lord will show us the way!

We are starting a new tradition to go along with our new motto.

Instead of presents for each of the kiddos birthdays, we are going to “do” something all together.

To collect those moments.

Memories in the making!

On Wednesday to celebrate Tate’s birthday, we did just that!

The girls and I took all the kiddos to the Children’s Museum in La Crosse!

The guys wanted to be there, but the museum is only open until 5 p.m.

Because of the move, we decided to do it this way this year.

The kiddos had a BLAST, as you can imagine!

And their Mama and NaiNai took one thousand photos, as you can imagine!

Here is the birthday boy himself.

Six years old!

Tiny but mighty!

We arrived at the museum when it opened at 10:00.

Here is the cutest of cute babies!

He is growing so fast!

And his dark head of hair is turning super blond!

They LOVED the pretend Kwik Trip gas station and store!

I was thankful for how many hands we had there!

It was a job to keep up with all these littles!

Chad would take different kiddos at different times to see things.

Here is our precious brown-eyed little Miss E.

My cup overflows.

The whispering machine was fascinating.

Pretty soon we were on the lowest level.

There was a huge water table there, and the littles loved it!

I have no idea who this cutie is on the left in this next photo!

But I bet his Mama takes thousands of photos too – just look at that smile!

The middle boys climbed the rock wall.

Tate got in line to do it too, but soon found out that you have to be 40 pounds to be allowed to.

I think it will be quite awhile until he will be 40 pounds.

Our tiny little man!

Chad made it to the top!

River was an angel!

He is the calmest baby!

Reminds me SO much of Lane when he was a baby!

Eliza says the fire truck was her favorite!

The kids led the way, and before we knew it, it was noon!

We grabbed our cooler and headed to the park for lunch.

Kayla, Addie, and the babies headed back to River’s place after lunch.

The kiddos and I went back to the museum for some more play time!

I stopped at the desk on the way out and bought a membership.

If we just go one more time this year it will be worth the savings!

Tate enjoyed his birthday outing very much.

As always, he told me thank you about a hundred times.

Tate Owen, how I love you!!

It was our wonderful pleasure to celebrate you, precious boy!