Happy Nude Rear!

THANK GOD. It's over. 2010 was not a kind one to us Lechners. We lost 5 loved ones. We lost ourselves. We almost lost each other. But in the end I think we gained a lot too. We gained our family again. We gained the sense that before everything else in the world our family comes first and above and beyond that Andy and I come first so we have the strength to take care of those babies. I'm learning to be kinder to me so I have more love and compassion to give to everyone else. It feels like we're growing a buffer around ourselves so that when bad stuff happens instead of it eating us alive we tackle it together. We're learning to be like family super heroes now. So I have to say thanks universe/God/circumstance because without 2010 I'd never had learned any of that and without those life lessons I'd be a million times worse off. Nobody should have to go through what we did this year. But we're dealing with it and learning to be stronger than it so it doesn't consume us. More importantly we're helping each other through it. And each day the hurt gets less and less and happiness replaces it. I still miss my Papa and my uncle Greg so much. I know Andy still misses his grandma. I know that we're both sad for Randy who's lost a lot too. But you know life happens. 2010 happened and now it's gone and put behind us and we're still here smiling and still together. I hope that 2011 holds more rewards than sorrow for everyone we know. I hope that we continue on the path we're on and just stay true to ourselves. I can't say what this year will hold for us but I know I control how I react to it so I think above losing this pudge around my middle and above building a bigger nestegg and above all other resolutions I make this year I hope that the one that sticks is we continue to stay strong and stay happy no matter what happens.


Seriously - with the exception of me who still has to use a children's sized toothbrush there are some mouths on this family!



Please meet Clementine and Cecelia Cook - our NYE hosts.



Phase 10 made some great entertainment



We rocked it



CHEERS!



Taking part in the 21 Buns Salute to my Uncle Greg. Here's to you Greggy - here's to you! Please excuse the crudeness to non-Shepherd family members who read this thing. This is completely appropriate if you had the privilege to know that great man.



Jojo made it till midnight - her party animal counterparts let her down and passed out cold

Till Daddy woke 'em up!

so glad we had these guys to join in - Jasmine even rocked the 21 buns salute! HA HA!



Our Happy New Year kiss. I am still sad the one that was taken when he FARTED while kissing me was blurry! Classy Andy.



 J&J



So you know....you could use flash cards to LEARN about dinosaurs or use them to decorate. Ava chose decorating.



Mason helped Andy take down the Christmas lights. I looked at the temp while they were out there. OMG it was 29 but it felt like 17 with the wind chill. NO THANK YOU.



Gosh I can't believe this boy! He's so big looking. He's such a sweetie.



And Ava's getting to be such a big girl. I just love her! She's such a good big sister. And I love the 'tude she's getting. When stuff takes to long for her liking she rolls her eyes and says "this is taking FOREVER!" and "like" has become part of her vocab. For reals? Well ok I guess I'm her mom but still. Please just stay 4. Let's not skip to being 13 and sassy yet!





HMMMM.....clean up Christmas or make a sweet comfy seat for watching a movie?



there are no words for this cuteness.