Welcome to our Home

I just put this up on the wall next to our front door. I think our "family tree" turned out nicely. Perhaps I will get additional old photos and add them to the wall as well but I'm running out of motivation for projects as my due date approaches. This will have to do for now.

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to the happy couple,Mom and Barry, married two years ago- November 12, 2011. And they still feel like newly weds.I'm so happy you guys found each other. Congratulations!

Concert Violinist

Okay, so maybe not concert violinist, but adorable recital violinist. This is the first of many more recitals to come I imagine for our family. Gabe's been practicing so hard the past couple of weeks and his 4 lined song, "Long, Long Ago" was sounding pretty good. The actual performance didn't sound quite so polished because his teacher had his wife accompany the students. I think this was a mistake since it was a new and different element added at the last minute, but Gabe still did a good job, especially considering he has only been taking for a month and a half with this new teacher.
Over all I'm very pleased with his teacher and how Gabe is improving.

At Least Once

We had to let them play in the leaves at least once this year before it was all raked up and hauled away for the winter. I think Zach would agree that it was worth raking twice.

Happy Face

Happy Face just turned 4! Isn't he adorable when he smiles? I asked him what he wanted for his birthday and he made it blessedly easy for me.  No party, no friends- just a trip to MacDonald's to eat and play in the play space. I love that my children think that this is a real treat and that we don't just do it all the time. He even wanted an easy cake- chocolate with sprinkles. No race track this year, hooray! The wish list consisted of hungry hippos and a garbage truck- check, check. We can do that. I love this little guy. He's all Legos, vehicles, siblings, and playing but still loves to read and snuggle.  When he starts to nod off during Book of Mormon or even at dinner time I remember how little he is for just a little while longer. 

P.S. A big Happy Birthday to those adult family birthdays out there, we love you too- Jenny, Amy, Kelly and Amber. 

Getting Ready

Setting up the nursery: Check

3 1/2 more weeks and counting. Don't ask me if we have a name yet, that part is still under discussion. But we ARE excited for him to come. 

Halloween

Favorite Halloween moments:
3. Seeing a family dressed up at church Halloween activity dressed like a garden, complete with fake bugs in their hair.
2. Pulling Ruthie in the wagon and hearing her say over and over again, "I love the doggie, I love the doggie."
1. When a lady asked what my kids were supposed to be dressed as and Gabe answered, "Tecumseh," (historical Native American leader who opposed the United States during the Tecumseh war and war of 1812) I thought he was just going to say Indian.

Least Favorite part of Halloween:
Mac feeling sick and not getting to do much trick or treating. He didn't feel too slighted though since all the candy goes into a community bag anyway. What's theirs is his.