The Hoppers

These were a big hit for the kids - the hoppers! Now that a few days have gone by, not so much. Or at least, using them the way they were intended. Now they (especially the biggest one) want to try them on the stairs.... off of furniture... holding both by the handles and banging them together while a smaller sibling's head is in between... you get the picture. Dec. 25, 2008.

My Ballerina Princess

One of Emmy's gifts was a box of dress-up clothes, complete with a tutu and a tiara so nicely modeled here! She also got things for her box from Grandma Rose and loved the purse with the glittery lotion, lipstick, and fingernail polish! LOL!

Christmas Morning

This is sadly the only picture I have of all three kids on Christmas. I need a new camera. Hopefully we'll get one this weekend! Dec. 25, 2008.

Colby and Roo

Colby roughing up Tucker-roo after chores Christmas Eve. Dec. 24, 2008.

Christmas Eve On The Farm

Winter chores still have to be done, in blowing snow 3 ft deep or temps below zero. And yes, even on Christmas Eve! It was a peaceful pretty evening, Colby and I did chores together just as the day was fading to twilight. Dec. 24, 2008.

Winter Driving

Yes, we do have snow and ice on the roads in Michigan, and the salt doesn't always melt it down to bare roads! Dec. 21, 2008.

Josh and Laney

I have no camera right now, so I've uploaded pics from my phone to use here!

This was when Elayna wasn't feeling well and wanted to be held all the time. I finally managed to get her to settle in on Joshua's lap instead of mine for a few minutes! Dec. 18. 2008.

Putting Up The Christmas Tree

We put up the Christmas tree last night and it was so exciting for the kids! They drank some apple juice and watched the Grinch while Daddy fixed the lights, then when it was all done and after Elayna went to bed, the bigger kids got to watch Daddy play a race car game on the playstation and Josh even got to drive once! I have to say, putting up a fake tree is a whole lot easier and mess-free compared to the real thing, but I sure do miss the smell and feel of a real one! Dec. 6, 2008.

My Baby Girl

Elayna is growing so fast right now, it seems she is leaving behind her baby days at an amazing rate! She was climbing out of her porta-crib consistently, so she has started sleeping in her big-girl bed, and even used the potty once, too! Dec. 6, 2008.

SNOW!

Yes, we have snow. It has been here for nearly a month. It snowed more yesterday. It was snowing so hard yesterday the snow was sticking to the windows and we couldn't see out very well! I'm starting to worry that I'm going to have an AWFUL LOT of snow to shovel before I can put up a swingset for Christmas!! Dec. 6, 2008.

Josh's Perspective

And then Josh got the camera from Emmy and added his own version of what life looks like at his level! Of course, his had a self-portrait added in too! Dec. 4, 2008.

Emmy's World

Emmy got a hold of the camera the other day and so I'm sharing her perspective of her little world! Dec. 4, 2008.

My Funny Little Hot Dog

Twerty is enjoying his soft bed and the new stove! And he even puts up with wearing a t-shirt now and then too! Dec. 3, 2008.

An Interesting Quote

"When you cannot move in the line of least resistance you take a very peculiar pleasure in crowding the point of greatest resistance.

No doubt there is in the ultimate reasons of human probation, special place for that quality of manhood called perseverance, patience, pluck, push, persistence, pertinacity, or whatever name beginning with this "explosive mute", the excess of which exhibited by persons or things is somewhat profanely referred to as "pure cussedness"."

- Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain "The Passing of the Armies"
published in 1915.

Progress

Just showing the progress on a new little project I've been working on here and there. I usually just get a few minutes at a time to work on it, so this is after several weeks of stitching! Oct-Nov-Dec 2008.

Fun with Yogurt

Emmy has had some sores in her mouth which have made it hard for her to eat, so we stocked up on bananas and yogurt, and I've been making smoothies, too! Elayna has been enjoying the yogurt, too, as you can see! She has her daddy's cute little tippy ears! Nov. 30, 2008.

Biggie Girl

I don't remember what she was upset about here, but I just had to share this with you - she's getting so big! She starting to talk a lot more now, too. Nov. 25, 2008.

Thanksgiving

We spent a pretty lazy Thanksgiving morning here at home, Colby enjoyed playing with the kids while I cooked a few side dishes to take with us to our friends' home. We had a nice meal and the kids played themselves out with their kids. It was a pleasant day, all said, and I only wish I had taken more pictures! I didn't get any of our whole family! Nov. 27, 2008.

Laney and Levi

Colby and I spent a weekend alone together for the first time in 5 years! So Josh and Emmy went to Grandma and Grandpa M's, and Elayna went to spend a fun weekend with her cousin Levi! You can see how much fun they had together, running around like little bandits in cahoots with one another! Can you believe how much our babies have grown? Nov. 21, 2008.

And Then....

The camera broke. Well, actually first it broke, and then I lost the memory card. I apparently have bad luck with cameras. See, I broke the switch on the camera that made it possible for me to download them straight to the computer, but figured out I could still retrieve the pics by taking out the memory card and plugging it into my handy dandy printer! So it was all good for about 5 days until the memory card disappeared somewhere in between.

I guess this means I will have to start talking to you instead of just plugging in some pictures and a short description and calling it good. Gotta run for now, but hopefully you will hear from me again soon, one way or another!

Nov. 18, 2008.

Up And Running!

The stove is in and the fire is warm! We are loving the warmth in the morning when we get up, hanging the kids' gloves behind it after they play in the snow, and listening to the crackle of wood as it burns. Please don't mind the crazy stuff in the background! I'm trying to move all of the books out of the bookshelf and into new places so I can paint those shelves and Colby's going to turn the bottom portion into a wood box. That will be so nice - I'd forgotten how much mess is involved with a wood stove!! It seems like there are always a dozen projects going on at once here at our house or out in the barn and it's such a relief to finally have this one done.. or at least functioning! LOL! Nov. 15, 2008

More Birthday Fun!

On Friday night we went to Grandpa and Grandma J's for pizza and cake! I was so terrible about the kids' birthdays this month - Josh didn't get his Lightening McQueen cake, and Emmy didn't even get to blow out candles at all until the day after her birthday AND it was a Store Bought cake! How sad!!! They're only 3 and 5 and I'm already starting to slip! Hopefully next year their birthdays won't fall in the middle of the week! Nov. 14, 2008.

Three Years Old!

Emmy turned 3 last week. It's hard to believe she's that big already! Seems like she was just born the other day. She got to open a few presents at breakfast time - an I Spy book, and Auntie Raini's gift which included the curly blonde wig for her dress up box that she was apparently NOT impressed with, LOL! I'm sure Josh will have a great time with it, though! :P Nov. 13, 2008.