Welcome to our World

Every fall Grandpa helps us take the entire family to the pumpkin patch/carnival by my parents' apartment complex. It is certainly one of the reasons I look forward to October every year. These pictures tell most of the story for me. Kaelah had even more fun this year because her good friend from nursery was there too. I couldn't believe the things she was willing to try & have a blast doing simply by going along with her adventurous gal pal.

I think it is a safe bet to say Kaelah's favorite holiday is Halloween. She is getting so excited to go trick-or-treating again. One time is all it took -- she's hooked on the idea! Here's a picture of her showing off the fall decorations she made with Grandma Karyl at Discovery Days. Last Friday we had a Halloween cookie decorating party. My children were very happy. Except when it came time to clean up Michelle. In this picture it looks like she knows there is a washcloth headed her way soon. This was my feeble attempt at getting a picture of the people at the party & their creations. My ceiling just isn't tall enough above the dinning room table. Thanks to the E. family & the future H. family for joining us! It wouldn't have been as much fun without you!

You didn't think I could be a slave driver the entire week, did you? Luckily a free day at the zoo came smack dab in the middle of the week to provide some fun for the entire family. The baby giraffes were so cute. See? You can tell by how my family is staring at them. Well, except for Dan. I've trained him to smile at the camera. lol. With 4 adults we decided to take both strollers along. Here is Danny checking on Michelle in her stroller after they began giggling at each other. It is wonderful to see them becoming friends. (They both already adore Kaelah, if I haven't mentioned that before.) Strolling right along. (I'm humming "moving right along" by Kermit the frog in my head right now.) What a great daddy! The African penguins were quite entertaining. Can you tell Kaelah was having too much fun to bother smiling at the camera? Behind Kaelah & Grandma Nita you can see the construction of the new area of the zoo. This week I got really excite...

After 6.5 years my hubby is changing jobs! It is hard for both of us to believe. There was really nothing terribly wrong with his old job but he was bored. Quite bored. A few months ago I convinced him to begin looking for other work. Turns out instead of a 20 minute commute he could now walk to work if he wished. We decided he should take a week off between jobs to work on that famous honey-do list every wife makes whether they want to or not. I think about 3/4ths of the 2 page list was accomplished in 4 days. It's great to only have a 1/2 page list left, right hon? Danny boy was more than happy to help with the garage project. And fixing the door bell. Dan cleaning up after sheet rocking the 2 side walls of the garage. Sounds simple enough, but that was a lot of work -- almost 3 days worth. You can blame this one on the mice. They removed the insulation the mice lived in the last 2 winters, replaced it, & now good luck to the mouse who tried to live in my garage ag...

There really isn't a whole lot going on in this video, but I'll love it forever because it is of my precious baby. I love you, Michelle.

This summer (& into the warm weather of fall) we enjoyed many a park day with special friends. On Thursdays we went to a different park every week with the local Le Leche Legue. On Fridays we met friends from church at one of our favorite parks in town that has lots of shady benches & slides for hot summer days. It was a joy to be outside with people that could help me with my 3 little ones! At the beginning of the summer we were very needy, but as time went by we got a tad better. lol. Well, I can say Kaelah & Danny got much better at playing together as he got older, but he is such a brave guy he went solo most of the time anyway. My children also loved begging other people's snacks, especially Danny. I think he developed a reputation for mooching that other mothers came prepared for by bringing extras. We are lucky to know such kind individuals!

Most of the pictures speak for themselves, but here is a shot from the bumpy 11-mile dirt road up to the Alpine Visitor's Center. It was great & I still can't believe we went up there for the 1st time in a brand new mini van. Watching the elk together. Looking at the birds who kept trying to steal our picnic lunch near Sprague Lake. Those crazy things were almost as brave as the black squirrels in Vancouver. Almost.

What a joy it is to return to ol' stomping grounds. Kind of funny the last 2 times we've gone we've had a new baby to show my old co-workers and students' families. Every year Kaelah is able to do more of the activities. This year she won a pumpkin from the pumpkin walk. Every year there is a Michaelmas play & I can't believe how fast the children have grown & what grade they are in now. The story & symbolism are amazing & encouraging. And, of course, who can resist a hay ride in the fall?

The last Saturday in September was amazing -- we got so much done! All 3 of our children are now sleeping in a new (to them) bed. When I decided it was time to move Michelle out of the pack-n-play in our room to a crib in Kaelah's room, I called in for reinforcements. My parents & Sabrina were happy to oblige. On that day my old twin bed frame was spray painted white, the green paint in Kaelah's room was touched up & the white base boards completely repainted, and the mattress set & new bedding were put into place. Turns out the frame wasn't meant to have a box spring with it. Opps. Gives it more of a princess feel & the bed rail from the toddler bed works this way. The picture of Jesus & the children I had in my room as a little girl finally got hung up. The shelf that was taken out of Danny's closet when we put his Elfa system in (the day before we brought him home from the hospital) was cut down & added as a second shelf to the girls...

I can't believe it. And it took me months to decide whether or not to do it. But, alas, we have a preschooler. Only one day a week from 9am to 1pm & it has already been a huge confidence boost for her. At first I felt guilty even considering it. She is still a young 3 & I never would have thought of it but I could tell Kaelah needed a break from her younger siblings & vice versa. Lucky for us, one of my co-workers from the private school I used to work at began an in-home preschool with only 7 children 3 days a week. I could have never have done it if it wasn't a situation as perfect as this. Like I told one of my friends today, the tuition has already been worth it because now my little girl who has been potty trained since May will also poop in the potty. What also is wonderful is knowing Kaelah is having a good time. At the park she will pretend to be her teacher & at home she is much more independent with things such as taking her pajamas off to ge...