Family Portrait

Hmmm, which one to print and frame?

Artist: Micah, age 5

Best Black Friday Deal: FIRST SNOW! :-)

I don't know if I can really call it the "first snow" because it was merely drifts in which you could still see the grass poking through everywhere.  However, Micah was over-the-top excited.  We got out the snow pants and spent some time enjoying the "snow flags" (that's what Micah thinks snowflakes are called).

Suitin' up

Joy getting acquainted with snow

Admiring what we dubbed his "grass angel"

Lining the driveway with snow sticks

Proud of his snowball

Joy's Jumperoo: Under New Management

Last summer my in-laws got Joy a Jumperoo and she just loved it!  Now Noah is absolutely enthralled with it.

Critters* in the Leaves...

...I mean, *kiddos :-)

Joy's First Tutu

Thanks, Lisa Baar!!

Quotable Micah

Micah and I have been talking about food allergies, and how people may not feel well or even get real sick if they eat certain foods (my sis Rachel is coming into town soon and she has several food allergies).  Well today I had to do a quick diaper change for Joy in the car after an errand, and it stank up the whole van.  Micah commented, "I think I'm allergic to smelling Joy's poop - it makes me not feel very good." - 11/5/12

"I feel like I'm going to grow a dish out of my hand because I got dish soap on it." - 2/28/12

Scotty and the older two kiddos were in the van, ready to go, and I was about to head out the door with Noah.  I could tell he was 'working on some business' though, so I ran out and quickly told Scotty that I had to change Noah's diaper because it was written all over his face that he was going poop.  Micah overheard and exclaimed, "IT'S ALL OVER HIS FACE??!?" -10/27/12

When some tricker-treaters came to our door, I told them we didn't have any candy and they headed out to the next house.  Micah asked us, "Why did they come to steal candy?" -10/31/12

In directing Joy, I have been using her middle name at times - she is a feisty little booger. ;-) Micah has noted that, "When you use Marie you're really serious."

"You're cute for a mom." - 5/9/12

While taking notice of Noah's chunky legs he said, "It looks like Noah has a bottom under his knee."  He then turns to Noah and says in an endearing voice, "hello 3 bottom boy" (I guess that's 2 knees plus the regular 1 tush). -10/17/12

One day he was playing with a little paintbrush and making strokes across his cheek.  He told me, "I'm painting nipples on my face."  I had to correct him and tell him he meant to say "dimples."

A few days later, we had a neighbor over and Micah told her "Mommy had two nipples removed from her back."  I had to quickly clarify that he meant to say "moles."

Millenium Falcon

Whew, there's been some hiccups and long breaks along the way, but after 2 months, he finally picked up the last pieces and finished this space ship today.  Thanks Papa and Mama Ruth!

This Little Light of Mine...

Right now Joy is a super singer.  She wants me to sing nursery rhymes and "Jesus" songs all day long.  One of her favorites the past couple days is "This Little Light of Mine"(here's a rendition that's kinda over the top with kids dressed in really bright clothes...) :-)

We had fun on Sunday carving our orchard pumpkin to be the Light on our front porch!

A Nice Day at the Orchard

Antique Cider Press - year 1869

My hubs - off the charts! ;-)

Admiring the pumpkins, then distracted by...

...horses!

Guardians of the pumpkin patch? :-)

So many to choose from!

While our pumpkin was getting cleaned, we did some trivia.

Second team of horses for the wagon rides

The orchard's new bakery

Uber enjoying her "Apple Cider Sipper" (tears when we packed it away) :-)

Life is Grand :-)

Sportin' her new hat from Papa

And they just keep falling and falling... :-)

Hmmm, don't think they'll all fit in the suitcase...

Sitting up like a big boy in the stroller

Enjoying the company of his toy friends ;-)

"Helping" mommy unload groceries - yikes!

Busting into Micah's hand-me-downs!

Digging into the -gulp- 24 books we picked up at the library!

Listening to mommy's version of audio books (recorded on GarageBand).

Scotty got to fly over a local lake with a missionary pilot friend in town!

Time for LEAVES!

Baby Swap?

The same onesie and the same baby, but wow - what a difference!

About 3 weeks old

Just over 3 months old

Crayon "Cupcakes"

Step 1: peel paper off crayons

Step 2: put crayon bits in cupcake holders

Step 3: bake at 250 deg F

Step 4: let cupcakes cool down

Step 5: peel off cupcake liners

Step 6: enjoy!

Source: http://www.craftbits.com/project/rainbow-crayon-cupcakes