Our Christmas Angel

Every year our pastor's wife writes a new Christmas play that every child, age 2 through high schooler, participates in. She chooses a theme--this year Prairie Store--to accompany the nativity story and picks new carols to expand the children's knowledge. Alice can sing most of "Go Tell It on the Mountain", "Hark the Herald", "Happy Birthday Jesus", "I Wonder as I Wander",  "Silent Night", "Though Who Was Rich Beyond All Splendor" and "Joy to the World".

walking in to our church

opening song "Happy Birthday Jesus"

singing "Hark the Herald"

Our sweet angel did a great job in the Christmas play!!

Three Wise Women (funny!)

Three Wise Women would have. . .

Asked directions,

Arrived on time,

Helped deliver the baby,

Cleaned the stable,

Made a casserole, 

Brought practical gifts and

There would be

Peace on Earth.

7 years, 29 months and 9 months

The end of November was a busy time for our family. 

November 22: We stayed and celebrated Thanksgiving in Maryland with the Macdonald family.

November 26: Mark and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary with a relaxing dinner together.

November 27: Alice turned 29 months old. That brings lots of singing of Christmas carols, dressing up as an angel, pretend and real cooking, and a hilarious comment to our babysitter who was singing her good night song, "Let's just talk about it" because she didn't like the singing.

November 28: Sawyer turned 9 months old. He grew four teeth in one week last month. His doctor's visit showed that he grew 3 inches and 3 pounds from age 6 - 9 months. Sawyer weighs 21 pounds and is 30" long! He changes every day, except he always has a sweet smile. He's the speediest crawler I've ever seen, loves baby food fruits and veggies and crunchy toast or crackers but nothing in between--boiled sweet potato pieces, banana pieces, cottage cheese. We're working on "real" foods, but he really does like to eat. Sawyer pulls up to standing and babbles mama and dada. 

We're currently trying to buy a house and praying all the details come together for a move in December.

Our Happy Halloween

This was Alice's first year to stay awake Halloween evening. We went to four houses and she wouldn't speak AT ALL. Only AFTER we left each house would she say Trick or Treat and then ask for the candy! 

Pumpkin Picking 2012

Check out last year's link pumpkin patch pictures to for a fun comparison. 

We were lucky to have a beautiful day Saturday. Tomorrow and Tuesday Hurricane Sandy is expected to bring strong wind, drench us and cut out power for a few days. We're glad to have Daddy home on Monday to carve the pumpkin with us since schools, work and government are preparing for wild weather.

8 months & 28 months

Sawyer seems to be getting bigger at a faster rate than Alice. He was born 8 months ago today! Sawyer's sitting, belly crawling, rolling, seeks out electrical outlets and cords, tries to eat dried leaves, enjoys baby food, always wants to be near people, pretends he cannot sleep at night to be with his parents, and warms your heart with his sweet willing smile.

Alice is definitely a two year old. She is able to TALK, get into anything, help when she wants, play, sing and dance, eat well, care for her baby dolls, chase the dog and "help" her brother.  If only she slept later. . .We really love our girl.

Open Gym

Great fun at our first gym visit and great naps afterwards!

DC visitor & Twirling

Katie had a conference in DC and we enjoyed a few hours together before she flew back to Boston. What a treat to be together again!

I made Alice a tutu and couldn't capture a picture of her facing me because she twirled all day :)

Holmes Cousin Fun

Our last day in Alabama was spent with Gigi, Poppy, Uncle John, Virginia and William in Gadsden. We played outside, watched football, ate great BBQ, kids pretended to have their own Talladega Race and went for a walk between rain drops. We're so glad they made the drive to spend time with us!!

Stegall cousin fun

We had fun day with my aunts, uncle, cousin, sister, her husband and their kids:

Jessica, Julia; Aubrey, Sarah; Alice, Emalee

Family & Friends Fun

My cousin Hillary's daughter with Alice

Sawyer loves bouncing here, Alice loves outside on the trampoline

with Laura and our matching-age boys and girls in Gadsden

stroller ride friends

happy girls after church

Social Week

We've had a big week:

visit with Liz Floy's family; birthday dinner for Mama with the Ely family; trivia night at The Club with extended family, Mama, Sarah & KC; a little shopping at the amazing kids consignment stores; story time at Gadsden Public Library; movie date with my dad to The Word--an intriguing movie; Supper Club with my parents' friends at beautiful outdoor venue with jazz band and delicious steak dinner

It's great to feel more like myself, even though I cannot pick up my kids yet. We're recovering at my parents' house for the coming weeks while Mark keeps working away at his job at home. We miss him even though we're filling our days with fun things.

Trivially Challenged Team

Blessed by the Birds

Mark and I met Anna and Nate this time of year picking apples in Boston at a Couple Without Kids Event in 2008. My how things have changed. I'm so grateful for our continued friendship through years of growth, challenge, encouragement, ski trips, babies, relocations to new homes, more babies, and meals together. Anna (and her mom) make me feel like I have family in Delaware. God's gifts to me overflow. 

Anna packed up her kids and came to help me and mine this week while Mark was at work. We both realized how grateful we are not have twin 2 year-olds and twin 6 months-old! Our kids generally did well together and Anna's willingness to take on every task without complaint is a reminder to do the same, whether it's diapers or dinner.  

Sweet L & Sawyer bouncing away

Alice & S at the park

his newest fascination

with Anna, only missing baby girl Bird

Wheaton Park Train Ride & Carousel

 Last weekend Alice took her first train ride and loved it. She thought the red train was a friend of Thomas (the Train). Alice was particular about riding a white horse out of all the choices on the carousel with Daddy. Sawyer took it all in quietly. We had a fun day and came home ready to rest!

Sawyer at 6 months (and 5 months pictures)

During Sawyer's 5th month of life many exciting things happened: we moved, grandparents visited, Sawyer cut his first tooth, he rolled & helicopter spun & reached for anything interesting to go in his mouth, and had a few fussy days as sleep was disturbed and teeth broke through

His 6 month checkup this week showed he's settling into his growth: 54% on weight (17lb 11oz), 88% on height (down from >98%), and 82% head circumference. He's healthy and doing everything he should. We love our happy beautiful boy!

Gigi & Poppy came to visit and pack up our apartment

Mimi came to help for two weeks after Mama's surgery

Alice, our 26 month old

Alice is a mess. She loves to play, play, play and sing, read, or eat. This week she decided that she doesn't want to wear diapers any more. M&Ms are her incentive and now she's prone to sit on the potty until a drop comes out because she loves chocolate so much. Poor deprived girl :)