Belly Shot

How cute are we?

Lauren--I am very jealous that you get to go first!

Thanks

What a wonderful weekend! We left for Grand Rapids on Thursday morning to be with my husband's family for the big dinner. My sister-in-law cooked a pretty amazing turkey (she used Martha's dry brine recipe), as well as some fabulous cornbread stuffing and various pies. She also served "crockpot granola" from this blog (which I am sure to frequent in the coming months) the next morning. It was so good to be there and the cousins had a grand time playing!

We drove home on Saturday, without too many tantrums or traffic jams, in time to feast again with my family at my parents house. My sister was there with her family, as well as my brother and his girlfriend. It was so good to be together even if it was only for a few hours. It is rare for my family to ALL be together now--maybe once or twice a year, I cherish those times immensely.

Reflecting on this past year I was not only thankful for the time spent with these families that I am so blessed to be a part of, but also for all of the unexpected changes this year has brought. Who would have guessed that I would be homeschooling and carrying #4 (BOY!) last Thanksgiving? Certainly not me, but I couldn't be happier.

Beer-Belly Pants

We decided to go for a walk at a local state park yesterday. It was cold and we were getting ready dressing in double-layers. My long-johns were too small months ago, so I borrowed my husbands (which are also too small, but fit a little better). All of a sudden Chris started hysterically laughing, holding his belly, trying not to fall over. Something was really funny and I was missing it. It was me. He told me, with tears running down his cheeks, that I looked just like one of the "fat guys at deer camp--beer gut and all" standing in his long underwear.

Very funny. Very funny. (Grrrrrr)

Dog Bird

Here is Izzy "reading" her favorite book. The bird sound she was listening to (the Black Vulture) sounds more canine than bird-like. She was tenaciously hunting through the book looking for the picture of the "doggy".

Bakery

Mom, I got your message and immediately got up from the computer to take their picture. They were playing "bakery". (Don't ask me. I don't have answers.)

Mommy Woes

I overheard the girls playing house this morning. Claire, who was the mother, was complaining, "I have been in the house with the babies the whole time! Could you please come home? I would like to go out!".

I had to smile.

Pictures

Obviously tired...

Bucket-head monster Isabel...sorry that I don't have an audio clip so you could hear the fierce growling.

Apple pie. "She liked it! She liked it!"

Fall Girls

What beautiful weather the past few days! I think that most of our leaves are down now...lots of work to do.

Bee Very Scared

A picture of the tantrums she has been having lately.

Putting on this costume again must have been awful.

Look at that face!

Fine now. What are her mood swings going to look like at age 16?

Self-Portraits: A Conclusion

Disturbing likeness...

Lily asked to bandage her ear like Van Gogh. She thought that was the best self-portrait we looked at. I think that is an interesting window into her mind...maybe she isn't as mentality stable as she leads us to believe. :)