Anna Kate's birthday (continued)

Anna Kate modeling another new sweater!

For Anna Kate's birthday, Dave and I "gave" her a doll bed, which she was to help him make. We had the plans; they went shopping for the wood, and created! (Dave is incredible with this stuff!) Here are some pictures. We're almost all done, but I couldn't wait to share!

Anna Kate and Daddy - ready to work in the *cold* basement!

Anna Kate helped in lots of ways, but this picture shows her sanding


Here is the bed, without a mattress, just the frame.

Here is the bed with the "mattress." (That pink polka-dot material is what Anna Kate chose for her pillow. The mattress is covered in a receiving blanket which I was given when pregnant with her! )

Jasmine, all tucked in, in her new bed
Will, playing . . . . I just had to share! :)

Anna Kate is seven!

The birthday girl! Seven? Really . . . . I can't believe it. The years are flying by, even if the days are not . . . Anna Kate is such a joy to us. She often chooses to help around the house and to help her younger sisters and brother, too. She is uber-responsible and sharp as a tack, too. She and Lucy and Samantha play lots of baby doll scenarios, and they color, cut, paste and create the rest of the day! Anna Kate is already an avid reader (yay!). She was delighted to open up Little House on the Prairie's On the Bank of Snowy River today, and she has already read at least one chapter.
Anne of Green Gables (yippee!)
Lucy and Daddy snuggle

This is "the birthday year of the cupcake" in our house. . . . . ever since my baby shower before Will's birth (at which the hostess made an extra large cupcake), the girls' requests have all been for a "gi-normous cupcake." So, if it looks familiar. It should. We just had a similar cake for Samantha's birthday in October. Anna Kate had a pink strawberry cake with chocolate frosting and sprinkles and a "7" candle (AK has always been very specific in her cake requests). My sweet, dear "bosom" friend, Kristen, sent this chair cover, which has a giant cupcake and "Happy Birthday" on it . . . . perfect for the celebration! (I look forward to using this chair cover for years and years to come. But that's a different point . . . .)
Anna Kate is adored by little sisters and brother! She takes good care of them and often is trying to teach them something.
She is a lovely young girl. Of course, in appearance, but also in the inner self. She is kind, courteous, considerate, generous, a real leader and a teacher (I think); she has a strong sense of right and wrong.
Will got into the birthday action, too. He is right on target for his first presents - really enjoying that wrapping paper.
Anna Kate got a new backpack (with her name on it) and a matching water bottle. She was delighted when she packed it that, "it holds so much! and has all these pockets." (she does seem to take pleasure in good organization, kind of like her mommy.)
A beautiful sweater, which zips up the front. For some reason, she has really wanted a sweater that zips up the front, so this meets the bill exactly!

Just a little (overdue) update

Will has this new "squished up" face he does. I love it (but I think he might not it's as cute when he grows up. . . . .)
He is starting to burst with personality. And, as you can see, he can pull up, stand, even cruise (but he's not showing much interest in that - thankfully! I would like at least one of my babies to walk after the first birthday!)
The first weekend in December, Dave, Will and I traveled to Boston for a friend's wedding. We stayed overnight with Bret and Corri (what a treat), and Will stayed with them while we were at the wedding (double treat). The girls all stayed with Peter and Myra (wowzer!) . . . . On Sunday morning, Will and Jonah got some time together.
More bursting personality. .. . .
and those top two teeth, which took over a month to burst through. The drool . . . . it's still coming!
Daddy snapped this picture the other day.
See? The "squished" up face. Will loves the tupperware cupboard, which is, really, no surprise, but just what I need about 4:30 when it's time to think about dinner and he is sure I need to hold him.

One of the "perks" of our jobs as campus ministers is the great young people, like Katie and Christie, pictured above with the girls. Both are 5th year students at the Pharmacy College, and we have gotten to know them this year. Our girls adore them. Katie and Christie came early to help me get ready for our Capital Region students Christmas party.

Just a glimpse

Just a glimpse at Samantha's birthday.


"Show me that dress, Samantha."
Next time, I think I'll ask, "Samantha, can I see you and the dress?"

We enjoy Samantha so much! She makes us smile, laugh, and, well, she makes me a little nervous. She is active, courageous, and always full of fun . . . I was certain she had broken her arm about a week before her birthday. The short story is - she didn't. But I still wonder if she will be the child who takes us to the ER . . . . She is healthy. We had a great check-up at Dr. K's office - 37.5 inches tall and 32 pounds. She and Lucy can share some of their clothes!

October 31, 2010

Yes, we did dress up in costumes. I think this was one of our coldest Halloween's yet. I didn't even think to bring mittens for my girls and coats and hats until it was too late - we were down our street and cold. But it was a great afternoon. We met up with some neighborhood friends and all went door-to-door together. Fun. Here they are:

Samantha, the elephant, who when she put on her costume and came up to me, said enthusiastically, "oink, oink." I so wished that I had had that videoed! Anyways, she has since said "oink, oink" a number of times out of context. So, I'm pretty sure she was just being silly. But who knows?

Lucy was a rose princess. the weather has seriously hampered this costume, but you get the idea, I hope. Yes, that's a large hot pink rose on that headband, which rests on the hat. And striped tights, because, what would Lucy be on a cold day if not in printed tights?
Will, my little monkey, who did have his hands covered, thanks to the well-planned costume-maker. He decided a cotton-covered thumb was as good as the real thing.
I just love that banana. (You can see Lucy's top a little more here . . . green leaves on top, pink petal skirt on bottom)
Anna Kate was a ladybug. She did layer a pair of pants on top of those tights and leotard. (Good thing, too!) What a lovely ladybug!

Our home was the gathering spot for a city-wide women's time in October, where we carved mini-pumpkins. I am so impressed with these women's artistic abilities I had to share.

Samantha is Three!

Stockbridge

The main thing God has done for us in the last year is to provide our family with real, Christ-centered community with our peers. Honestly, we returned to Albany from Colorado two summers ago not sure how this would come to pass but certain that it must. We knew we could not continue on as isolated as we had been living. And almost a year ago, in November we were invited to dinner at a new friends' home, and another family was there. That was the beginning (for us, not them) of our "church" small group. We all attend the same local church. We all have kids - each family's oldest child is in the first grade this year. And we all want to follow Jesus in community with others. So here we are - four families, 16 kids in all! We paused this fall to remember God's goodness and to have some fun in Stockbridge, MA.

Here's our newest - Isaiah, just one month old.


Almost all of the kids. I don't know what it says about me that my baby is in the picture - the only little baby of our bunch to be placed on the lap of an older sibling, who is sitting on metal bleachers surrounded by lots of friends. But, Will is in! Just in case you wondering - that's 10 boys and 6 girls.

Stephen captured these pictures. They are amazing. I just chose some of them. . . . .

A neighbor told me today, "I think Samantha is at the peak of cute-ness." I agree - there is something coming together with her personality and appearance and the way she carries herself. It mostly says, "FUN!"

I have intended to, but not gotten to, post about Anna Kate's other front tooth, which fell out about a week or so ago. Both top front teeth - gone! Waiting on replacements.

sisters

It was such a beautiful day on Thursday - after solid days of rain, all week long.

Despite my efforts, I couldn't get all three lovely sisters looking lovely at the same time. So, instead of keeping them to myself, I'm sharing anyways. Enjoy.

apple picking, again

Two things inspired us this week for art. One, Grandma Sheehan recently mailed us new fingerpaints. Two, Aunt Heather asked for a picture of the fall leaves (I think she might have meant a photograph, but Anna Kate immediately thought, "picture"). So, we set out to use our fingerprints to make leaves.



We are friendship partners again this year with two U Albany students who are here from China. They are both sophomores this year. We all went apple picking last weekend. What a beautiful day it was for apple picking! This is our third time picking this fall. I am enjoying the fresh apples and all the baking it inspires. Two of our new favorite apple desserts: caramel apple pudding cake and apple-blackberry cake. Gramma Maggy and Grampa Bill gave Samantha this wagon last year for her birthday, and it sure has been helpful in the orchards. Lucy is riding with our two 1/2 bushels of apples.
Anna Kate took this picture of Will and I. He loves this pose in the ergo.