Michigan in February. FREEZING.

Homemade Bow & Arrow

Daddy and Ian

Thanks

Thanks to Adam's students for all of the lovely comments!

Ian Shorts, Pt I

Ian's turn. Check out the blue eyes, Grandma!

Bella Shorts, Pt III

Amazing how she imitates everything she sees!

Bella Shorts, Pt II

Bella Shorts, Pt I

Didn't have enough space for more than just short videos, but I thought these were really cute.

Trip to NYC

We went to the City with Ben, Yuri, and kids a couple days after Thanksgiving. It was fun, but, as always, exhausting. It was exhausting when we lived here without kids. Anyway, it was worth the one day trip. We went on the Stanton Island ferry with the kids (don't you love the bird poop on the window where Ian is standing w/the Statue of Liberty in the background?), the Financial District, China Town, and Times Square. We'd like to get back there to see the tree at Rockefeller, but I'm not sure I'm up to NY in the freezing cold. It was a pretty nice day, thankfully, but I'm afraid December is already too frigid here for me!
Oh-Damon, this picture of Ian in front of Madagascar (or, "Wyon movie!") is for you! Love you, little guy.

Isn't this a cool hollow tree?

Love this coat

I am so proud to say I found this Eskimo coat at a second-hand store. Doesn't it accentuate her already adorably fat cheeks?

Hanging out under the piano bench

Finally crawling!

Isabella and Adam

Trunk-or-Treat

With one of my Young Women from church


Adam was Johnny Appleseed

Halloween

The "Loot"

She wore a warmer costume to go out.

We spent Halloween with some dear friends in Nazareth, PA. It was so fun! Thanks for having us over!

Apple Picking

Our friend owns an apple orchard in Milton, NY, and graciously invited us up to clean him out. His one stipulation: make sure much of the apples go to people in need. If you've never been apple picking, I highly recommend it. We brought along friends from our ward, and we piled up. So, our world has been filled with apples lately. Our car smells like apples, our house smells like apples. Apples Everywhere. We've made apple pie, apple crisp, 30+ quarts of applesauce, and we plan to can more apples for pie filling. We've been handing out apples left and right, and yesterday we even got a chance to give a box to the homeless who live by the Lackawanna River.

It has been an amazing experience for us and those involved. To quote our high councilman (who also picked apples in NY): "There really is nothing like picking something that God made right off the tree, bringing it home, and laying it up in store for your family." Hear, hear.

Tonight we caught Isabella crawling toward the apple box. She was having a grand time until her little hand got stuck in the box, flipping her (slowly) onto the floor! Poor doll. How adorable to see a fat little baby trying to climb into an apple box.

Thanks to the orchard owner, Anthony--one of the kindest men we know.

Here we are in Lancaster in September with Adam's brother, Ben, his beautiful wife, Yuri, and their awesome kiddos. This picture was taken before Adam shaved and got a hair cut. I can't believe how much hair he had! Good thing it was just a summer thing.

Facial Hair? Yes or No