Playtime

Lately dress-up, hide 'n seek and monster (Pat chases the kids around and pretends that he's going to eat them and they in turn try to tackle him to the ground -- a very physical game that I tried playing tonight and found out that it's a better game for Daddy to lead) are the favorites for the kids.

(check out Sophie's expression in this one --- she wasn't too sure what to make of Superman and Batman - especially with those funny glasses on Luke!)
Reading is also a favorite -- and it's fun to have Jacob read to the younger kids!

Never a dull moment for this little girl.....
No wonder she's so easy-going and happy.

All I want for Christmas is.....

My two front teeth!

Snowy Fun!

After dressing Sophia up in her snowsuit before our family walk yesterday, Pat and I looked adoringly at her -- she looked so cute all bundled up to go outside. So after our walk, we took a few pictures. She wouldn't smile for us -- and usually she's pretty quick to smile. She just laid on the ground as still as could be. Or maybe she can't move in that thing?!

Pearl came up and gave her a smack! She liked that :-)
Luke wanted to lay down in the snow too for his picture -- but forgot he didn't have his snow pants on! A cold, wet bottom!
So I took some pictures of him standing up and he was a ham for the camera.
He also wanted his picture taken with the dogs. Here he is hugging Selah....

Sweet Moments to Remember

Sophia is sitting up on her own!

Luke loves his baby sister - he even asked to hold her during church on Sunday -- a great distraction for him -- he was so well behaved with this responsibility and honor. And he leaned over while he was holding her and asked me to take their picture. Lately he has loved posing for pictures with her.

Sophia is 6 months!

It's hard to believe that Sophia is a half year old already! Sophie has grown a lot since we moved to South Dakota -- she's nearly 19 lbs! There is lots to love when you pick her up :-) I love her rolls. It reminds me of my baby pictures....
She is such an easy-going baby -- quick to giggle and she loves watching her big brothers and sister play.
Hannah continues to be a big helper with Sophia. Her newest task has been helping to feed her bottles. She also likes to help pick out her clothes (she often tries to match their outfits).
Sophie loves her exersaucer, playing in the playpen, being outside, rolling on the floor to try and reach the big-kid toys and getting stuck along the way (she has learned to push herself backwards across the hardwood floors on her tummy but often gets stuck on table or chair legs). Each new phase brings fun and exciting changes and I'm so glad that I get to be a part of each milestone.

Fall on the Farm

Here is what we've been doing this fall.....

Riding our new bikes

Playing cowboy
Twirling in the leaves
Football
Enjoying the beauty of the fall colors on the farmBuilding snow bunnies
Feeling the leaves crinkle under our bare feet
Celebrating birthdays
Watching a beautiful sunrise

Trick-or-Treating and Pumpkin Carving

The kids each got to pick out a pumpkin at a local farm. They chose the designs for their pumpkins and we carved them. Luke wanted a funny face. Jacob designed his own face and Hannah wanted an owl.
The kids had fun trick-or-treating in Bruce (the small town closest to the farm). We went to all the houses that had lights on and the kids came home with loaded pumpkin baskets. Luke was a good sport tromping all through town and keeping up with Hannah and Jacob. He didn't want to go home. At one house a women (grandma-aged) welcomed them inside and took their picture (small town living at it's best!).

Here they are ready to go....
And here are Luke, Sophie and Hannah before the Halloween party earlier in the week.

Happy Halloween!