Fiesta Bowl, project week, and SNOW

The year started off by welcoming thousands of purple clad people to our neck of the woods for the Fiesta Bowl.

Josiah, Mary and David show their enthusiasm after the pep rally.

The Wildcat's pep rally with Sarah's parents and her sister's family.

Mary presented "The Dog and His Shadow" when she returned to school in January after project week.

Aaron took the kids sledding in Flagstaff.  They had not seen snow since we moved here in 2011.  Speaking of, here are two things Josiah heard at story time that we never heard in Kansas:

1. How many of you have visited the snow this season?

2. This is not real snow (the librarian clarifies as she hands out pieces of polysester fiber filling).  

December 2012

December was full and fun!


My sister Anne and her son Collin came to visit and celebrate my birthday.


A whole lotta nursing going on!


Family photo taken at church on Christmas Eve


Grandma Nancy visited around Christmas break.

November Highlights

November flew by, but we caught a few highlights on camera!


Josiah's 3rd birthday


Aaron's 3rd 1/2 marathon


Our 3 children (yes, Mary and Josiah are in swim suits!)


All babies are "good", but some are easier to care for than others.  We are so thankful that she is eatting and sleeping well and generally a very content little one.


Mom blessed our socks off with all her help after Stella was born.  Lots of laundry, dishes, meals, grocery shopping, cleaning, football games (with Josiah), and afternoons with Mary.  Thank you mom!

We spent Thanksgiving day at the home of Nancy and Butch Ross.  Nancy is a cousin of Aaron's dad.  It was a wonderful relaxed afternoon of visiting and naps accompanied by an amazing Thanksgiving feast!  Thank you for your love and kindness!

Stella's Birth!

Stella Jean was born on Monday Oct. 29th at 12:48pm.  She weighed 7 lb 15 oz and was 21".


 Daddy got to help catch her as well as cut the cord!






5 days old

October Update

It has been awhile since updating our blog!  Some dear friends from Wichita, the Hendleys, came out for a visit at the beginning of the month.  At the end of the month, our family went to Tolmachoff Farms for some fun fall festivities while I was in the early stages of labor.   


Game night with John and Erika Hendley


Josiah, Simon Hendley, and Mary at the Phoenix Children's Museum.


Us with our pumpkins (cheesy, I know!)  :)



Corn maze


Fun day on the farm!

Of course the highlight of October was Stella's arrival, but she deserves her own post!

September Celebrations

Here are a few photos of memories made this month.  On the 8th, I took the kids to the children's museum, then met Aaron at Zipp's (the official Phoenix football watch location for K-State Alumni) for lunch and watching K-State wrap up a win.  Josiah loved showing off his Wildcat "tutu" and it lasted five days!




In celebration of Mary completing one month on her chore chart, we had an Angry Bird hat making party (her idea), then went out for ice-cream (Aaron's idea).  She was too embarrassed to wear her hat in, but agreed to put it on for a picture.  Josiah was delighted to wear his "mad bird" hat all evening.




Finally, a moment this mommy has been waiting for… Mary's first sewing lesson!  She was pretty excited and did a great job driving and steering.  :)  Tips:  Start beginners by sewing along straight and wavy lines drawn on paper.  They don't have to hassle with thread and you can assess their work by the trail of holes left by the needle.



On another note, I have found myself giddy with anticipation of cooler weather.  On all but one day last week, the high temp was below 100 and this morning the kids had jackets on for breakfast outside.  I look forward to rediscovering local parks, enjoying family walks, and busting out the bikes and trikes!

Mary's first day of school!

Today was Mary's first day of kindergarden (1/2 day).  For the first time this morning she was beaming and telling me about how excited she was.  Up until yesterday she told everyone no when asked if she was excited about starting school.  Afterward she regrefully informed me that she didn't miss me at all.  The highlight of her day was playing tag with one friend she already knew (that is in another class) and a new friend during recess.  Our little girl is growing up so fast!