It's Official!

Chris and I are expecting our third child! Our baby is due toward the end of October (around the 20th). The girls are thrilled and insist on patting my belly every evening before bed and saying good night. :)

Fun Times

Allison had a cold last week, so we stayed home most days. Saturday, we were all well so we finally got out of the house! On our way to The Dalles, the girls and I visit a local farm (you just drive into their property and back to the Hwy). This farm is unique in that they are home to...

Camels, giraffes, zebras....

buffalo and antelope!

Yesterday, we celebrated Chris' birthday. We enjoyed a nice dinner and some yummy lemon pie - yum!

To top off the evening, Chris and the girls played Mousetrap.





This afternoon, Allison's friend Adoree came over after co-op and the girls made valentines.

That's what we're up to this week!

Daily Living

We've been busy lately, but just with our typical every day activities. We had family friends visit last weekend and a couple weeks ago we went to Central Oregon for the weekend. My brother-in-law, and his wife, had their second son - Lucas Andrew! We wish so much that we could be there to see him as a newborn. :) The only other big thing going on is that my sister got engaged! They are planning their wedding for August of this year. I have a feeling this will be an activity packed year!

The girls are looking forward to Valentine's Day. Allison's friend is coming over next week to make valentines (I'll get some pictures!) and we're getting supplies this weekend. She's also going to be getting her wood and wheels from AWANA soon to make her derby car! Next month is the annual AWANA grand prix. Allison is excited to make her car (with lots of help from dad, I'm sure!) and enter the races!

Abby is becoming more and more creative in her play. She now role plays and dialogs with her dolls and other toys. She loves to dress up and sing songs! Lately, she's been enjoying puzzles and playing with Playdoh.

Here are some pictures of the girls. We hope and pray that all is well with you and yours. God bless!

Each week, after we get home from the library, Allison reads some her new books to Abby. Totally awesome.

Super Abby!

Allison's playdoh creations.

Abby gets goofy with marker caps.



Allison learns about verbs.



Allison helps make cinnamon rolls (aka "cimnamon rolls"). :)

January goings on

This month has been spent getting back into the swing of things with school and work. Our local co-op started back up again for another term, so the girls are enjoying time spent with friends. Allison is taking PE, music and cooking classes this term. Abby generally plays and participates in the music class.


Here are Chris and Abby making music together...in the bathroom! (Better acoustics?)



Allison finally had time to put together one of her birthday presents - a gingerbread house!


Chris is still working hard, both at work and at home. We are so thankful for the kind and wonderful man that he is. I have started running a few mornings a week and can definitely feel "the burn"! Outside of school and work, we've been visiting family on the weekends and enjoying weekly dinner nights with friends.

Happy New Year!

In honor of the start of 2010, I have a few last pictures from 2009 for you!


Even Abby has been enjoying the Wii :)


The girls helped make orange juice with our new juicer - mmmm!


Give a man some tools and.....


he can build a bunkbed!



We've really been enjoying the snow this week.


The girls have also enjoyed their cocoa and cookie times after playing in the snow. :)

I hope you've enjoyed visiting our blog this past year and keeping up with our family. From ours to yours, may you have a blessed new year!

Fun

Here are some pictures from Allison's kid party last week. Only a couple girls were able to stay for the whole thing, but they had a lot of fun and overall it was a success!





Allison wanted a garden party so we had lots of fun with bugs and flowers!




The girls played "pin the bee on the flower."



I used green soda bottles and colored foam to make "flowers" for a ring toss game.




The highlight of the party was when the girls made "dirt" out of pudding, cookies and gummi bugs, worms and mushrooms - yum!



They had a lot of fun playing together.



Allison's big gift from dad and mom this year was a doll, Katie, complete with matching nightgowns for her and her new doll - it was a big hit! :)



It finally warmed up enough to snow!

Holidays

Things have been busy with the holidays. We celebrated a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with family and friends. There were thankful hearts, turkey, caramel corn and sledding! A week later, we enjoyed a festive St. Nicholas Day with family. This week is Allison's birthday - she's turning seven...already! Tomorrow, she'll be having a party with some of her friends and I'll try to post some pictures next week. Then we'll move on to baking, sledding, visits and Christmas! Here are some pictures of our most recent activities:



Allison enjoyed helping decorate gingerbread cookies.


Abby enjoys playing with her little people toys.



The girls had fun decorating wood ornaments the day we put up our Christmas tree.


Abby likes wearing mommy's shoes :)