Unamused until the candy arrived

We went trick or treating around our neighborhood. I scored a deal at Little Bo-Tique on halloween day by finding a Pooh AND Tigger costume!! I thought the boys looked adorable, I think they felt slightly different about my choice. I'm pretty sure I still get to dress them as I'd like....at least for the next year or so!

Here they are waiting for their ride. Daddy had to put air in the tires.
Still unamused! I think this could be a mug shot for Winnie-the-Pooh and Tigger.

They got lots of oohs and ahhs as we walked through town. My favorite costume was a little brother and sister dressed as raggedy Ann and Andy! So stinkin' cute! They really had no idea why we were going, but when they realized that just by going to someones door they got to reach their hands into bowls full of candy, their mood was elevated...or maybe it was the sugar! Regardless, it was a fun, memory making night and just another reason to visit our neighbors.

We ended our night at our yearly church outreach event, "Trunk or Treat." Several families from our church open their trunk and decorate it with a game/food/candy, etc. and the kids can come participate at each trunk. It's a cool idea and has really grown over the years. Tyler's favorite was of course the Thomas the tank engine trunk! We could hardly pull him away! All in all it was a fun night and they stayed nice and toasty in their head-to-toe outfits! I am now enjoying the fruit of their labor! Jake says that's why I do it....so I can eat their candy!

No comment.

Down comforter

Under 4 inches and all this!!

My baby can grasp, squint, frown, grimace and maybe suck her thumb! Not that it's a "her", but I kinda have a feeling it's a girl! Time will tell!!

The skin is so thin blood vessel are visible. It's covered by a fine, soft layer of hair called lanugo. Lanugo comes from a Latin word meaning "down." I love that. Like a down comforter wrapped around her already. This hair is thought to help insulate her little body.

She has all her major organs.

Fingernails and toenails are growing.

Eyebrows are beginning to grow and even the hair on her head is sprouting. It will probably change color and texture after birth.

I heard the heartbeat for the first time last week. My heart skipped a beat and I just smiled. Such wonderment never ceases with each child that I have the privledge of carrying. My next appointment will be our first ultrasound. I always anticipate this time and look forward to enjoying it will Jake at my side. It's also a time of discovery: is all well with our growing baby? Although I don't know the answer to that right now, I do not doubt that my God's hand is knitting her together just as she should be. Fearfully and wonderfully. We love you baby.

"Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast.
From birth I was cast upon you;
from my mother's womb you have been my God."

Psalm 22:9-10

Welcome Bennett!!

He looks ALL boy just hours after being born!!

Two weeks ago my sister and her husband had their fifth child, their FIRST son, Bennett Cole. He was 9 lbs. 8 oz. and 21 inches long! They didn't know what they were having so it was so exciting for all of us just wondering if this one would make 5 little girls or if this one would instead have 5 mommies!!! When she called to tell me it was a boy I just smiled and smiled. After I got off the phone, my cheeks were actually sore from smiling the entire time!! I'm so delighted for them! Boys are so much fun and so full of life, life, life!!!!!!!! And also so thankful that Tyler and Luke will have another cousin to walk through life with. Our next baby and Bennett will be 7 months apart....how fun!! It's always fascinating to me how life comes around. My sister and I are 6 years apart so when I was 12 and she was 18 we didn't have too much in common. I use to wonder if we would ever have "life" in common again, but sure enough, the years go by and we both became wives and Mothers and life just has a way of knitting you together.

"Sisters are different flowers from the same garden."
~Author Unknown

CONGRATULATIONS STOLTZFUS FAMILY ON YOUR NEWEST ADDITION!!

Fall Fun

Last week Tyler and Luke's cousin Chase was here for the day. I decided to pack them all up and head to the park for a few hours. We packed a picnic lunch and off we went. They played and played in the leaves burying their beloved trains, running and jumping into the pile, running after those poor squirrels, going down the slide and just generally enjoying life! It's so rewarding to watch children play....it brings you back to the basics of life. Friends and....well, friends!

They scarfed down their lunch lest they miss a minute of play!! These guys are such buddies...it's almost a joke, but they are seriously together at least 3 times a week! We live only minutes away and we, (my sister and I) both get "stir crazy" if we stay home too much. I have to get out at least once per day, even if it's just a walk to the library with the boys. It's good for them too....I'll tell you, those boys slept like logs that afternoon! We love you Chase, you're our buddy!! See you soon....

"There comes a time in every rightly constructed boy's life
that he has a raging desire to go somewhere
and dig for hidden treasure."
~Mark Twain~

*"I love the rain the most" Joe Purdy

Theater Thursday

Road Trip to Canada

Well, we made it~~our first ever family road trip. 900 miles later I am still sane and doing quite well. The boys did way better then we anticipated thanks to the rigged up DVD player that Jake put together in the back seat! Gotta love portable devices. Although our time was short, we packed lots of memories into several days and will definitely return again next summer. Jake's brother Sam and his wife Cheryl were lovely hosts and we enjoyed their adorable cottage in the woods. We had free reign, (no pun intended) around the horse farm. It was beyond amazing: the surroundings, the lakes, the views, the fields, the stables, the million dollar horses!, the cool, crisp air, the peace and quiet. So much fun for the boys and for us on the four-wheelers and the golf cart. We visited a local pumpkin patch/petting zoo one day. Jake's Mom came along as well and was a joy to be with. The boys love and adore her so much and the feeling is very mutual. We're actually in the beginning stages of getting permission to turn our carriage house into an in-law quarters for her. We would be happy to have her here with us.

Grammie loves to tease!

and give sweet kisses! and Tyler loves every minute of it!

being silly!

The drive up to Canada took about 8 hours and was relatively uneventful. We arrived around 2:30 am and a few minutes later I received a call from my sister announcing the arrival of BENNETT COLE STOLTZFUS!! Their fifth child, but FIRST son! More on that later.... We filled our days with hikes, long four-wheeler rides, playing at the park, exploring the pumpkin patch, eating Grammie's delicious meals, (fresh potato soup with homemade bread!) One evening around dusk Jake and I set out into the hundreds of beautiful acres surrounding the farm and just rode around...it was awesome!!

As for me, one highlight was coming across this adorable French Bistro. We had some delectable freshly baked pastries and the best ginger ale I've ever had, (imported from New Jersey, isn't that hilarious!!)

We spent our evenings sitting in front of the crackling fireplace, reading and talking until bedtime. The one night Jake and I went on a date while the boys stayed back with Grammie. We found a great little family owned Greek restaurant which was delightful. I spent the one day at the salon and spa where my sister-in-law works. Fabulousness!

Sam looks after the property with ease. He is at home in this environment and it was so fulfilling for us to see him truly enjoying himself. He is so good at what he does.

Sam and Jake have a special relationship despite the distance. It seems that when they are together it's as if no time has passed. Although they are so opposite in most ways, there are things that unite them as brothers that are unmistakeable. For instance, the way they work so hard when they find something they love, their sincere hearts toward others, their kindness to every living thing, and their love for adventure, oh and their tall build and blond hair! It's great seeing them side by side because they look so alike and yet so different!!

"My favorite thing is to go where I've never been."
~Diane Arbus~

Please Check Chet!!

My brother is running for AUDITOR GENERAL here in PA! The job of the Auditor General is to protect your tax dollars and to hold our government accountable for how it spends your hard earned money.

If you have a PA vote I ask you to PLEASE CHECK CHET!!!!!!

HAPPY VOTING!!!!

"Bad politicians are sent to Washington
by good people who don't vote."
~William E. Simon~

*"America the Beautiful" by Ray Charles

go figure!!

so, i have this GREAT new camera that I love! so many adorable pictues and stories to share and our computer decides to lay an egg!! hopefully we'll be up and running soon! I miss the world wide web!



j.

p.s. got a hot date tonight!! whoo-hoo!!