Library...

This is the kids' new favorite game. I think it has something to do with the self checkout when we go to the library. Although I must say, I have yet to master the one here; I set of the beeper everytime we walk out the door and end up having to haul everyone, and everything back to the counter.

We had a few empty boxes lying around upstairs in the office not long ago and it didn't take long for the kids to discover them and make a new game. It now holds all of the movies and videos and is the checkout box. Ella Jane is very dramatic when she is playing library, in fact she tells me she is "returning", which means that she puts the book into the air into the pretend scanner and then pushes it out to the customer and then takes it back again. It's a very funny process to watch. Her other new favorites these days are putting things into a line, game pieces, cups, blocks; whatever she can get her hands on!

Matthew has gotten into games recently. He really enjoys playing Go Fish. This morning we tried Chutes and Ladders and I'll tell you what, that game can drag on forever with all of the slides that can put you back at the bottom again! School is going well for him. We've even had a playdate already and refers to his friends when talking about his day. He had the chance to feel the baby move last week, it was such a sweet moment. With his hand on my belly anxiously waiting for little girl to kick, he was so patient. And then, thump! and his face lit up in such surprise. So fun to see.

No pictures for awhile. The camera broke a few days after that last posting much to my dismay. There are ways to get around that though, as I still own a camera that takes film!

our dancing kids

Wow, now that I know this works, I'll have to get some more footage to send along. How exciting! Dancing is a daily occurance in our house; usually after dinner. Some of the latest favorites are Walk the Line, H.S. Musical, and the feelings CD which is posted here. As you can see from the picture there is plenty of room to run, so we crank it up and let them go!

Baby love....

my baby love...the kids are in love with baby. Matthew almost daily tells me he can't WAIT to see the baby when it's born. And if you know Matthew he doesn't just say this to me, he expresses it through his whole body! He gets a huge smile on his face, then touches baby so gently and gives her kisses. He's so tender. Posting a few pics of our growing family. Enjoy!

1st day of school! 1st day of school!.....

...as in Nemo when he chants this in the beginning of the movie. Matthew started preschool today here in Iowa!!! What a big day it was for our little family. He was a little nervous but was quickly shown where he could put his coat and find his name tag and that helped him make the transition okay. A hug, squeeze, and a kiss and EJ and I were out the door. Came home, fed her lunch, (it was so quiet!) and put her to bed. Woke her up from her nap (not happy about that) in time to go get big brother and forgot her shoes in the process. We have a few kinks to work out yet.

All things girl...

We have it on good authority that we'll be adding another little girl to our family! This is good news since Matthew had declared that he loves girls and hopes it's a girl! Now onto thinking of a name....

Christmas was spent at a friends church and then overnight at their house to celebrate Christmas morning and presents. The kids had a good time; Matthew, "now which one can I open?" and Ella Jane content with just one gift for 15min. then realizing that she had more to open. Some of the favorites have been EJ's new princess cell phone, purses, lip gloss and Matthew's movies; Mary Poppins, H.S. Musical and a beach ball decorated with the world.

Matthew discovering how fun a sink full of bubbles can be

Playing together

Ella Jane and grandma in DBQ.

Snow angels with grandma

Gingerbread houses

The start of the holiday season

snow...

it has engulfed us! At times it dictates our day even. "Sorry honey, they haven't plowed our street yet, and I can't get up the hill, can you get a ride home from work?" "Let's go sledding!" "Let's make a snowman!" "Let's go shovel the driveway!!" All these are common phrases in our household these days.

Jim is "on travel" as you Marylanders would say, next week and my mom was kind enough to fly out from Seattle to help me out while he is away. She flies in tonight and the kids are so excited to see her! I am too, she is going to help me get this place in shape, i.e. window treatments, remove wallpaper etc. Nice to have company when you are doing that sort of thing.

Merry Christmas!

Catching up on pics!

Fun after a recent snowfall

Who needs sleds when you have a basement full of boxes?

Matthew's funky carpet

My little beauty after getting into my makeup bag

This so cracks me up!

Our new house

Matthew cuddling up next to Ella Jane after having enough quiet time of his own

Field trip to the pumpkin patch with MJ's preschool in MD.

Another little lefty? I'm so proud.

I just love her expression

Wrapping up the end of an unforgettable evening at church...our farewell dinner: Oct. 14th

Suitcases presented to the kids which they LOVED, and still play with here in IA

Our beloved Lauren Jones

Uh, spy kids? I love this picture, it makes me laugh every time I see it. EJ doesn't know why she's leaning, only that MJ is so she should too. And MJ is b/c he likes to pose this way for pictures lately.

Our beloved Katie Jones!

Our beloved Liz!

We've arrived

in more ways then one. We have been in Dubuque, IA for one month now and as of yesterday we have a phone and Internet at the house. Talk about luxury. A few funny stories along the way....

Patsy and Peter were kind enough to join us on our big plane trip out to the middle. Getting to our initial gate was quite the trial and comical now that I look back on it. It's a good thing Patsy was there to help me! She watched the kids many times those first few days so I could make a thousand trips to Target for soap, tp, ziplocs and all those other little things that you just don't move with you.

After Schumachers left, we had a visit from a friend of ours who lives in Indiana. She stayed for a few days and helped with the craziness of settling in. And now a month later we are more settled, but the kids are still crazy. Poor things, they've had only me to play with for a straight month!

Thankfully, Matthew starts school on Monday. Hooray! He is so eager to learn. Just this morning, he asked me what a sign said b/c he wanted to understand. He amazes me. Some more funny things about him lately are as follows....

While playing in the basement which now includes boxes in the form of a boat, he mentioned that he was taking a trip to Charlie Brown Methodist in which he preceded to be the pastor and sing and dance for me. What great entertainment! This morning at breakfast he was very serious and wanted to know how we were going to recognize the baby when the baby went to Kindergarten. With a class of 20+ kids he was concerned that we weren't going to be able to knowwhich one was our baby. I love the way his mind works.

Ella Jane is obsessed with everything baby. Baby clothes, baby toys, baby's room. She's wanting to wear random baby clothes lying around and gets very upset if they don't fit. Somehow explaining that they are for the baby is just not enough.

Anyway, things are looking better for us and I am so grateful for that!