Sweet Bea

I can't believe our baby is going to be four months old in two weeks! These very late pictures mark her three month birthday. Big brother is already teaching her all about having fun!

And in turn she has to talk it over with her puppy.

Just look at those dimples!

But after all that smiling and talking, a girl gets tired and needs a little beauty-rest in daddy's arms.

Hold On Tight!

So I thought a brief catch up was in order so that I didn't end up with an enormous post Mid-January like last year. Russ returned from his deployment on November 4th and we all went to Forbes Field to greet him off the airplane. Evie even made a poster!

Evie was quite ready to bring daddy and daddy's truck home.

I got a hair cut. About 10-12 inches off. Mostly I like it. But I am already growing it back out. Seems to be the way I do things.

The Papa-bear with his cubs.

The very sleepy Mama-bear with her baby bears. Notice Everett is holding his baby too--it isn't real--so no questions about the appearance of baby number three!

Our first snow happened was a beautiful way to celebrate Beatrice's three month anniversary.

We went up to the hill to visit Oma and Baba and Bea got to wear her special red Oma sweater for the first time.

Just hanging out with Dad and the Baba.

Everett and Oma share a book. I hope he learns to love reading as much as we do!

For Thanksgiving we went to Branson, MO to visit Russ's grandparents. We had a really wonderful time. I stupidly left my camera in the car for most of the trip. However, I do at least have a few pictures proving we went. On the last night, our little family took a nature hike as the sun set. It was so beautiful. Each of my kids talked to the " Moon lady." And both Russ and I were reminded how much we love and miss the mountains.

Hanging out with dad in Branson.

This past Sunday, after unpacking and acclimating to our house, we took the kids to go pick out our Christmas tree.

Everett loved running through the soft pine and fir needles. We chose a 8 foot Douglas fir and it stands, soaking water, in the library. Soon to come: our tree decorating pictures!

Ignore the slight dent. It was the Volvo's first time to carry our Christmas tree. It did a nice job too!

All the little ghosts and ghouls

This post is unbelievably belated! I am not sure what happens, but every year at this time I get so busy that my blogging falls to the wayside. So for those of you waiting for pictures, I apologize and promise to try to get some newer stuff up soon too.

These pictures are from Halloween day. Yeah, I know over a month ago! But I couldn't not put them up, because, let's face it, I am a sucker for showing off my beautiful babies!

It was about as perfect a day as you could ask for. Bright blue and crisp with lovely jeweled trees that sparkled in the sunshine!

I am never quick enough to get those cool nature in motion pictures. However, this lovely magpie (?) sat quite still so I could get shot.

While it is soon to be covered in lights, red ribbon, and evergreen boughs, here is our house for a spookier holiday.

Jan came and it was wonderful to have an extra grown-up around for sharing in the fun!

Isn't the light beautiful?

Evie was Bob-the-Builder and Beatrice was a North Carolina State cheerleader (Go Pack!). I just used the excuse to wear my witchy tights and tiara.

Believe it or not, all this candy was gon within two hours.

Grandma Jan and her kiddos!

This boy is always in motion.

Our happy Jack.

Time to but my feet up and get ready for the next holidays!

Brown Paper Packages

My children are very loved. Extremely loved, from all over the world, they are loved. And this week they were not only loved, but spoiled! My mom and dad's sweet, sweet friend's Tricia and Andy Macfarlane sent the nicest package full of wonderful treats for the whole family. This buzzy bee was sent when Evie was a baby, and while our little Bea can't really play with it yet, she does love to look at it when she is having tummy time.

The little red booties were her very special present. I will post a picture of her wearing them as soon as she gets over the vaccination crankies.

Everett recieved two wonderful books about the "little yellow digger." We have read them every day since they arrived. I love the rhymes and the illustrations too! Talina came over this week and Everett had special cuddle time and showed his "Talllleeena" his new books.

Don't you just wish that they made shoes this pretty and comfortable in grown-up sizes?

Everett with his treasures.

Which one to read first? Such a tough decision!

The next day, the kids were spoiled again. This time by their uncle Kit. He and his sweetheart Amy, put together the cutest package for my babies. Everett got not one but TWO new "life is good" shirts. I could barely talk him into taking the orange one off! It says "little helper" in case you can't read it. And my sweet boy certainly is.

The other shirt is a wee bit big for this year. But so funny and seasonally appropriate, so I had to take a picture!

Here is E opening the box and package.

The pretty goodies.

Even better than the t-shirts in Evie's opinion, is the name train. It is SO COOL he says. It was hard to get him to stop playing with it long enough to get a picture!

See it spells his name! How sweet is that?

And our princess got the cutest onesie ever!!! it says "snuggle bug"

She is ready for her close-up Mister DeMille. Look at that impish smile. What can I say, I think she loves the camera!

Cute little legs.

Kick, kick, kick!!!

On the farm

On Monday, the last day of my dad's visit, we took a drive out to my Baba's farm. The weather couldn't have been lovelier and both kids enjoyed the fresh air. I took over 200 pictures and have tried to cull them to best represent the beautiful Flint Hills in October. I am looking forward to Russ returning so we can take a family trip out and maybe have our first bonfire of the season. Again, hopefully, these bring a bit of cool Kansas air to my sweetie, at least in his imagination.

A walk through the neighborhood

This is for my most loved and missed husband. I only wish you were here to enjoy our beautiful Kansas fall! Thank goodness you are coming home soon!

Okay, so this isn't actually on a walk, but I really wanted to include these pictures to show how intently Miss Beatrice interacts!

When dad was here we walked to the cemetery to look for my great-grandparents memorials. I thought some of the statuary was especially beautiful and seasonally appropriate. Just creepy enough.

Everett has started taking pictures too. He loves to use mama's camera and sometimes has suprising results. The next picture is his as well.

Connecticut with a layover in Kansas

On Thursday, my dad arrived for a visit. He is usually very busy this time of year, but had a break in his schedule last week. Thus, he made a layover in Kansas on his way to a conference in Connecticut. It was his first time to meet Miss Beatrice and we had a wonderful time! Evie loves his Grampy and had so much fun playing.

Look at my princess and her Grampy! How cute are they? I think dad was pretty smitten with our happy girl.

I did some serious rearranging before dad arrived, and thought I would document my house while it was clean. It never lasts very long.

I moved the rocker to the library. I think it works there. That space always seems so quiet and comfortable.

Beautiful fall colors on the vine climbing our porch.

I moved the dining room table to the wall and made a play area. It is much more useful for us than having a formal eating space. And on the plus side, Evie won't give himself a concussion running into the table.

I also hauled the old oriental rug up from the basement and positioned our couch and livingroom around it. Even though it is really worn in spots, it makes the space seem homier and more put together.

Being silly with my boy!

To kill some time before Grampy arrived, Evie and I made a tent in his bedroom. It was lots of fun to play in and we even read a few books.

Elmo approved.

Grampy with his grand-bubbles.

See her little elf ear? Both of them are starting to have distinctly peeked tips. I think it is because her aunt Amanda kept asking if she had elf-y ears.

Funny thing about this picture, it makes Phoebe look like a sweet obedient dog. In actuality, she gave dad blisters from pulling so hard.

Everett was a little intrigued by my dad's mustache. As are we all. Funny story, when I was about Everett's age, my dad shaved off his mustache for the first time in my life. I was so mad that I told him to "put it back" and when he couldn't, I didn't talk to him.

Grampy cuddles are so special.