Easter!!

Titus, the Ray... always has a smirk on his face.


Baby Jude is almost 1! This was his first Easter, he enjoyed taking all the eggs out of the basket and then putting them back in.

He is sweet, smiling at Josiah's antics.

Josiah loves getting his photo taken, or taking the pictures himself (he took the one of Jude and I).

A second of Titus. These are in front of the flowers by Concordia Maplewood.

The four little ones, getting so big!

Elise chose this dress for Easter, she wanted to match her doll!

It is soo good to have family close! We had a nice supper together, and then an egghunt!

All 6 local cousins ready for church.

Our little family.

He is Risen... He is Risen Indeed!

December

Continuing the catch up, here is December:

For the last four years, Elise and I have gone to the Nutcracker together, it is our gift from my grandparents. It is enjoyable to have this time together as well as to see her mimic the dancers as she glides around the house! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!



Titus is opening his first gift of the year, and it happened to be a favorite, a xylophone! Thanks Mary Jo and John, we have a musical house with that one!



Elise got a pink tree with all the fancy little trimmings to put in her girly bedroom.



Oh, the places we find marshmallow! And let me tell you that it doesn't matter how long the marshmallow has been MIA, there is celebration and quick consumption when one is found!



Snap shot of the sweet baby boy with Woody's cowboy hat.

Elise loves this fur cape that she got this year with her volunteering bucks through the Seminary.

Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Baby's First Christmas...he had a ball!

Elise had a matching outfit with her doll Mandy.

After opening many gifts, the cousins take a photo together.

The campus did a little skit for the Christmas party this year. Josiah got to be the Joseph character. (He has the tan hat with green wrap on it)

Elise is teaching Jude about snow.

It was fun sharing this Christmas with Titi and Matt and baby Gideon. Good looking family!

As promised the cheerleaders received their new uniforms and poms. So cute!

At the preachers basketball game there was an intramural tug-of-war during the half time show. Needless to say, Mike was in it! Our team took home the gold, way to go boys!

Mr. Wil, a student, thrills the crowd with his dribbling skills. Titus often tries to imitate him when we go to the gym.

Jude in front of our tree before we took it down. He liked eating on the nativity characters!

October and November

This is definitely not everyday activity, but I thought this was a good picture of my kitchen table over the lunch hour. We run a busy but happy little house here!



Titus wore this costume to his preschool costume party. So cute!






Sickness blighted our family a few times this winter, Elise was sleeping so peacefully that I had to take this picture.







October 31st, one of my favorite days of the year. Candy and Dressing up are two of my favorite things! Here is Mike the Idaho Potato farmer with Jude, the potato in a sac of potatoes!






Elise was a fairy from the book series Fairy magic. Josiah was Peter from Narnia, and Titus was the happy little clown from The Little Engine that Could.

We had not been to the arch since we had left for vicarage, so we spent one afternoon walking around the museum and learning. It really is a sight to see!

Magnificent!

We got to be in Springfield for cousin baby Gideon's baptism. He is so sweet.

The whole family, to include Veronica's mom Nana.

It was a gorgeous day and so I had to steal a shot of the kiddos!

Josiah was elated that he was able to hold his first baby cousin on this side of the family.

Jude soaked up some special time with Grandma and Grandpa too.

We visited my grandparents in Michigan on a whirlwind trip. It was so good to be at this home away from home, to enjoy all the sweet smells of Grandma's and just hug them! This was their first time to meet Jude, as well as Titus.

Molly the dog was a little jealous of the baby sitting in her typical spot, snagging the attention from the man that belongs to her!

What Titus does during 'rest' time...

What the big boys were doing during 'rest time' that day...

Josiah commented that his favorite part was shooting the gun as well as listening to Grandpa's stories. I must agree on the later!

The assembly.

We also visited Frankenmuth, MI - the home of Bronner's Christmas store. Bill and Mary were the ones who directed us here, and we had a memorable time with them.

It was fun to see them enjoying time with their god-son again.

This baby does not match this seat!

Mimi and Papa visited for Thanksgiving, and seizing the moment, I put them to work setting up the Christmas tree. We then celebrated our Christmas with them that weekend.

Our first round of snow came and we enjoyed it! Outside for sledding was the obvious choice for this crew!

We celebrated Josiah's birthday with a sports theme this year. Fittingly, we had it at the field house. The kids ran and ran and had a great time.

Josiah's pinata selection: a football jersey.

The football cake to mark 8 years!

Elise was asked to join a cheer leading team at the Seminary that cheers for the Preachers (the collegiate basketball team). She is enjoying this with her friends, in the next post they will be in their new uniforms and have Pom-poms!!