With great thanksgiving...

Jessie-Lynn Hope was delivered into our family on December 30, 2009 at 3:18pm. A healthy, hearty 8lbs, 7 oz of screaming indignance. With great rejoicing, we praise God for another healthy daughter - God is far greater to us than we deserve!

hmmm...

So we're walking through the christmas section at Menards... the one with all the hideous blow-up santa's mixed with the glow in the dark nativity scenes. As we pass a neon, illuminated baby Jesus with Joseph hovering over the manger, Sammi quickly bows her head, mumbles 3 words, and says 'Amen'. I burst out laughing, and see that Joseph's hands are folded. Yup, my baby is all growed up, but now we need to get started with the theology lessons... :)

Tender hearts

This dog met a pickup going 35 mph last week. I sat by his side, and when the girls wanted to say goodnight to their precious "Dzack", I was hesitant, fearful that in his pain and delerium he would react badly. So I explained to the girls that Jack was sick, and he wasn't feeling well so they could say goodnight, but they weren't allowed to touch him. Abruptly, they ran out of the room, and returned two minutes later with their blankets and soothers. They covered him with their blankets, and lay the soothers beside his mouth, and Emma said 'Dzack okay now'. Now that's sympathy!

Orchards

Yes, that IS Francis competing on the far left against two guys from church. One Monday, we headed to an orchard with several families from church. He even won a round, and was thoroughly exhausted at the end :) It didn't help that the track was muddy, and his legs were about 10 inches too long for the pedals.

Here the girls are hanging out with friends.

Pumpkin patch and apple picking

Sister Love

Yes, this is Jack's kennel. No, we didn't put them there. It has, however, become a favorite spot, particularly for reading books with a mid morning snack. This does become a temporary problem when Jack is choosing to nap here. However, with a quick, "Dzack, OUT!!" Emma quickly takes care of that problem :) He has also become quite adept at curling around doll beds, and princess castles when he needs to return to it!

Enjoying some time at an orchard.

Summer

Yes, the impish grin is Emma. Both girls have developed a love for the park, and we've been enjoying the last days of summer going down slides and having picnics in the park.

In September, Grand Rapids hosted 'Art Prize' which was the largest open air art competition in North America. The prize was $100,000, and the general public voted. 'Nessie' (the loch-ness monster' made it into the top 10 - definately a crowd pleaser!