Catchup!

Ketchup.
Catch up.
Ketching up.

Pictures!

Girls in jammies:

What you see if you sit down ANYWHERE in our house and Maggie notices (which she usually does):

On Halloween, we had a couple “Fairy Princesses”… we got dressed up special and went to downtown Hillsboro and got candy. Later we went to a friend’s house for games and potluck.

Ready! Anna was too shy to say “Happy Halloween” or “Trick-or-treat”, but we weren’t surprised or bothered by that. Maggie stayed in her stroller and wondered what we were doing.

After Maggie had her very first sucker taste in the car on the way to the potluck… she decided that she really likes Halloween. And yes, she sticks her tongue out when you demonstrate how to do it first.

Pink!

Soooo, cute… Peekaboo!

Video:

In a box with a book.

Playing in the crib… both girls. Anna’s not much of a climber, so she has never discovered that she could climb into the crib herself. Now she knows! New game!

Maggie found her voice all of a sudden, it seemed like a few weeks ago. Her communication really took off and we’ve really been just loving it. It’s amazing how many signs and words she’s picked up so quickly! She’s not really “talking” yet, but she knows probably five animal sounds and is attempting other words sometimes too. LOVE IT. So crazy.

About the same time this happened, Anna and Maggie learned that sleeping in the same room has benefits! It’s not just about keeping each other awake with crying. It’s also keeping each other awake with laughter! I LOVE IT.

Here they are dancing to a move and groove cassette. I love my girls!

Maggie can climb just about anything now and discovered how to scoot chairs and stools around to get onto whatever she wants. Watch out world! Here are the girls playing the piano… I turned off the camera at the end because her standing on the edge of the piano bench was scaring me too much!

We got to go to my parents for some good down time! My mom’s birthday is this month like mine, so we had skyline chili (well done, Melissa!) and brownies. Mmmm-mmm!!!! We were also introduced to Agricola, a board game that we liked so much that Brian got it for me for my birthday. Thanks hon!

Yep, they’ve got two little ones. How did you guess?

Playing Agricola (or setting it up?)

Anna being adorable and making up games. If she’s a trout, she’s a fine catch! She is reading easy three letter words more consistently now too!

Anna and Maggie LOVE it when Grandma comes to visit!!! So do I! I worked on the adoption ministry we’re working on while she was here. It was a winning situation!

After delaying three times, we finally made it to Bend! We spent time at Grandma and Kevin’s house and also got to see Lydia, Lysa and kids too! Here I am snuggling with sleeping 7-week-old Celeste.

Same-age cousins:

Olivia and Anna were adorable as the big kids, playing treasure hunt and cooking and picnic and a host of other games. Maggie is up on her tippy toes trying to be big like them. 🙂

Great-Grandma has many great-grandchildren now!

Those little ones sure made Maggie look big!

Making cookies with Grandma Joan:

In case you haven’t seen their living room. This is a view from the kitchen down to the front door.

I think it hurt Kevin a little to have “Bob the Builder” playing on his projector in the theatre, but we made up for it and watched Matrix later. 😀

Love that man!

It was really cold out, but the girls went on a walk with Brian Kevin. Brian dressed her. 😉

One of my favorite parts of their house is their formal “courtyard”. It’s beautiful even in the winter.

With a dusting of snow, Maggie and Anna discover new things! Here is Maggie showing you a pinch of snow. 😀

Anna and Brian were really cute playing Agricola together.

Anna loved encouraging and “helping” Great-Grandma Joan make things with yarn.

And I just have to leave you with this picture of one SUPER PRECIOUS little girl: