..and We Couldn't Have Loved It More

Mimi and I are in the middle of our SECOND snow day home from school today!!! It has been such a gift. There have been lots of cozy pillow forts, playing in the snow and cuddling. Thank you Lord for giving us some much needed "down time!" I feel blessed! You always know just what I need :)

A Day At the Pumpkin Patch

Dad and Mims

kissing a pumpkin (hoping it'd turn into a prince- or a dog for that matter! :)

After some farm exploring, we took a ride to the pumpkin patch and
fed animals from the wagon

Going home with the perfect "Mimi-sized" pumpkin...

Go to Anderson Farms!!! It's fun :)

Chasing Mimi

Mimi's Latest and Greatest

We've been living in a world of opposites these days with Mimi. She says an emphatic "NOWAH!" when she means yes (like if we ask her if she wants to watch Elmo, have a cracker or have milk) and she says "UP" when she wants down. Just funny.

This is Mimi's newest trick: walking!!! Actually, she had just seen our neighbors load up their dog into the back of their truck and drive off...this is her chasing after it.
Seriously, this girl loves her dogs.


For those of you who haven't seen Mimi in awhile, she is turning into a big girl. Heck, those of you who just saw Mimi last week wouldn't even recognize her. She is talking and walking all over the place. Kristina who watches Mimi just saw her today and thought she seemed different from last Thursday. Therefore, I'm pulling out the video camera to catch it all because it's going so fast! :) Here she is making her animal noises:

However with finding her own voice comes...well...finding her own voice!!! Currently she is pointing at me and demanding "UP! UP! UP!" Still looking for ways to build in good discipline at this age too...we'll keep you posted on that one.

My Dream Weekend: Caldwells in Colorado!

Happy Birthday Ang!!! This post's for you.
We miss you guys!

Our pals the Caldwells came back to Colorado for a visit after moving back home to Indiana a year ago. We hadn't yet met Isaac (who is my "birthday buddy" and was born on my bday!) We had about as much fun as you could cram into a long weekend. I really think that we could all live together in one house and do just fine (we've already had practice at it; Ben and I lived with the Caldys when we were raising support for Crusade staff)...

Here are our pics of our fun time together!

Chili night/kiddies meet and greet with our old Bible study crew...when we all met, no one had kids. Apparently we've been busy!

Mimi and Isaac photo shoot:

The kiddos... 5 weeks to 3 years

Gianna and Isaac

Brunchin' it at the Brasserie with Caldwells, Reicherts and Turrills

Isaac, sporting his hunky J.Crew model look xoxo

Don't you just love my little french Mimi with her pigtails and cute little smock shirt? Very appropriate for the French Brasserie TenTen!

Mimi, writing her name on the table...

JUST KIDDING!
(but seriously, doesn't it look like she did?!

soooo sweet... xoxo

Mimi's "cheerleader" move with Dad

Big boy Sam...soon to be big brother! (he was practicing on Mimi)

Smooches from Sam
(now that Mimi really knows what kissing is, I think she was blushing a bit)

Caldwells and Reicherts

Mimi, shopping for a new stuffed dog at the Peppercorn

Ah...Pearl Street in the fall...

Cozy little man in his dog hat (Angela said that he avoided our estrogen-filled shopping trip by sleeping through it all). Wise man. If he didn't, he may have ended up with a tiara on his head too! (see below)

...and then of course there was a co-bath with the babies. You knew it had to be coming, didn't you?!

On our last night with the Caldys we busted out a little "Apples To Apples" game..(finally I found some takers) Pair that with a bottle of Insatiable wine, Protos' pizza and Nana and it you get the perfect send off night

I love ya Ang! Happy Birthday:)
I couldn't have imagined a more fun way to spend a fall weekend than with you, baby Isaac and Daren in Colorado (the only thing missing was Joe Joe!) We can't wait to take you up on the Indy offer. We are so in!