Claire singing

Claire sang for special music at church last Sabbath, with her friend Hannah. I thought they did a fantastic job. Here's a little video:

Claire's baptism

Claire and two of her friends were baptized on November 28.

Our friend, Jan reading Claire's statement and a blessing. Nana read a blessing to her, too, but I was at the wrong angle to get a picture.

Claire and Pastor Michael

I always seem to snap the picture at just the wrong time!

Nicole, Claire and Caroline after church.

FFF - Playing in the Leaves

Yikes - I can't believe it's been almost a month since I've posted. Life is just too busy! Here are a few of my favorites from this week.






For more Favorite Foto Friday posts, see Hannah's blog. Have a great weekend!

FFF - Pumpkins

I know the theme for last week was orange, but we didn't get to the pumpkin patch until yesterday, so I'm posting pictures of my little pumpkins today. They had a good time, and took quite awhile to select just the right ones.






For more FFF posts, check out Hannah's blog. Have a great weekend!

Some random photos

Here are a few random photos from the last few days. It's been awhile since I've posted - I think I've gotten hooked on Facebook, because it's so much easier to post pictures on it.

Mia and I stayed home sick last weekend. Saturday afternoon I decided to take a hot bath. I started the water, and when I came back a few minutes later...

Not my idea of a therapeutic activity, but since he needed a bath, and since the water was all doggified...




I thought after this that he would NEVER set foot in the bathtub again, but not so. The last 2 days instead of just waiting for me outside the shower, he's actually jumped in with me. I guess it's a great fun adventure for him.


These were taken tonight of the girls playing on the trapeze that Larry hung under the deck. We thought they'd really play a lot with it, but they don't even want to go outside unless I'm out there with them. Strange. I guess they like someone to show off for.


The bandana was my idea of a cough-catcher. We looked like a couple of stagecoach robbers this weekend with our scarves, but they really work! Mia's been wearing hers to school, too. Might not be dress code, but better to break dress code than spread a cough.



And here was Andy after a little evening digging.

FFF - My favorite from this week

Have a good weekend!

A little walk to the lake

Yesterday we took the dog and went for a walk to a little lake nearby. The girls were fine at first, and waded a little in the creek, but then got quite put out at us for not letting them swim in the lake. Um, let's see...we don't have swimsuits with us, and dogs aren't allowed at the beach area - it doesn't seem too hard to accept, but somehow it was. Anyway, WE had a nice time, and ran into a couple of families from church out walking. And Andy had a great time sniffing around and meeting some other dogs.


Mia on the bridge over the creek.

Claire the thinker... "How can I get them to let me go swimming?"



Fake smile on the fishing dock.

This is Mia's "I'm not getting my way" look. "You're not letting me do what I want, so I'm not going to do what you want." But at least she snaps out of it pretty quickly these days - yea!

Have a good week!

At the Nature Center

Claire and Mia were invited to a birthday party at the Nature Center yesterday. Our Nature Center showcases animals that are native to this region. Claire had not been since she was very small, so it was pretty much all new to both of them. They had a great time.

I thought these turtles looked like they were talking - probably about how tired they are of people looking at them, and all of those noisy kids running around...



Sliding down the otter slide

In the butterfly house they sprayed our fingers with sugar water to attract the butterflies. They wouldn't actually land on you, but if you put your finger by one that was sitting, it would crawl onto you.



Mia showing her beaver teeth.


The bears were in a fence that was curved in at the top, but still a little too close for comfort for me!

Too far away. I would like to have seen the deer a little closer.


Coyote.

Claire was fascinated with this green striped caterpillar.

Ooh - I would not want to touch that thing!


This was the biggest rabbit I've ever seen.


A wolf lying down for a little nap.

A white wolf.

FFF - Sweet Tristan

Here's a picture of my sweet Trissy Bug, taken this week. Poor little guy, he's been so unsettled since Andy came into the family. He's spent most of the past month and a half hiding under our bed or in our closet. They've gotten into a couple of scraps, but I don't think Tristan knows that he could beat Andy up with one paw tied behind his back - he's a pretty big cat. He's finally starting to get a little braver, and will sleep up on the bed now, and if Andy is in his crate, Tristan will walk slowly past the door as if to say, "Ha ha - I'm out and you're not!"

For more FFF posts, visit Sarah's blog.

Have a great weekend!

Pix from yesterday

Mia all dressed up from church



We straightened Claire's hair, but the humidity was just too high...


Andy all dirty from playing in the fresh cut grass

This picture shows Andy's personality perfectly!

School starts tomorrow for the girls, so they're enjoying the last day of summer vacation.

Swimming

We have friends that have a pool, and we've gotten to go a few times this summer. The girls have had so much fun, and I love taking pool pictures. I don't know if it's the blue, or the natural light or what, but they usually turn out good. Here are a few of the girls and their friends, in no particular order. (I also like to try to catch them in mid-air while jumping!)


Dmitri -

I love Mia's big smile as she leaps -



Rachel -

Hannah -








Daniel's dad was throwing the ball, and Daniel would try to catch it as he jumped in -


I think he caught this one -

Katie and Claire -

Josef -



Here's Claire's "No more pictures, Mom" look -


And here's her "Now you're really making me mad" look -