Fall 2013 - Fun at Home

 This machine is an old corn sheller (I think that's right) that we used for shelling walnuts - it was pretty fun to watch!

 Anna and Esther will quite often want to write while I wash dishes - they like pens the best and I let them use them as long as they keep to writing on paper :)

Sadly, during church, coloring suddenly seems to loose it's fascination - or any other time I need them to be quiet :) But then, it's almost always a good thing when something occupies them!

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 We occasionally see turkeys out our windows - these were out about 7:30 in the morning not long ago, right behind the house.  On rare occasion we'll get to see one with it's feathers puffed up.

 Silas got to spend a whole week with us and Aaron put him to work here cleaning the rain gutters.

 These next pictures were taken over Thanksgiving weekend - the girls had so much fun playing with Daddy in the leaves!

 It really wasn't that cold out, so the coats and hats came off eventually -

 No leaf piles without work! Aaron later made an even bigger one in the backyard -

Fall 2013 - Early Christmas Gifts

 When Dad, Mom, Hosanna, Silas, and Priscilla were here for a visit, Mom had brought a couple Christmas gifts she'd already boughten - Esther knew there was something special in those packages, and so we gave in and decided to open them early :)

 Anna got a new doll, the problem was, Esther wanted to have it...

 This is not Aaron solving the fight by taking the doll for himself! Somehow those dolls need a man with a knife to get out of the packaging...

 Me with a new book - A Lamplighter one called "Sweet Revenge" - I enjoyed it very much :)

Anna with a little box - Thank you from all of us!

Fall 2013 - Church Events

 I almost always forget to take pictures at things at church, but these are a few I took of the girls at a Friend Day we had back in September.

 They set up a few games in the gym for the kids to play after the potluck -

 Even Anna figured out how to put a bean bag in the hole :)

 Checking out the candy -

 Then before Thanksgiving we had an open house at our home - that's one of my favorite things we do all year! - Here are the drinks - Creamy Hot White Chocolate, Blueberry Crumble Coffee, Citrus Sweet Tea, and Water with lemon -

- and the food - Turkey Sandwiches, Macaroni Salad, Cranberry Salad, Olives etc., Veggies and Dip, Tortilla Chips and Salsa, Pumpkin Dip and Emma's Rolled Molasses Cookies, Blueberry Cheesecake Bars, and Raspberry Bonbons.  Thankfully, my some of my family arrived the next day and helped us eat the leftovers!

Fall 2013 - Travel

 We made 3 trips this fall, but due to the coming baby, will hopefully not make anymore for at least a few months! This is Anna at Cracker Barrel -

 Esther in front of a Culvers -

 Anna enjoyed trying on Aaron's hat :)

 We stopped at a rest area that had some beautiful fall leaves - Esther -

 Aaron and Anna -

 Esther and Anna -

Aaron and Anna at the Chattanooga Convention Center -

Fall 2013 - Esther's Birthday

 Esther had her 3rd birthday in October - it's so hard to believe it's been that long since she was our little baby! We let her open her gifts before Aaron left for work - this card was from a church member and played music :)

 We got her "Patch the Pirate" CDs for her birthday early, but since she probably doesn't understand that, we got her a couple little things to open - she was fascinated with the flashing/glowing rings at the maze, so we thought that would be a good idea...

 Plastic bracelets -

 A new doll and nightgowns from Grandma K.

 and coloring books and colors -

 When Aaron got home, we had "cake" - since we knew we were going to have cake the next day, I just made up a muffin mix I had on hand and we put whipped cream on them. That was over a month ago and then this week someone gave us some muffins - Esther wanted to "light them up" too...

 Esther and her new doll in their new matching nightgowns. The doll's box says her name is Brianna, but somehow it got translated to Diana and so she remains!

 This picture is dark, but I thought it was cute :) We went up for a baby shower for Aaron's sister, and then stopped by the grandparents and had a little party for Esther.

Candles to blow out!

Esther got this cute pink camping chair, a dress for next summer, and some books.

Fall 2013 - Esther in Brown and Girls in Christmas

 

 I was trying to get a "school" style picture of Esther - the background wasn't the greatest and she had the hardest time sitting still and smiling all at the same time, but I love her expressions on all of these ones!

 The Bible was to keep her hands occupied -

 Do you like the ponytail ones better or the others?

 Since the girls were sort of dressed alike, I thought I'd take a picture of them together before church, but I gave up after just a few tries because there were people around and that means excitement!

Esther at least understands to look at the camera :)