Spring Update 4 (Easter and Move)

 Easter Sunday was our last in TN -

 Several of Aaron's family members came to church and then we went to the beautiful Montgomery Bell State Park for lunch.

 Anna with her sweet smile :)

 Aaron, Rebecca, Daniel

 This Easter bunny was walking around - thanks to the cow from the maze, the girls weren't scared!

 Anna holding Aaron Joseph - she loves him, but I have to watch her so she doesn't try to carry him!

 All of us - plus a doll...

 I have no pictures of packing and loading the truck - it seems like no matter how organized I try to be there's always a lot of last minute things to do and so it was a very busy few days! Dad and Miriam, after dropping of Hosanna, were able to come help us. We were so glad for them! This is at a break somewhere along the way to MN.

 We had beautiful weather until we got to northern MN - then it started to snow, but thankfully everything went really, really well!

 It was in the 80s the day before we left TN...

 Mom invited a few people over for my birthday - I was 27 on April 27th.

 4 months old!

 We spent a couple weeks at my parents, then a couple weeks at my grandparents, then moved into Isaac's mobile home for the summer. This is in the living room - before we unpacked.

 Dad gave the girls a ride on the tractor - they didn't really seem to want to go, but when Daniel ran ahead to climb in, they followed right along.

 Aaron Joseph goes back and forth between his thumb, finger, fingers, or any combination, but he's been choosing his middle two fingers more and more :)

I was able to make cakes for Ronnie and Caleb's graduation.

Spring Update 3

 Some of the ladies in church did a candy hunt for the children -

 I forgot baskets, so Esther and Anna borrowed some.

 Finding it is the fun part, but then Mommy takes the candy away and rations it!

 Aaron Joseph wasn't sure what to think of the grass and sunlight.

 Esther and Anna play together so well -

Silly Anna - she's just figuring out to smile for cameras.

That's probably all I'll get done today, but they'll be lots more later :)
 

Spring Update 2

 Grandma S. let the girls ride the train at the mall...they thought that was pretty exciting!

 Smiling out the window :)

 Esther used her little wheelbarrow to help Aaron haul leaves. The girls are such good little helpers...

They always decorate the front of the church so pretty for Easter. I love the lilies and the purple!

Spring Updates 1

For those of you that hadn't heard - we moved back to MN the end of April, which is my current excuse for being behind on blogging...It may take a few days, but hopefully we'll catch up. These photos are from March and April when we were still in TN.

 

The girls were having fun playing with some old hickory nuts - Esther left her purse of nuts outside and I happened to see this squirrel out the back door stealing them :)

 Anna all comfy cozy in her crib -

 I wanted a picture holding Aaron wearing his "mommy loves me" sleeper.

 We picked these flowers outside in March in TN -

 A couple days later we had a snowfall - it only lasted a couple hours, but long enough to sled a little.

 Anna - her hair just won't stay to the side!

A little snowman :)

 They might not get to sled much next winter - they'll probably be plenty of snow, but no hills in the backyard!

 Anna and Esther at church -

 I think this is March 26 - Aaron was 3 months old.

 Cranberry icebox cookies -

 Aaron in his little dinosaur outfit -

 Mocha Layer Cake - it tasted even better than it looked...

 It was so sad saying goodbye to everybody at the church!

 

Family and Friends

We had a busy couple weeks with a quick visit from my parents, a visit from my brother, and a wedding and a conference! We had our best snowfall of the year earlier in March and since it had a nice thick coating of ice underneath, it made for great sledding!

Of course, snow and sledding means hot chocolate - since we only have had snow like three times this winter, we all enjoy it as a special treat :)

The girls love their Auntie Miriam!

Mom and Dad came especially to see baby Aaron Joseph before he grows up :)

Dad and Aaron Joseph hanging out -

We spent the night before the wedding with the McC. family. Esther had so much fun playing with her cousins and Joanna - Here they're watching part of a movie. The girls also enjoyed a toy they've recently "met" - marbles:)

Aaron Joseph was smiling for the camera too - as well as his wonderful father!

The pretty stage and bridesmaids at the wedding -

We tried a quick family picture, but didn't take the time to get everyone to smile...

All my parent's grandchildren :)

The reception was beautiful and delicious - my favorite idea was the "cookie buffet".

Aaron, Dad, Mom, Miriam, and Anna

Anna got a special children's plate - with food that didn't stain her clothes!

Michael and Jordan laughing - It's always encouraging to see a wedding of two young people who want to put God first in their lives and let His Providence lead them to the right one!

The last wedding I went to at this church was Amos and Rebekah's - 6 years and 4 children ago :) For those of you that don't know - Aaron moved to MN the weekend of their wedding...

Daniel kept wanting to hold the baby.

We met Nathanael and Mrs. G. for lunch in Nashville -

It's quite a sight to bring 7 small children into a Cracker Barrel! They were good though :)

The cousins (minus Aaron) by an old train at Centennial Park -

Outside the Parthenon - It was a beautiful day to be outside!

Jeriah and Gideon -

A statue of one of our favorite heros - Sgt. York! Amos and Aaron also spent some time working on our matching vans. We loved having everyone come for a visit!

The girls think Aaron's changing table is their bunk bed :)

I didn't give this picture time to download all the way. This is the big chapel at the campus where the conference was held.

While Aaron was in sessions, we spent a lot of time at the "play area".

I enjoyed meeting other moms who brought their children to play and having someone else take care of meals!