Win's task

Project Runway

Win has been into fashion lately.

We thought we'd let him figure out how to use the sewing machine so the he can be on next season of Project Runway.

Sibling Rivalry

Win tried to sit on Harriet.

Harriet used her only defense.

Christmas Gift Idea

My friend, Amy, recommended this children's Bible to me a month or so ago. It's great! I loved it so much that I bought it for all of our nieces and nephews. They opened them over Thanksgiving and LOVED the writing and pictures.

If you are looking for a gift for a child, check this out. It is refreshing, creative and not at all preachy.

The Jesus Storybook Bible

Win dislikes posed pictures more than I do.

Over Thanksgiving we lined up all of the cousins for the traditional cousin lineup picture. It was quite a scene-Win being the worst behaved kid. Getting 10 children 5 and under to sit in a row is no easy task. We lined up all 10 kids but Win refused to cooperate. We even tried to bribe him with the usually off-limits computer mouse, which you can see sitting on the floor. After trying to reason and bribe a tantruming toddler we resorted to brute force. I sat in the lineup and forced Win into position--sort of.

Harriet is in this picture. You can see her face under Sarah's arm. She is wrapped in a brown blanket and kind of looks like a cocoon resting behind Willow, who is crawling away.

What you can't see are the nearly 20 adults who are behind the camera sending encouragement to their children to remain in place.

Cue the snow

This past weekend, while spending Thanksgiving in Detroit with Jared's family, I took some family pictures of Jared's brother's family for their Christmas cards. As we stepped out back for about 15 minutes the sun peeked out from behind the clouds just enough to light up the perfectly falling snow. I love the rim lighting on these.

Jamie and Sarah have been married for almost 6 years. They have a great marriage. A couple of days ago Sarah was telling a story about their honeymoon and remembering how little she knew her husband at that point. She ended her story with, "Boy was I lucky. I don't think that I really knew who I was marrying but it has worked out really good."



Jamie, notoriously averse to cameras, started laughing when Sarah started quoting lines from the office.

Jamie and Sarah have provided 2 cousins for Win and Harriet. Jordan, who is 3, and Stella, who is 2 months older than Harriet.

Isn't Jordan beautiful?

The other day I tossed Harriet in the crib with Win just as he was waking up from his nap.  His response was pretty cute.  He really likes his sister.  

A place to read

The other day Win began sitting on his shape sorter box while reading. We think that it's a little too cute for words.

Going Places

As Win will tell you, we're going on a trip today.

Toys

Win enjoyed playing with all of the new toys at the James' house. He really enjoyed this little piece that attached to their Duplos. When he pressed a button it would light up and make a siren sound. This one he called his, "bulldozer." Which is one of his favorite words to say and our favorite to hear. It's too cute.
Best of all though were Frappa and Onna. One afternoon they placed Win in a laundry basket with a pillow in the bottom. Then they tied bathrobe belts to it and began pulling him around the living room, much to his delight.
What more could a little boy want?!

Frappa and Onna

The James girls wanted to take a bath in the bubble tub while we were there. They put on their suits and brought Win in with them. It was too much fun. It may or may not have been because a babysitter was in charge but the bubbles got a little out of hand at one point.


This is Francesca. Winfield called her, "Frappa" all week.

This is Adrianna, whom Win called, "Onna."
These pictures really show their personalities. Onna is quick, talkative and not at all camera shy. Frappa is reserved, thoughtful and intelligent. They are amazing kids with fabulous parents. They were a blessing to stay with.

(Don't worry Onna is just as pretty as Frappa.)

More pictures to come.

New House, New Toys to Share

This family's youngest is a little boy. He has some really fun toys that Win had a blast playing with. He really liked sharing the Lincoln Logs with Dad and Hattie. Guess who enjoyed them the most.

Lounging and Reading by the Fire

Jared, Win, Harriet and I spent the last several days staying at a friend's house with 2 of their 4 children while they took a well-appreciated anniversary vacation. We all enjoyed their beautiful fireplace that blazed the entire time.

I'll get some more pictures up soon. They live in the country and can only get dial-up; so posting while we were there wasn't really an option.


Reading by the fire

Lounging by the fire

Stickers

Yesterday I showed Win the little bookmark stickers that are in every Domino magazine. He knew just what to do with them.

Just another Sunday Morning

I took these on Sunday morning as we were getting ready for church. Like the Sunday previous, getting everyone happy, fed, clean, dressed and awake all at the same time can be quite a task. Winfield seems to have his own ideas about what he and Harriet should wear to church.

And Again

It took me a couple of days to get around to photographing this. Yes, she does roll happy too. :-)

Bunny Nose

Here's Win's bunny nose. It's pretty amazing.

Our favorite place in the world

Jared and I brought Win and Harriet to our favorite place in the world-my parent's lake cabin. The Cabin has been in our family for over 35 years. I grew up going there in the summers and Jared and I spent our honeymoon there. It is truely one of the most fabulous and beautiful places in the world.

To understand The Cabin you have to understand the geography of it. It is on a beautiful fishing lake in Nowhere, Indiana. Speedboats aren't allowed and only half of the lake has houses on it. The Cabin sits on a point that faces west. Every evening the sun sets over the water and trees and shines through the big picture window. There is water on 3 sides of The Cabin so everywhere you look you are surrounded by the lake. The inside of the cabin is cozy and beautiful, with a fireplace and warm decor. My parents have been working on it a bunch over the last couple of years and it is as beautiful as ever.

This is Diamond Lake. The Cabin is on the point.

Closer.

The Cabin at night


There is water to my back, on my left and on my right. That's my dad working on the door jam.


My parents came and visited for an afternoon. Win loves them! Whenever anyone talks about them he says, "black truck" which is my dad's Toyota pick-up that they drive.

My mom and Win played blocks.


My Dad showed Win some swans.

Jared showed Win how to use binoculars.

He didn't exactly get it.


We cuddled.


We read books.


Win sat in a big boy chair.

We just did a whole lot of nothing, and loved it.
Win "napped" while Jared and I packed the car to go home. We thought that this picture of his "nap" was pretty cute.

Proof

It's true! Harriet rolls. For those who were skeptical we now have photographic proof. I caught these on Halloween just before we left for our weekend away. It seems that our children are early rollers.


I'll post more pictures of our weekend at The Cabin soon.