The Great Pumpkin(s)

We have been fortunate this year to get to know a couple from church who have a farm with animals, gardens, orchards and so much more. Early this past spring the wife told me she was planting pumpkins for each of our children and that she would scratch their names in them as well. As you can see, those pumpkins turned out so fun!!!

I tried to get a picture with all three of the kids and their pumpkins, but to no avail. Lukas simply would not cooperate. He's usually the one who sees a camera and says, "cheese!".

Not today. Grrrr.

Etella, however, happily posed for me. Not that she could go anywhere as this was before she started crawling. Oh, and her pumpkin weighed almost 4 times what she weighed. Sure glad I don't have to lug that around!

Nikolas decided, after seeing Lukas raising such a stink, that he would be a stinker too and pretend to be put out with the picture taking. What, do I have a junior higher already?!

Then, just as magically, Nikolas jumped onto Luke's pumpkin and gave me the sweetest smile. Nik was trying to play some reverse psychology on Lukas, unfortunately, it didn't work. It's frame worthy though, too bad HE'S ON THE WRONG PUMPKIN! Grrrr, again.

Maybe I could photoshop it...

What a handsome little man I have:)

Estella is 8 Months Old!

Nuts! Now she is almost 9 months old and I'm just posting this. Next month I'll be more on top of things. I hope.




Our sweet baby girl is eight months old. I can't believe it. She has changed so much just in the past month. She is now 17 pounds with some healthy chunky rolls around her legs. People see them and have to squish them. I do about 5 times a day. Squish, squish.



She now has her first two teeth! They are the cutest little chompers, but be wary about your fingers getting too near. She'll bite them!



She started pulling herself up on things, like her crib, and can stand for long periods of time now. It looks like she also is about to start moving while holding on to something, which only means one thing. She'll be walking soon!




I had to throw this picture in. Her expression and double chin made Tone' and I laugh:)


And how could I leave out the sleeping baby picture? She is conked out on her bunny blanket from her Great Great Aunt Fae who lives in Oklahoma. Aunt Fae is the most amazing seamstress and upholsterer. (I might have made that last word up) Plus, she's super fun and I wish she lived here. You can live with me Aunt Fae!

Pretty little girl

We went to some friends little orchard and Estie found these beautiful red balls called "apples".
She had to test every one to see if they tasted good.

Hello 1970's girl!

This little outfit was mine when I was a baby. I know I've seen a picture of me in it somewhere, but, of course, I can't find it now.

Look at those little toesies!

Big brother Lukas helping his little sister try out walking.

Lukas loves Estie so much. A little too much actually. I am constantly telling him to get off her, stop squeezing her and MOVE BACK. The other day he wanted to pick her up without my knowing. I walked around the corner just in time to see him holding her a foot off the ground and then, let go. Smack! on the hard floor went her tiny little face:( Poor girl. It's a good thing babies don't remember their babyhood, or Lukey would need to watch his back.

Little White Riding Hood:)

Estie's Great Great Aunt Linda made her this beautiful little sweater. I am always amazed that people can make jackets. How do you get the sleeves so symmetrical??? Estella sure is blessed to have such talented Great Great Aunts who love her enough to handmake such wonderful things for her.

Crawling!!!

She started inching her way forward three weeks ago and now is all over the place. I am on hyper alert now for little objects in her path that she would love to stick in her mouth. The boys are not helping my cause what with their obsession of finding and saving "treasures and collections". It is still fun to have her crawling, though. Wherever I go in the house I have a little bug crawling after me. She isn't very fast, but she's determined. She puts her head down, sucks on her lip and starts after me. She usually doesn't make it very far before I'm back and swooping her up into my arms. Then she rewards me with a huge smile and excitement in her eyes.

Sweet Baby.

I love this tiny little person.

Road Trip Part II: Colorado

Upon leaving my cousins, (actually my moms cousin, thereby making Ronda and I first cousins once removed), we headed east to another cousins (actually Ronda's son thereby making him and I second cousins) home on a hundred plus acres of beautiful country.

Matthew took us on a 4 wheeler trip around his land. This particular 4 wheeler is supposed to fit two people. We had six. Granted, one of those was a tiny baby, two were small children and two more were small adults, but still, we thought it was rather funny. Alex and I sandwiched Estie inbetween us and put the boys on both sides and HELD ON!

They had the time of their lives.

To say the least.

Some of the hills we went on were so steep I decided to walk.

I know, even I get a little cautious at times.

Nikolas at the top enjoying the view.

How would you like to wake up to this everyday?

Yes, please!

Lukas, in true American form, collecting all the bullet shells from target practice.

It just happened that he was wearing patriotic colors:)

Then we were,

ON THE ROAD AGAIN....

It sure was nice to have another driver along,

and Alex had just obtained her drivers license only a couple

months before, but had already gone on a road trip before ours.

She only almost killed us once, but then again, so did I.

A little glimpse into how Lukas passed the time:

unraveling Fruit By the Foot and seeing how long it would last while wrapping it around various body parts.

showing us what he could do with a leftover snack bag....

He was quite entertaining at least.