Baking Christmas Cookies

I totally forgot that I started uploading this post last month. I apologize for not doing a better job of updating the blog. Most everyone I know has become a member of Facebook and it is so much easier (and faster) to post and upload photos there. I will try to get everything posted within the next few weeks from the Christmas season.

Trent's Baptism

Trent was baptized on Sunday, November 30, 2008. The first picture turned out well but the others are a bit fuzzy...sorry about that.

Keep Scrolling Down to the New Dance Video Clips

I finally had a few minutes to post some more dance videos. Scroll down a couple of posts to see them.

Halloween 2008

Just a few pictures from Trunk-or-Treat at church. Ella and I themed our car as the "Wizard of Oz" and I was Dorothy and Ella was Glenda. Trent was so excited about his Harry Potter costume that Pops and Person sent him!

Visitor's Day at Dance

On Thursday we were able to go in and watch Ella's dance class. She has come a long way since last year!


There are several more but it's too late to post them tonight. Check back later!
Here's another video! Still have more to come.

Jack-O-Lanterns!

We had a great time carving our jack-o-lanterns. I snapped a couple of pics of the kids getting messy.

Trent's Profession of Faith

Today was a very exciting day for our family...Trent became a Christian and accepted Jesus to come and live forever in his heart! I wanted Mom, Dad, and Abby to be able to share in the joyous occasion so I videoed part of it. I'm sorry for the bad quality...I was standing at the back of the church so the lighting is not great and my hands were shaking like crazy. It's looking like we are going to aim for his baptism the Sunday after Thanksgiving since Pops, Person, and Abby will be in town.

That was a very exciting and happy part of our day but leave it up to Ella to throw in some laughs today. This is a video clip of her saying the pledge and singing "My Country 'Tis Of Thee." Each morning at preschool they start their day with the pledge to the American and Christian flags and then they sing. Ella is working very hard to learn her pledges and song but she's getting a little confused...

Trent Playing the Marine Hymn

Here are some more clips of Ella singing.

This song is called "Gray Squirrel" and it's one that I learned as a girl scout. I was very surprised when Ella came home from preschool a few weeks ago singing it. After much questioning we discovered that she learned it during a Melody Makers class. There are 2 video clips. Both are funny but see if you can figure out the difference between the 2 clips...it won't be hard.

The words to "Gray Squirrel"
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel, swish your bushy tail.
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel, swish your bushy tail.
Wrinkle up your funny nose, put it down between your toes.
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel, swish your bushy tail.

Gray Squirrell - 1st time

Gray Squirrel - 2nd time


This is Ella's last song. Her teacher has been working with them on learning the months of the year. You will notice that each time she sings it she leaves out one very important month...

Ella's New Songs

Ella has been learning lots of new songs at preschool. While Trent and Daddy were at Cub Scouts Ella asked to have me tape her singing her songs. Thought I would post them so you could see them.

"The Lord's Army"



Video clips aren't loading so I'll have to post the rest of them later. Sorry.

Annual Sunday School Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

We had so much fun today at the pumpkin patch! But we are so tired. Here are the pictures from our exciting day.

This year we decided it might be nice to take the new church bus. What a GREAT idea! All the kids had a friend to sit with and all the parents got to sit and talk. Another great thing about the new bus is that it has been equipped with a DVD player and 4 screens so the kids watched a movie on the way up the interstate.

Of course Ella rode with Kayleen.

And even though Trent thinks girls are yucky he rode with Lindsey...and it really wasn't that bad.

Ella and cousin Sydnie started playing as soon as we get off the bus.


Lindsey, Kayleen, and Ella try their hand at pumpking water.

Anyone interested in buying an Ella????

Mommy and Ella enjoy the hayride out to the pumpkin patch.

Trent and cousin Dylan enjoy the hayride.

Ella picked up several pumpkins before she found the right one.


Ella found her pumpkin!


Trent found his pumpkin!

Ella was determined to carry our family pumpkin.


Dylan, Trent, and friend Conner ride back to the farm.

Mmmmm...ice cream!

Ella has a handful of feed that she offered to the sheep but quickly dropped it as soon as the sheep started moving for it. I'm not surprised. I'm actually surprised that she tried it.

She was much happier talking to the roosters and chickens. She was trying to get them to say "Cock-a-doddle-doo"

Trent thought the horse was the best.

This picture was taken before the kids tried out the hay maze.





This is our annual picture of all the kids.

Trent and Lindsey rode back to the church together too.

Trent and Ella at Auntie's Cabin

When Abby and I were little we always got excited about going down to Aunt Hazel and Uncle Harold's cabin because it meant that we got to ride the horses. It's funny how things have changed...Libby built a new barn and moved her horses over to her house years ago and not long ago the fence around the barn was taken down. Now I watch my children play soccer where the horses once used to graze. And the biggest change?? Since there are no longer horses to ride we must find other types of entertainment..........................

















GOLF CART!!!!!
John and Brent take Ella and Cole for a ride.

John, Trent, and Henry finish a ride up to the top of the hill and back.

Who needs horses when you've got a golf cart?!?!

Oh, my! I don't know if Pops knows how to operate the cart!

Love this picture of Brent hanging onto Cole for dear life and Henry telling Pops where to go.

One thing that has changed a lot would be the creek. My mother would've NEVER, NEVER, NEVER let Abby and me in the creek. The creek has been cleaned up a lot since I was little.


Ella's creek shoes didn't get too wet.


ABSOLUTELY LOVE Jill's face in this picture.

Appears that Ella is having a lot of fun!