Pre and Post Thanksgiving Activities

 Elli and Brent before the tree decorating.

 I was getting all the ornaments out of their boxes and Elli was hanging them:)

 Can you tell who decorated this tree?

 Elli did almost everything for making the puppy chow.  She is getting good at measuring too.

 With such a warm Saturday (60s) Brent hung the lights outside.  Of course, Elli was his helper.

Such a sweet picture of Elli and Seth putting the ornaments on the big tree!  Mostly Seth would point to where he wanted it to go, but he hung one or two all by himself:)  Fun times with these two!

It's a Feast

 Parents, grandparents, and kindergartners all enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast at Elli's school this morning.

 Our sweet girl chowing down.

Brent was able to come over for a bit.  Elli was SOOOOO excited when he got there.  What a special morning with our girl

Nov 18, 2011 Wesley and Luka turn 1!!!!

 Wesley got a finger in his cake a little early:)

 He just started chowing down!

 Luka was a little more relaxed about the tasting.

 They had so many presents.  Such fun presents.  Wesley got a ball popper from us and Luka a drum.  Hours of noisy fun in their future. hehehe

 Fun times on their new riding toys too.

 So cute to see them sitting in their big boy chairs with bottles.  Love these boys so much.

 They were getting ready for naps but refused to fall asleep.  We were trying to get pictures but they were just not up for smiling:)

 So done with being made to sit still.  Elli was posing quite happily though!

This looks like so much fun doesn't it?  Elli enjoyed their toys as well, and loved making a train with the chairs.  Such a fun imagination.
What a great day of celebrating.

Surprise visit

We went to Chuck's at Cedarville for lunch.  Brent met us and so did Liz:)  While there, we also got a surprise visit from the Chik-fil-a Santa cow!  Elli wasn't afraid of the cow dressed like Santa though she still runs from him when we see him any other time:)  What a great day for lunch!

Gloria Colleen Schoettmer, Nov 9, 2011

 Just a few hours after she was born, I was able to go see her in the hospital  Due to my cough though, I couldn't get too close.

 Heather, Gary and Gloria came home on Sat.  This is Gloria sleeping peacefully in Leah's arms.

 Aunt Leah wasn't sick:)

 One week old and out for her first trip, aside from the doctor's office.  They came to mom and dad's for dinner.  Brent, Elli and I met them there.

 Sweet girl getting all bundled up:)

 Elli's first chance to hold her newest cousin.  Such a sweet picture of both of them.

I was finally able to hold her and spend some time with her.  What a precious baby girl.

Annual Leaf Raking at The Ferguson's

 Brent forgot to pack Elli's suitcase, so while I went shopping, she made do with Jenna's old clothes:)

 The boys stripped the siding off the house in preparation for new siding.

 Hard at work.

 The highlight of our trips to Michigan now include visiting the horses at the Snyder's.

 Three of the four grandkids.  Aria, Seth, Elli.

 We all got in on the fun of playing in the leaves.

 She had a blast:)

 The "leaf boat."  Seth was quite unsure about this ride, so Elli was holding him up.

 Love her sneaky looking grin in this one:)

 Nana and the kids.

 Jenna got in on playing with Elli.

Feeding the horses apples and carrots.
It was a fun trip home.  We got a lot done, or I should say, they got a lot done:)  I went shopping and played with Elli and Seth!  We missed Devin, Lance, Lana, and Liam.  Hopefully we will all together at Christmas time!

Kids Praise Nov 6

 The kids taught us sign language for the songs they were singing.

I love that our church family has such wonderful children's leaders.  Elli has learned to love singing, signing, and praising through these two methods.

A little Leaf Fun

 She could not wait to jump in the leaves from our lone maple tree in the back yard!

 Run and jump!

 Elli wanted to get a picture of me taking my turn.  She pretending to take video and was saying, "Here goes mommy on her first jump into the leaves."  I love her!

 Crash:)

Pure joyful fun.  So love days like this:)

Trick or Treat

 My little Jasmine with her pumpkins:)

 Of course there is a pose.

 She couldn't wait to hand out candy.

 We ran to my parents house.  She walked right in and then the little trick-or-treaters tried to follow her:)  She just wanted to hand out candy.

 We met up with Tigger for a few houses as well. (what a cutie!) Elli was cold and then just started handing out candy from her bucket to kids she passed along the way:)

 The crew came for the last half an hour.  The Raymonds and Masters joined us for a bit.

 Look at the line up!

Cody, Madilynn, Caroline, Emma Grace, Elli, Lily, Caleb, Andrew, Lucia:)