ABBY'S FIRST DANCE RECITAL

Abby had her first dance recital in November. She was so excited to wear her dress, and she did a great job. She can't wait for the next one later this month.

Isn't she cute?

Abby & her friend, Madison

COUSIN TAYLOR'S BIRTHDAY

Abby's cousin Taylor had a princess party before she moved to Kansas:( The party was lots of fun, but the girls will sure miss their cousins. All of the girls dressed up as princesses. Taylor was Belle and Abby was Cinderella, of course. They all had fun decorating crowns, dancing and eating cupcakes and ice cream. Oh and Ally even dressed up as Sleeping Beauty, but since the party was right at naptime she missed out on all the other fun.

Taylor blowing out her candle

Look at all those princesses!!!!

Ally as Sleeping Beauty

PAPA'S BIRTHDAY

Wednesday was Papa's birthday, so 14 of us went out for supper to Texas Roadhouse to celebrate. It was lots of fun, but the best part was that Papa had to ride on a saddle while we all gave a big YEEHAW!!!! for his birthday. Abby was very concerned that the horse didn't have a head?? I didn't get pics of everyone, but I did get pics of the best part.

Elijah, Stephen, Beckham & Ally

Papa riding the saddle

YEEEEEEHAWWWWWW!!!!!

OOPS!!!

For the past few years we have just had Abby either put face stickers or draw a face with markers on her pumpkin for Halloween. However this year she realized that you are supposed to carve them. So after Halloween she tells me that we forgot to carve our pumpkins. I tried to tell her we could do it next year, but after 10 minutes of me explaining how we could just wait, and her getting out the knife and her pumpkin, I knew I wasn't going to win this one easily, so I gave in and her and I carved her pumpkin. She of course refused to touch any of the "yucky stuff", as she put it. So I did most of the work. But she was very proud of her carved pumpkin even if it was after Halloween.

PLAYING IN THE LEAVES

Every fall we always rake up a big pile of leaves for the kids to play in. Abby loves it, and Ally wasn't too sure at first but by the end she was having fun too. I even jumped in for a few pics.

HALLOWEEN

We had tons of fun this year for Halloween. Abby dressed up as Cinderella and Ally was her mouse, Sally or Susie, depending on who you ask. I don't know that they ever mention the names of the little girl mice in cinderella, I guess I will have to pay attention the next time we watch it.

On Tuesday night the Youth from our church hosted a party for all of the kids. Elijah and Gabe came with us, and we had a great time. They had different activities set up in various rooms, and the kids could get their faces painted, bowl with pumpkins, go fishing, and all sorts of things. The kids got lots of candy to prep them for the big night.

Gabe-Zombie, Elijah-Brain Alien, Abby Cinderella

Gabe & some other boys from church

Elijah

Daddy & Ally, & Abby getting her face painted
On Halloween, Grandma, Grandpa, and Stephen, and Jolynn, Taylor & Beckham all came over and we had Jack-o-latern pizzas for supper and then we went out trick-or-treating. It is tough to get all 4 kids to pose for a picture. But I think between the three cameras we were able to get some good ones.

Abby testing out her crown

Abby & Ally

Abby & Taylor

2 Cinderellas

Abby Ally Taylor & Beckham
Out trick-or-treating

Taylor & Abby would always race up to the house, it was quite commical to watch them run in their glass slippers.

To start out Ally & Beckham were riding in the wagon.

Although we soon discovered it was much faster to just run from house to house, so I carried Ally.

A GIANT PUMPKIN COOKIE

ELIJAH

GABE

ABBY & ELIJAH

ALL OF THEM WAITING TO DIG IN AND EAT IT!!!!!

THE FINISHED PRODUCT!!!!

On Monday we made Halloween cookies, the boys thought it would be fun to make one giant pumpkin cookie, so we did. Gabe and Elijah helped roll it out and cut it into shape then, Abby & Elijah frosted it. I think they ate more frosting than they put on the cookie. To eat it Gabe insisted that we cut it like a pizza with a pizza cutter. It was lots of fun, and was definitely the biggest cookie I have ever made. Although Elijah informed me he has seen bigger cookies than this one in New York. You can never please them all!!!

APPLE ORCHARD

A few weekends ago we went to Minnesota Harvest Apple Orchard with the Sarles family. We had lots of fun and ates lots of apples and apple desserts. We all went on a wagon ride out to pick the apples, the kids had a great time picking the apples off the trees and eating them. (of course I washed them with a wet wipe first!) Then we had some delicious lunch from the restaurant. Afterwards the kids went on pony rides and played at the park. Then it was time to pick out a pumpkin to take home. After much deliberation the final choice was made and we went on our way. It was a great time!!!

Uncle Sean thought it would be fun to line the apples up for the tractor to run over (of course they were they apples that had fallen off the trees already). The driver agreed because he lined the wheels up perfectly and the kids thought it was really funny.

ABBY'S FIRST PET

Aunt Jen & Uncle Matt sent Abby some money for her birthday to buy a fish. So on Friday, Grandma took Abby out to lunch and to buy a fish. She picked out a pink and purple fish and even though it is a boy, she named him "Sleeping Beauty". We aren't telling her it's really a boy. She loves her fish and she told me that she will hold her if she gets sad, although I informed her that fish like to stay in the water. She feeds him/her every morning and night. And you will be glad to know that Elijah approves, because pets teach responsibility, and build self-esteem. Right from the mouth of a 9 year old. He has been trying to get me to let Abby have a pet for a long time, he even offered to let it live at his house until Abby was old enough to take care of it. Thanks Aunt Jen & Uncle Matt. Although I am still wondering if you plan on visiting once a week to change the water???

PRESENTS FROM AUNT JULIE

The girls got a new wardrobe from Aunt Julie for their birthdays, they had so much fun trying on clothes and playing in the box. Thank you Aunt Julie!!!