Bible Verses

I remember, when I was a little girl, my mom helping me to learn Bible verses. She used a book that has one Bible verse for each letter of the alphabet, and she passed this book on to me. I am so excited to do the same verses with my daughter. What a legacy--thanks, Mom!

The first verse is not from the book but the second is. These are the first of many more to come, I hope!

Happy Six Month Birthday to our Bells

Six months already! Our sweet bundle of baby is just getting bigger and cuter every day. Of her many accomplishments this month, Daddy and I are the most excited about her new sleeping pattern. She sleeps from 7:30pm to around 6:30-7 am each day. Hurray! It's wonderful--and we've worked hard on it! Also new for Ellie this month is food. Her current favorite is avocado (just like her sister, who now won't touch the stuff) but she's liking her cereals too. Sweet potato didn't go over too well, so we'll have to try it again in a while. Squash is also iffy.

Ellie is beginning to sit upright, which is great. She can sit with the boppy around her but she tires of it pretty quickly and stiffens her body so she can lay flat. She loves to suck her toes and has even found her thumb. Always attentive, she enjoys watching the hubub around her and Kate comes and goes, as well as watching kids in the nursery at church and during Mommy's Bible study. She's still on three naps a day--can't stay awake more than 2 hrs at a time. We've had to supplement nursing so she only nurses two times a day and takes bottles as well. She's lively and fun, and loves to drool and smile. She continues to love being in the baby Bjorn or Moby and will patiently hang out and observe her surroundings. We continue to thank God for our sweet, happy baby and the fun it is watching her grow and change. We love you, Elliana!

Mommy and Ellie on a recent walk. This picture is great because that is her "what is that??" look. She's so curious about her world and wants to dive in and explore.

We love our little pumpkin!

Tots in Tights

Kate went to her first dance class earlier this week. It was quite the experience watching her watch the other girls and the teacher. She was tentative and shy at first, and wanted me to be with her at all times. She even started doing the "limp rag doll" on the floor routine so I couldn't pick her up to move. She kept fleeing toward the "mommy" folding chairs. I could tell that she really did like it, though, and as the class progressed, so did her confidence. Her teacher, Miss Heidi, did a great job of encouraging but not pushing her. By the end she was running around the circle on the floor without me and stretching her hands up in the air. She is extremely excited about next Monday.


Here she is, tentatively smiling before class begins.

All of Miss Heidi's classes are preparing for a short recital before Thanksigving. Needless to say, Kate will not be performing, as she is such a newcomer, but it was fun to see Miss Heidi trying to show a bunch of two year olds where to stand and what to do during particular moments in the song. I had to give her credit for her patience! You can see our friends, Miss Cath (green shirt)and Maggie (black, curly hair) in the center. We both signed our kids up for the same class without knowing it!

Class is ending and Miss Heidi is giving all the girls turkey stamps. Kate didn't want one, but you can see she's feeling much more relaxed. She's even really smiling as she catches me taking her picture.

P.S. There is another recital in May. We'll shoot for having our first performance then--but I probably won't tell Kate yet. :)

Happy Halloween

We began Halloween day with a trip to the ocean here in Seaside. This section of beach is a little hard to find and so it's quite empty. We were able to watch a school of dolphins swimming by and several pelicans diving repeatedly into the water after some fish.




Ellie was dressed up as a little pumpkin. We tied a pink bow on her hat so people could tell she was a girl.



Here's Kate checking out Ellie before she heads out to get some candy.




Kate was very excited to dress up as Snow White. She had a lot of fun walking around the neighborhood, though she was a little shy saying "trick or treat."





Here she is looking at some pumpkins at a neighbor's house. She liked staring at the candles inside (and asking her dad to blow them out).




After taking Kate around the neighborhood, we all drove down to the base chapel for a community Halloween party. We left our pumpkin guarding our candy bowl and there was still some candy left when we can back (one of the advantages of living on base).

Here we all are at the chapel. Kate was excited to see a fire truck and get her own fire hat. It went very well with her Snow White dress.

Boldly Gone

At long last the time has come to say goodbye. My faithful friend through so many years, it's time for us to part. Sadly, the friendship we have shared must continue only in reflection. I will always remember the excitement inside as I opened the closet door and saw you standing in there, waiting for me to discover where you were hiding. The joy when at last you found your place in my room. My adoration as we dressed alike year after year on Halloween. Such anticipation as you joined me in my first years of college! Your ever watchful and wise eyes, encouraging me through each day's trials. How you mutely bore the outrage of chewing gum stuck to your noble face. How duct tape was needed to keep you upright as the years passed and your stance became increasingly unsteady. In recent years you found yourself suffering in silence in another, more lonely closet, yet always close to my heart. How I will miss your bald head, your knowing half-smile, your unfailing companionship. Thank you for the years we shared together. I will never forget you, my friend and captain. I know not where the truck that carted you away will leave you; I only know you are entering another stage in the adventure of life. To these new adventures I say, with tears, Engage.