Eliana's Five months old already!!!

Time is definitely racing by! Ellie is growing so fast. She gets cuter and more fun by the day. She has such a GREAT, EASY disposition! She can already roll from tummy to back, and back to tummy. She's starting to rock up on her knees and we find her several feet away from where we put her. We are like, "NO!!! Slow down! Next you'll be crawling!"

Mariana and Jack are having a blast with her, and she loves being entertained by them. It's so fun to watch an 8- and a 7-year old being silly. Ellie doesn't care what they do or how weird they do it -- it's hilarious to her! She's proving to be loud and silly herself, full of squeals, shouts and laughter - she fits right in!

Eliana's only "difficulty" has been the fact that she's been teething for almost three months, and still no fruits for her labors! Poor thing!

She sleeps through the night most nights. Occasionally she wakes up around 4am and has a little party and practices all her new sounds for 5-10 minutes, then falls back asleep.

We've started a little bit of food. She's just starting to get a hang of swallowing her cereal or sweet potatoes. She'll keep a little bite in her mouth and then, bloop! - spit it out.

We love her so much! She is such a blessing to our family, our little answer to prayer. We know God has big plans for her life, and we fel so privileged to be a part of it!

What a Kid!

Jack is 7 years old and in 1st grade. He's growing up so fast! He is a typical boy in most ways - loves Star Wars, all action figures, sound effects, video games... He's learning to read and is doing an amazing job! His two front teeth are growing in, which also ages him into being that school-aged kid.

Last Sunday (Oct. 26), he called a family gathering. He had a baseball cap filled with fold-up papers. He told us we were going to play a game for one whole week. He explained that on each paper there was someone's name. We were to draw a name, and don't tell anyone. Then, for a whole week, we were to secretly to nice things for that person.

He told us that he got the idea from a Veggie tales video (from the "extras" on the menu). So he had watched the idea and thought about it, and took matters into his own hands and organized the whole thing, all by himself! Isn't he cool?

We've had notes taped all over the house. Here's on that was left on Christiaan's pillow on Friday (Halloween). We have no idea who might have left it (even though he asked me how to spell "Halloween").












Also, on the same day, I was laying down for a little snooze, and Jack came in with this:

He's the best. He's my best boy in the whole wide world!

My Bat (Mariana), my Cat (Eliana), and my Clone Trooper (Jack)

HALLOWEEN 2008

I know, I know...I'm way behind on my blog posts. Well, there's no time like the present to get caught up!

We had a great time getting dressed up and getting ready for CandyZone, our church's Halloween alternative. The kids even ended up with the day off of school and Halloween landed on a Friday! Yeah!

Christiaan was already at church, setting up for CandyZone, so we all got ready. We first stopped at our friends, the Esmeyer's, to premiere our costumes and get some good pictures.

Mariana in full bat faceJamie and ElianaTwo "clone" Clone Troopers - Jack and his friend IanMom and the Three Kids - I'm dressed in my "not me" character...as in, "Who are you?" Answer: "Not me!"