some preschool friends and a fieldtrip

Four busy firemen fighting fires!!!





Michael was too busy running around being a hero to take pictures....

p.s. Tyler, we were thinking of you and wishing you were there!!

my favorite moment each day

I'm a morning person. Maybe I have trained my kids also. We seem to be more positive and energetic after a good night of sleep. Michael and Jordan usually wake up half an hour after Jared and I, one child after another or at the same time. They run to find me in the kitchen or bedroom and shout "Good morning, Mom!" Jordan has come out of his room a few times grinning, "I love you, Mom." They are so happy to see me and each other. We give hugs and kisses. Of course then they find dad too.... I love this moment, because it is really the only ideal moment of the day!

Mornings aren't fun for lots of people, but do you have a cheerful routine or habit?



--first thing this morning after our hugs!

Jordan spotted his hair in the mirror a few minutes later and said, "My hair is really cool."

Guess Who's Expecting??

The due date is mid-September....

Our House

Michael's latest pasttime is drawing and writing. He can spend hours at the table working. This is amazing because he has never had a favorite activity that held his attention more than a few minutes. This photo also features the robot Michael made at preschool!
Jordan's usual entertainment involves a Lightning McQueen car in one hand and another superhero action toy in the other. He has learned to set them down during mealtime, prayer, and bedtime. --Or Mom will.
We are having fun finding outings and activities that keep us warm on these cold winter days.

The long road home

Thanks to everyone who helped make our trip wonderful!!
Our drive back to Michigan was safe and restful.
(--more so than on the drive to Utah through the Iowa ice storms and Wyoming snowy winds) After our three-week break we were happy to remember that we have a home!
Back to school and work....

Bringing in the New Year with more tumbles....

Mid-afternoon on New Years Eve, Michael fell down the stairs and onto a bucket of water. We were visiting Grandma and Grandpa Harston's cabin remodeling project. Thank goodness for the sturdy cartilage of developing kids--or it would have been a broken nose.


A few hours later Michael settled down, the bloody mess was cleaned up and he was having a great time at our celebrations with family.
We had more than our share of injuries last year. Michael fit the last one in for the year.... No more injuries in 2009....

Harston Cousins

This live nativity will definitely become a tradition! Grandma Harston is a great production artist. It was so fun to have ALL of the grandkids together on Christmas Eve!



Here are some cousins doing a puppet show at the library.



Moon sand fun!

I hope to get some more photos of cousins to post later!