She's Here!

Our little angel was born on November 24. She came just in time to remind us how truly blessed we are. We were so happy she was healthy and strong. We were able to come home from the hospital on Thanksgiving day and even got to enjoy a Turkey dinner prepared by my mom and Aunt K-Rae. We are all doing well.

Waiting...

So we are waiting...waiting for this baby to come. My mom has been here for several days which has been fun, and productive. But also reminds me of why she is here, to help me with the baby. I am still a few days away from my due date, but having the other three early has set some expectations. My feet look like they belong to Shrek and I'm all out of Mylanta to help with the heartburn and I don't want to go and buy more since it will go away once the baby is born. So baby if you are listening we are ready and waiting.

An Apostle

We had Stake conference this weekend where we were privileged to have Elder Christofferson attend. This morning Letty decided that she wanted to write him a letter which we thought he may or may not get depending on circumstances. We were fortunate that when we got there he was on the stand with the Stake Presidency so T-man took her up to deliver the letter. He talked to her for a minute and shook her hand. After they came back and sat down we saw him open and read it and then they all chuckled. The letter simply said her name and age and something to the affect that she was excited to hear him speak and was wondering what it would be about, followed by a picture. I hope she remembers this special moment and the spirit that came along with it. It is so fun to have such a personal experience with the people you only get to see on TV.

On a very non religious note here are a few pics from Halloween:

On Saturday we went and Trick-or-Treated in downtown Summit which was fun but crowded and then they had a parade you could walk in which after a bit Gracie fell asleep on T's shoulders.


Pumpkin carving - We ended up with a Dora pumpkin and a happy face. This year was the first time in our history that we've had some animal chewing on our pumkins. T-man cut a very large nose for a happy face pumpkin to hide the animal bites. After we carved them and set them on the porch, the next morning, something had nibbled around the eye brow. Two days later they completely chewed through one of our smaller ones, kind of crazy. Though we long suspected bunnies, our neighbor spotted squirrels chewing on their pumpkins.

So you can see Dora, somehow we didn't end up with a still shot of Mr. happy face.
Some pictures I took while enjoying our fall weather which has quickly turned chilly. We LOVE fall around here.

Our baby

Happy 4th Birthday Isaac! We love you! Letty was telling her friends at school this morning that it was your Birthday. We can't help but wonder what life would be like with you around, we feel the void. The girls are excited to make cookies later and remember that today was a special day. A day that you blessed our lives forever.

Just in time...

After loosing tooth #2 Letty can now be a jack-o-lantern for Halloween, at least we keep calling her one.




Gracie had lots of fun at Old Navy the other day trying on all kinds of slippers, it was hard to pull her away from this activity.

Early Halloween

We had our ward Halloween party last night. It was a full house! There were games, dinner, and a hallway "trunk or treat." Here are the kiddos in their costumes.




A lady bug, a dragonfly, and a baby jack-o-lantern
The hallway of candy

We spent Saturday at home for a change playing clean up. After renting a carpet cleaner T-man cleaned the carpets upstairs (we are trying to eliminate possible allergies), I vacuumed the car and cleaned windows. It was also my Dad's birthday yesterday. Happy Day Dad! The last trip we took to CA my parents shared their conversion stories, something I have pondered since. I am grateful for the legacy they started in our family. For them being stalwart members of the Church despite challenges and adversity. Thanks for all of your hard work.

Can't get enough

We can't get enough fall around here. The weather has been so nice and crisp. These pictures are from a recent play group trip to a apple/pumpkin farm. The kids enjoyed the giant pumpkins and the 20 minute hayride that dropped us off at the patch and hay maze. Good times!




T-man enjoyed a quick trip to BYU a week ago, part of American Express campus recruiting. On his flight home I received word that Grandpa Lovell passed away. We were sad the hear the news but it was also a relief since his poor body was suffering, he was 91. So T came home for one day and flew back to Utah to then head up to Idaho where all of his siblings were able to gather for the funeral. I was sad not to go but stayed behind with the kids.

T-man's comments:
My grandpa's funeral was a great family reunion. He left a strong legacy, 8 children, all active in the church, 48 grand children and 96 (soon to be 99) great grandchildren. His father died young and still in his teens to took over the family farm and put his siblings through college. He knew and loved many people through his church service in Idaho and Texas. At least a dozen times as I have met people in various locations, I have been asked if I was related to my grandfather. Each individual would then go on to praise him and tell of how he blessed their life and gave them wise counsel.

The past 10 years his ability to communicate was severely limited from a stroke and while I will dearly miss seeing him, I acknowledge his passing as a mercy from the Lord, especially since his wife is already on the other side. We love you Grandpa!

Welcome K-Rae!

We were very excited to have K-Rae come and visit us this weekend, even though it was too short. We went apple picking and stumbled upon a fall festival in a town called Tewksberry (between that and Oldwick we thought we were in the Shire). She and I then got to attend the General Relief Society Broadcast and afterward we sent her on her way :( K-Rae you'll have to come and stay longer. It was a good weekend.


Apple Picking



Hay Ride
Fall Festival complete with free pony ride



Finally Out! Letty's first loose tooth has been hanging on for quite a while since she was afraid of pulling it out "I'm just a little nervous mom, since it's my first one." But tonight after much wiggling it finally popped out! She is very excited.

Daddy and Daughters

Friday T-man had the chance to go on a Daddy/Daughter camp out. It sounds like they had a great time! Gracie managed to run around without her shoes most of the time (which is normal around here anyway, a girl after my own heart) and Letty brought Daddy some squirrel bones, yuck! From the sound of it, most of the mom's would be appalled at what transpired there but I guess that is why they have activities like this, nothing like some good ole Daddy time!

Gracie and I have been taking advantage of some nice fall weather and venturing to the park while we can.


Coming home

Worn out and filthy

Gracie and our neighbor/friend Linc.
I love her toothy grin

What we've been doing

Letty started school this week. It was a three day week since they take off Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) here. So far she really likes it. It sounds like her teacher is a bit strict but I'm sure it will be good for Letty. She has been very excited to get up in the morning and help me make her lunch. Eating at school has been what she has looked forward to, although she isn't finishing when her class gets excused and has to go to the "slow" table. She doesn't really like that so I think she'll learn to eat faster (I think they only give them about 20 min.). Here is a first grade lesson for you. After we got home from picking up Letty she wanted a snack so I had her go and get her lunch box so she could finish up anything left in there. I picked it up to find it dripping... "what is dripping from your lunch Letty?" I say "my juice box" she replies. So we had a lesson on how we can't keep things like that in there that have been opened. It seems so obvious to us but if you've never taken your lunch anywhere on your own I could see how that could happen. She informed me that she didn't want to waste it, which is admirable but messy :)

She also now has a second loose tooth. I can't believe the one is still hanging on but she wants it to come out pain free.

As for Gracie...we have been potty training. She has been doing great except for the last couple of days where she is refusing to sit on the potty so we'll keep at it and hopefully she'll decide it's a good thing.

This weekend we had a couple of outings. First we went to the music festival which turned out to be a bust, at least in our opinion. We got there and all of the kids booths were tardy in opening. Once they got going, the bubble booth had made their own bubble solutions out of dish soap and when those big bubbles burst they sprayed and landed in several children's eyes including Gracie. Poor girl, it irritated her eye so much it looked like someone had punched her. They also had three band stands playing at the same time which equaled NOISE. So we left there and headed to the Great Swap which is a wildlife refuge. They were celebrating their 50th year anniversary by having a festival which included free food, crafts, live animal exhibits, face painting, a puppet show and bird releasing. The kids loved it and it was much more peaceful there.

First Day of School

Outside of her side of the building. They have to line up outside and the teacher takes them in. The school doesn't like a lot of parents in the building, safety I guess.
A trip to the zoo last weekend. They have a bird exhibit where you can feed them holding feeder sticks, they loved it!

At the great swap festival looking at snake skins and "stuffed" animals.

A dragonfly and a butterfly

Jersey!

Well we've been in Jersey for over a month now and figured it was finally time to post. We are pretty much all settled in minus some picture hanging and organizing (which really goes on forever). T-man is enjoying his new job and role working in Employee Relations, he comes home with some great stories! He is also enjoying the time he has to read during his commute.

Things we've done lately:
We've had a few visitors (cousins E and R, and currently Uncle N) which has made it really fun. We have taken a few trips in the city to play and when we had cousins here to sight see. We visited the Jersey shore a couple of weekends ago. I've enjoyed some play dates. We are loving having a yard to run around in the kids love the freedom. Although it is not fenced we live in between two dead end streets so it makes it really quiet and pretty safe. We haven't had a yard to play in for a while so it's fun having lots of neighbor kids around.


Peach picking

My friend Jamie and I took the kids to a near by farm. It was a little warm that day and we ended up going to get icees after.

Girls night out in NYC, we enjoyed a delectable frozen hot chocolate and some yummy sandwiches at Serendipity. There were three others not in this pic that were there. You ladies are so fun!Dum Dum at the Natural History MuseumEnjoying our cousin visit at the Belvedere Castle.Enjoying the yard!Washington Rock, an outpost in which General Washington observed New York.Turtle Back Zoo in New Jersey. There is a monkey back there somewhere. Not sure if the scaffolding is part of the exhibit or if the monkeys are doing some remodeling.Welcome to 31B our half of the duplexFront lawnThe side of the house

Our side lawn, further to the right we think might be the home of a skunk (we've had three sightings so far)

Back of our house

Back yardStanding on our back steps we can see our neighbors and friends the Giles's, they just finished the same rotational program we are in. It is really fun having friends so close. Our kids have fun running back and forth.