The Proof Is In the Pig Pile

Last Fall, when Joe was living in Minneapolis through the week and we were living at the farm, the girls missed him. 

The proof is in the pig pile.

Sap to Syrup

About a week before we moved out of Grandma and Grandpa's house, our friend Sheila invited us to attend a field trip to a Maple Syrup Farm.  It was fascinating to learn about the process wherein a five gallon bucket of sap turns into a little bottle of maple syrup.

It takes a shed full of wood to keep the evaporator running.

We learned about every step in the process

and even got to sample different grades of maple syrup.  All of our kids decided that they preferred non maple syrup, the stuff that Aunt Jemima provides.

We saw some hints of fall

and enjoyed a picnic lunch after the tour.

A Gem

Every once in awhile, I find a picture on the camera that's a real gem.

Just like the girl in it.

Nails

Cousin Laney turned four on September 21st.  Aliyah and I decided to kidnap her for the morning to celebrate.  We began by cashing in two coupons for a free nail polish.

One for Aliyah

and one for birthday girl, Laney.

They were very serious

and still

and quiet.

Once their nails were complete

and they had modeled them for me,

we stopped and used a free cookie coupon at a nearby restaurant.

When we ran out of coupons, we headed to a park to meet up with family and friends for Laney's birthday party.

No Adults Necessary

We've got lots of help at Grandma's house.

Need someone to watch the baby?

Cousin Grace will protect him

and Tikvah

will happily

supervise.

Everyone seems happy with this arrangement

except for Isaiah.

Unusual

Joey dressed himself.  This is not unusual.

What is unusual is that he has on approximately five shirts, four pairs of pants, and three pairs of underwear.

I have no idea why, but I do know who helped:  Theia.

Seven Years Later

Maplewood State Park.  

It's a Pull family tradition.  They have made an annual trek to the park and up to the viewing area each fall since Joe was a child.  

The last time we hiked (2006) with the Pull family was when our family looked like this:

Xandra was about one month old

and this is who was there:

Joe, Trisha, Xandra; Laura, Ryan, Cora; Beth & Josh; Tim & Mary

In 2013, the trek up to lookout hill looked like this:

Laura and Ryan invited the church youth group along for the afternoon.

Joey and Joe; Ryan and Lucy

Evie, Cora, Xandra, Theia, Tikvah, Aliyah, Gramps

Evie, Cora, Grace, Lucy, Xandra, Theia, Tikvah, Joey, Aliyah

Aliyah, Trisha (with Isaiah), Xandra, Theia, Joey, Tikvah, Joe

Seven years later, this is the crew that was present (minus the youth group):

Grandma Mary, Trisha (with Isaiah), Lucy, Evie, Joey (hidden beind Evie), Cora, Aliyah, Grace, Laura, Theia, Gramps, Ryan, Tikvah, Joe and Xandra

After a rest and group pictures, this is what the trek down the hill looked like:

Gramps performing stunts,

the girls discovering a toad

and snacks and drinks at the bottom.

Ongoing

Ongoing communication with the tooth fairy from fall 2013.

A Ham

This kid is a ham.
Check out that smile in the video below.



And the one in this video, too.

Besides that charming smile, she's also got lots to say.

No Doubt

There's no doubt in my mind:



1.  Tikvah loves this baby.
2.  One year olds are funny.
3.  One year olds are dangerous.

For anyone who needs an interpreter:  Yes.  She is saying, "Tickle, tickle, tickle."
PS - Tikvah reminds me of King Kong at the end of that video.

The Final Celebration

On the Saturday after Joey's birthday, when daddy was home, we celebrated.

We started the morning with a few presents from mommy and daddy.

Then we played with the presents,

as soon as we figured out how they went together.  Those trains can be complicated.

He got some much hoped for sunglasses, which he broke about a half a day later.

Auntie Laura and company gave him this rather noisy gun and backpack set.  It gets a lot of use.  He also received a squirt gun set from Auntie Beth which has made bathtime a whole new adventure around here.

Everyone watched while Joey made quick work of presents.

Then it was time to eat that awesomely decorated cake.

After cake, it was back to the train set

and soaking up as much fun with daddy as one weekend can hold.