SHMUFFIN BABIES

Touchdown!

2009-11-07T12:16:00.004-05:00

Here's a little video from earlier this fall when we were teaching Molly "touchdown."

Playing in the leaves

2009-11-05T22:54:00.003-05:00

Random mostly PJ pictures

2009-10-28T15:05:00.008-04:00

Just a few pictures of the kiddos lately!

All buttoned up and cute in their flannel pajamas!

Painted face

Trains!

Molly is reading to him

Cozy in his new robe

After-Homecoming picnic

2009-10-22T08:09:00.018-04:00

On Sunday afternoon, we got to go to a picnic with a bunch of good friends from Geneva - some who live around the Pittsburgh area and some who came to visit for Homecoming like us. It was a great day of fun and games and catching up and good food and good weather. We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends. Erin and Jessica did a great job planning and pulling the whole picnic together. The picnic was the best part of the weekend! I tried to take a bunch of pictures early in the day while my kids were still napping, but the group shots I had to get from Jackie, Erin and Carolyn. Thanks, guys!

The guys all played a lot of "corn hole."

(Really? That's the name of the game? Lovely.)

Roommates - Jackie and Jill

Jess and Tallia

Erin and Caleb

Lucy and Aunt Erin

Ella and Emma

Two of the babies - Jess and Tallia and Nancy and Levi

The big kids playing together

Sweet baby sleeping

All the girls got a kick out of watching Lucy eating her Eat 'n Park smiley cookie

John and Emma enjoying a yummy lunch

Jill and Erin - roommates

A group shot of most of the kids (the Gratner kids went home for naps) - of course there was a lot of crying!

Elijah tried to comfort Molly when she caught the crying bug

The guys - Chris, Dave, Patrick, Luke, Nate and Jim

The girls - Nancy, Erin, Erin, Jessica (and Tallia), Jill (and Jake), Jackie, me and Carolyn (with Evans)

Geneva Homecoming and reunion

2009-10-21T18:58:00.005-04:00

While we were in Pittsburgh we got to go to Homecoming and our 10 year reunion at Geneva. We enjoyed seeing friends, professors, and the newly improved campus. It turned out to be a pretty nice day, despite the rainy forcast. We got an Orem's doughnut, had lunch at Alex's (aka Alexander Hall), went to the first half of the football game, and had dinner at Pizza Joe's. It was quite the trip down memory lane! We were also glad to catch up with my Aunt Louise. The kids took their naps at her house, and we all went to the game and dinner together.

The kids had a great time with the Rices' dog, who was very patient.

Jackie and Erin

How many cute girls can you hold at once?

The gang, catching up while Mark Rice played a concert on Memorial Lawn.

Up in a tree!

Jackie and Lily

Molly and Daddy

Oh, that cute toddler walk!

Pittsburgh trip - visiting friends

2009-10-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

We got to visit a bunch of our wonderful friends while we were in Pittsburgh. Sometimes we were better about taking pictures, but a lot of the time we were too busy enjoying each other to remember to pick up the camera. Sorry about the lack of pictures! Thanks to all of you who made some time to get together - we had such a great time seeing everyone!

Dave reads to the kids - Elijah, Molly, Ella and Lucy. Our kids didn't know what to think of Dave's interpretation of this well-loved and totally memorized book - but Ella and Lucy thought it was great. =)

We also visited Colleen and her family, and had the added bonus of seeing her mom! Elijah had a great time wearing this bike helmet. I guess he's his dad's son.

Nice face, little girl!

Titus, Molly, Elijah and Katelyn sat and colored happily together for quite a while. It was so nice!

One of my oldest friends, Colleen Lynn. This is the first picture we've taken together in 10 years!

Titus, Katelyn, Colleen and Lydia (we were missing Chris), Molly, me, Elijah and Patrick

Girls and the kids.

Pittsburgh trip - visiting family

2009-10-19T19:37:00.005-04:00

While we were in Pittsburgh, we got to visit my Grandma and Great-Aunt Jean. Since it is flu season the kids are not allowed to visit Grandma where she lives, so Aunt Jean invited all of us to her apartment for the morning to visit. It was really nice to see them, and for Elijah and Molly to spend time with them.

Elijah and Great-Grandma Jennie had fun coloring

Molly and Aunt Jean

The kids just spread out their toys and books and made themselves at home!

Elijah listens to Uncle Bruce read.

Start 'em young! Molly listens to the story, too.

Pittsburgh trip - Pittsburgh Zoo

2009-10-17T12:46:00.011-04:00

Two weeks ago we all drove out to Pittsburgh and spent the week visiting friends and family, and then attended our ten year college reunion at Geneva. It was a fun week, and we enjoyed having a whole week all together with Patrick.

We stayed at my Uncle Bruce and Aunt Margie's house for the week, and enjoyed spending time with them. On Monday we met my friend Erin and her kids at the Pittsburgh Zoo. We have had so much fun visiting so many zoos this summer and fall - the kids have been to the Roger Williams Park Zoo, the Denver Zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo and the Pittsburgh Zoo this year!

Caleb and Elijah watching the flamingos

It was a beautiful day to go to the zoo, and cool enough that a lot of the animals were up and active! We had fantastic, close up visits with the elephants and the penguins.

Checking out the fish

The kids - Emma, Elijah, Molly and Caleb

The zoo also has a cool aquarium, including some large sharks. It was Elijah's favorite part!

The boys had a great time running through the shark tunnel. It felt like we had the zoo all to ourselves!

A few more from Pennsylvania

2009-10-16T21:05:00.005-04:00

Here are few more pictures from our trip to Pennsylvania last month.

Molly's cute new pumpkin hat that Bobbi made for her - Molly loves to wear it around all the time.

Playing with Roxy

Kids with their Bobbi

Kisses!

Molly's 15 month check up

2009-10-15T16:19:00.005-04:00

Yesterday we took Molly to the doctor for what should have been her 12 month check up. It was rescheduled a couple of times and ended up being a 15 month check up instead. She is doing well, and growing a lot! She is 25 lbs 5 oz (I don't remember the % but in the 90s) and was 98% for her height (I didn't hear the actual measurement). I don't know why I'm always so forgetful when we're there, but I forgot to ask if those percentages were based on 12 month charts or 15 month charts. Molly is right on track with teeth, and walking, and is saying a few more than average words, if you are lucky enough to be around when she says them. Mostly she just says, "yeah!" She is learning some animal sounds and is quite the little climber. Molly is working on going from two naps a day to just one. She is starting to be a little bit more friendly with new people, and enjoys being silly. Molly is loving books and videos about animals, especially farm animals and pets. She is still very cuddly and loves her pacifiers and her Bobbi blanket. Elijah has a couple of special blankets, but he never carried them around with him or used them for comfort like Molly does. It is pretty cute, and useful to have something comforting to give her when she is upset, but I sure hope nothing happens to that blanket!

While we were in the exam room waiting for the doctor, Patrick measured Elijah too, just for fun. He was 41 inches tall and 39 pounds - the size of your average four year old, according to the doctor. According to this, that means he'll be about 6'6" at age 18.

Reading with Daddy

Still catching up - Philadelphia Zoo

2009-10-15T13:44:00.010-04:00

A few weeks ago the kids and I got to spend a week in Pennsylvania visiting Patrick's family. We had a great time. One of the highlights of the week was our trip to the Philadelphia Zoo with Bobbi, Diane and her kids, and Lorrie and her kids. We saw lots of animals and the kids had a great time together. Elijah especially liked the reptile and amphibian house, where he and Zoie were carefully searching for all the little creatures. He is still talking about the gecko, chameleon, and tiny orange tree frog that he saw there. It was a fun day! Here are some pictures - for more check out our Picasa album, and Diane's photos here.

All the cousins! Brynn, Maiah, Zoie, Elijah, Evan, Rylee, and Molly

End of summer - playing at the park

2009-10-01T07:10:00.000-04:00

Here are just a few pictures of the kids playing at the park. We had a lovely, warm sunny day on Monday that felt like the last day of summer. We made the most of it and had lots of fun at a local park that we found recently. I think we're starting to get to know our new town now, even though the kids and I have been gone more than we've been home since we moved.

Fall farm fun

2009-09-30T14:21:00.010-04:00

This morning we met some friends at a local farm. The kids had a great time running around and seeing goats and farm equipment and fields and lots of pumpkins and produce of all kinds. It must really be fall now - we had to wear our jackets! It was a beautiful day though, and we enjoyed our little adventure.

Titus, Molly, Elijah, and Arlen

Molly especially loved the goats.

This backhoe was also a big hit.

What a fun fall day!

Colorado trip - hangin' out

2009-09-12T21:02:00.008-04:00

Here are just a few more pictures of our trip to Colorado in August. The kids had a great time just hangin out at Nana & Grandpa's house and playing. We were all glad to get to spend some time with Uncle Stuart, as well.

Molly shared my Jamba Juice - yum! And now she really, really wants anything I have with a straw. Oops.

Being a silly girl

Playing with Uncle Stuart

Playing the guitar with Grandpa

Playing outside with Nana

There were several days when both kids were just worn out by the time we got home for naps.

Colorado trip - the railroad museum

2009-09-12T18:55:00.008-04:00

Another of our favorite days in Colorado was going to the Colorado Railroad Museum with Grandpa. It is a great museum, with lots of kinds engines and cars to see and even climb on and explore inside. Elijah and Grandpa especially had a great time exploring and seeing the trains together.

Labor Day, and a recipe to share

2009-09-09T12:33:00.009-04:00

We got to spend Labor Day with Jackie and Luke in Connecticut this year. We had a good time just hanging out - the kids played, the adults talked, we ate good food and played a fun game.

We tried actually taking some pictures, since we never do. Mostly, it didn't work out too well.

Molly was not going to sit there.

So, we tried to get just the older three. This is the best one.

But we did get this one - thanks, Luke!

While we were there, Jackie and I were talking and she asked me for this recipe. I thought I would put it up here, so everyone can try it! I've made this a couple of times, and we love it. It's pretty mild (and we like it that way), but using hot salsa instead of mild and adding Tabasco or a jalapeno would heat it up if you like it spicier. I prefer to use leftover chicken, or to marinate and then bake or grill it - I think it is less dry and more tasty that way. Of course, this way is very quick and easy! I don't think I let it simmer for that long, either, but it always turns out great.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (or leftover cooked chicken)

1/2 teaspoon olive oil

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth

1 cup frozen corn kernels

1 cup chopped onion

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1 tablespoon lemon (or lime) juice

1 cup chunky salsa

1 cup milk

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 can black beans, drained (optional)

tortilla chips

sour cream

In a large pot over medium heat, sauté the chicken in the oil for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cumin and mix well. Then add the broth, corn, onion, chili powder, lemon juice, salsa, and beans. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes. Add the cheese and the milk; bring just to a boil, and remove from heat.

Break up some tortilla chips into individual bowls and pour soup over chips. Top with a little sour cream.

Yum!

Colorado trip - friends

2009-09-09T12:11:00.004-04:00

While we were in Colorado we were busy with family a lot of the time, and some of the time the kids were either overly tired or not feeling well, so we didn't get to do as much visiting as we wanted to. We did get to meet our friends Tori and Matt at the park one morning. The boys had a great time playing, and we enjoyed catching up and talking about mommy stuff.

Picnic lunch

Yelling down the storm drain

Colorado trip - the "dinosaur museum"

2009-09-09T10:54:00.008-04:00

Another one of Elijah's favorite parts of our trip to Colorado was going to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, or as he calls it, the "dinosaur museum." The museum is much too large to cover in one morning, but we saw the dinosaurs and some of the animal exhibits - the Colorado habitats, and Africa. Nana and Grandpa and Uncle Stuart all came with us. We had a lot of fun!

We walked in and what was the first thing we saw?

T- REX!

There were more dinosaurs and lots of other cool fossils

And animal habitat exhibits

I don't know if the museum designed things like this on purpose, but ...

there was a lot of climbing on things.

I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to climb in to the exhibits!

Molly enjoyed everything a lot more than I expected - she was checking everything out.

I remember this saber tooth tiger (it roars when you put a coin in) as one of the coolest parts of going to the museum when I was a kid. Elijah did not like it - too loud! Maybe he'll appreciate it more when he's older.

Colorado trip - the Zoo

2009-09-05T19:24:00.006-04:00

While we were in Colorado, we got to go to the Denver Zoo with Nana, Grandpa, Linde and the girls. We had a great time, and saw lots of animals. We had a great up-close view of the tiger and some snow leapords. Elijah was especially excited to see the lions, tiger, and polar bear since the Roger Williams Park Zoo doesn't have those animals. He was thrilled to see some of his favorites from his home zoo, too. ("Look, Mama! An African Crowned Crane!") Even the little girls enjoyed it, despite the hot day. All the kids spent a lot of the walking around time eating and drinking.

Elijah checking out the polar bear

He was big and very playful

The little girls did great in the stroller

The big kids walked and walked and walked - but we were thankful for their strollers by the time we headed out

Buffalo

Sea lions

Giraffes

Tallie

Molly

Piper

Elijah

Colorado trip - fun with cousins

2009-09-05T16:29:00.013-04:00

The kids and I went to back to Colorado to visit for 3 weeks in August. We had a great time with Nana & Grandpa and lots of family and friends. My brother John and his family came out from Grand Junction to visit us twice, and Linde and the girls stayed for the whole first week. We really enjoyed spending time with them, and it was great that the cousins had a chance to play together! We also got to spend time with some of my cousins and their kids - Jackie and Jen were visiting Melissa during our trip. You can check out their sites for more pictures and stories of all their visits.

Elijah making a rock collection

Molly and Luke playing soccer

The girls busy with their rock coloring

Lily - rock chalk

Sophie helping Elijah with his rocks

Logan enjoyed his ice cream a little too much!

Nana reading with Elijah and Piper

Elijah and Piper spent a lot of time with the Play-Doh

All the kids loved playing the piano.

Watching train videos with Grandpa

Miss Molly - silly

Playing bubbles with Nana

Little girls playing

Elijah and Piper did such a great job together! Their mammas and grandparents were all surprised and pleased at how well they shared and worked together (most of the time). The little girls mostly played near each other, but they were cute, too. Tallie is just four weeks older than Molly, and it was fun to see how much alike they are, and all the things that they are doing at the same time. Tallie is walking better, and Molly is talking a little more. And of course, Tallie has more hair than Piper and Molly combined! It has been over a year since we had been together with John's family, and this was the first time that the little girls got to meet. We were so glad for lots of time to just be together!

We're back!

2009-08-31T20:57:00.003-04:00

Hey! We finally have internet access again! I will try to get caught up on July, moving, August, and the trip the kids' and I took to Colorado as soon as I can. Here are a couple of pictures from the end of July to tide you all over for now!

Elijah's giant train tracks

Boxes are the best part of moving! They were using this one as a drum.

Still here

2009-07-28T05:43:00.001-04:00

We are experiencing technical difficulties. Please bear with us. We hope to have this madness resolved very soon! Life without internet access is no fun :(

One year and three year portraits

2009-07-11T21:49:00.007-04:00

We had Elijah's and Molly's pictures taken a few weeks ago for their birthdays. Here are a few of the good ones.

Moving

2009-07-11T21:18:00.004-04:00

So, we moved yesterday. Well, our furniture and stuff did, anyway. Not a big move this time - it's just about 20 minutes from the old place to the new place. The new place is a lot closer to Patrick's office, which means more a little more time with him in the evenings - hooray! The old and new places are about the same size, but we will have interior stairs at the new place (Molly will be thrilled) and our own, ground floor front door. I am excited not to have to carry the groceries and a kid (and hold another hand) half a block from the parking lot and up a flight of stairs to our front door anymore. Yeah! There are some things I am not as excited about - the kitchen is the size of a closet, and there's no room for the sewing machine, and anyone taller than Elijah has to duck going down the stairs, and there is very little storage space - but I am going to focus on the good things. Patrick and I got to spend the day unpacking and getting things set up at the new place, thanks to Jackie who watched the kids for us, and Luke who helped us unpack, and Becky & Charlie who kept their kids while they were here. We really got a lot done, and I was encouraged to see that things are fitting pretty well, and we're finding solutions for most things. We aren't really moved in yet - we're all still sleeping at the old place at this point (the kids in their own beds and us on the air mattress), but we'll get there soon. Patrick's parents are coming up tomorrow to help us get completely moved in and baby-proof and all that jazz. We're so thankful for all the help we've had this week and all month as we've been packing and getting ready. Maybe soon I can put up some pictures of the new place.

Beach babes

2009-07-08T16:16:00.002-04:00

We got to spend the afternoon at the beach on Friday. It was a really fun day! It was cool and rainy for most of June, so I wasn't expecting the water to be warm enough to go in, but it was! (Obviously, I have never taken a baby to the beach before. Lesson learned: baby needs a swimsuit even if you don't think she's going to get wet.)