Two Little Ballerinas

Let me start by saying "Merry Christmas!!" I have some great Christmas pictures of the kids to post, but first I wanted to show how cute the girls were at their first dance recital two weeks ago! Lauren's class dressed up as presents and performed a ballet number to the song "Happy Birthday, Jesus." They were as cute as they could be! Katie's class wore matching tutus and did a ballet routine to the song "My Favorite Day." I was so proud of both of them!

Not Quite a Bible Verse...

Several weeks ago, Lauren was working on her Bible verses for Cubbies (a program at church in which the kids learn Bible verses and earn patches for their uniform/vest). David had practiced with her the night before, and the verse was "I am wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:14). When I asked her what the verse was, she thought for a minute and then said, "I am...so beautiful!" I wonder just what David was teaching her?! :) By the way, in the above picture, she had stamped her face with ink pads and put on the red lipstick we used for Halloween. Yes, she is ornery AND beautiful!

Happy Halloween!

Well, as you can see, I have gotten far behind on posting new stories and pictures. I guess that's life with four children! :) I did want to show the kids dressed in their Halloween costumes: Katie was Snow White, Lauren was Sleeping Beauty, Preston was a penguin, and Parker was a skunk. We had a great time on Halloween--the weather was beautiful and it was fun to walk around our neighborhood!

Kisses for Daddy

Several nights ago David was playing with Parker and giving him kisses. Parker thought that was so funny, and he started giving Daddy "kisses," too. Actually, David thought that Parker just wanted to suck on his chin, but it sure was cute to watch!

Katie's Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Katie's kindergarten class took a field trip to the Pumpkin Patch last week, and they had such a fun time! She chose a pumpkin just the right size...one she could carry herself!

Katie, Meet the Tooth Fairy!

I'm a little slow in posting this, but Katie lost her first tooth on October 18th. She was so excited! She had gone to St. Louis with Grandma and PaPa Shoesmith to visit her cousins (and aunt and uncle, too!) over Fall Break, and she called the night before they came home to tell us that she had a loose tooth. Well, this was news to us! Apparently it had been loose for awhile and we didn't know it, because she called the next evening as they were traveling home to tell us that her tooth had fallen out. Actually, she said she was standing there, and it "just floated out!" David and I were disappointed that we weren't with her when the tooth actually came out, but as least she was home that night so the Tooth Fairy could visit! She now has two other teeth that are loose...our baby is growing up!

Not Too Sure About Peas...

About two weeks ago the boys started eating vegetables--you know, the runny, flavorless, smashed up ones that Lauren likes to call "the Gerber." We started out with peas...and you can tell by the looks on their faces they weren't too crazy about them (can you blame them?). I am happy to report that now they do gobble them up (they've had peas, squash, and green beans in addition to the rice cereal and applesauce, pears, and peaches). It is hilarious to watch them eat, because BOTH of them do the funniest thing; once I give them the bite of food, they swallow, and then they immediately put their thumb in their mouth. It is amazing to watch them do so many things exactly the same way (oh, my, what will they come up with once they are old enough to plot and conspire against us??).