To the Park in January!

It's not that often the weather is nice enough around here in January to play outside...but today I think we topped out around 61 degrees and sunny!  We just couldn't resist a trip to the park.  The park we go to has a pond with lots of sidewalks along with a playground.  We took Ethan's bike and Nora's stroller and had a great walk/ride around before finding some slides to go down.  This park is so pretty...I think we'll have to try a photo shoot there in the summer!

Biking around the pond!

Such a handsome boy

Look close, neither foot is touching...

Nora all bundled up, enjoying her morning at the park too.

Riding in the sand is hard work...I ended up carrying the bike for this portion of our walk.

Bittersweet Goodbye

One of my best friends, Elizabeth (find here blog here) has, temporarily, moved back to Salem. Actually, she has moved into one of her childhood homes. One that I used to walk through the woods, across the street and through the field (or backyard...it seemed like a field at the age of 6) to get to. We have a lot of fun memories from that house, so it was really great to visit with her there. She and her adorable family will be heading overseas to spread the Gospel of Jesus to the Middle East.  While it is hard to say goodbye, not knowing when we will see each other again, it is awesome to know that she and her family are obediently following our God!

Here we are in her backyard somewhere around 1988, maybe??

And here we are 20+ years later.  Too bad we didn't recreate the pose...



The kids had a good time playing while we visited for a while. 

Ethan and Andrew (2 months apart) with Hap

Ethan- 2 1/2, Nora- 2 mo, Andrew- 2 1/2, Jacob- 4 mo, Sam- 4 1/2

Please remember the Jolliff family in your prayers as they begin their lives in the Middle East.
Hap and Elizabeth, I am so proud to call you friends and will miss you dearly!  We love you all!

More Christmas Vacation!

We spent about 2 weeks in Salem around Christmas.  (With a trip back home, here and there.)  Since Abby and Alex, along with some of our cousins were in town, we decided to stay and hang out.  Poor Jared had to come back and work some though :(.  Anyway, we had a great time.  Ethan and all the other kiddos get along pretty well (most of the time), and they enjoyed having other little people to play with.  Enjoy some pictures of our time with family!

3 Cousins in a tub!  Paige-5 1/2, Ethan-2 1/2, Josiah- 4(in Feb)

Wrestling

Just stole this cute one from Amanda's blog :)

Nativity Fun!

In the next several pictures, you will notice a black shirt theme...Squibb Tank Company (the family business) is celebrating 50 years.  Shirts were made and worn to to Squibb family get together!

Ethan and Tyler

The Daddy's entertaining the boys...Jared & Ethan, Timm & Caleb, Micah & Scout

The 3rd annual 'Rob Your Neighbor' gift exchange was a big hit again.  It didn't get too vicious this year,  but there was some stealing going on.   I wish I would have gotten a picture of the kids upstairs.  We were in the basement and left all of the kids (for a while, at least) upstairs with popcorn and a movie.  It was pretty cute to see 11 kids in the living room watching Tangled.  There were 14 in all, counting the babies who hung with their mama's. 

Kacey, Sara, Markey, Tom, Amanda, Shannon

Abby, Alex, Beth, Steve, Linda, Wayne (and baby Nora)

Shannon, Jim, Abby

My lovely Mama, Libby, Katie, Josh

Nora even got a Squibb Tank Shirt and her Daddy opted for the baby blue short sleeved version

And, last but not least...the group shot!

Thank-you Michael Brandon for hanging out with our family and taking our picture!

Merry Christmas: Part 1

Our Christmas weekend didn't turn out exactly as planned, but we had a great one.  We had planned on staying at home and then heading down to Salem on Christmas day, but we were here earlier in the week.  Jared's uncle David passed away and we were here for the services and it didn't make sense to drive back and forth.  No worries...Santa found us here in SoIL. 
We started our gift opening on Christmas eve at Jared's parents house.  We had a great meal and an overall great day.

Jared, Nora and Dustin



Ethan and Grandma Karen

Opening some presents!

 After our day at the Collier's we headed back into town to get ready for the Christmas Eve Service at church.  I have gone to Christmas Eve service for as long as I can remember.  There is just something amazing about gathering together and remembering the real reason we are all together!

Our Family all ready for church

Ethan and Nora in their snowman pjs

He sang us Jingle Bells before bed...I didn't even know he knew the song.

Christmas morning, we got up and went to church (I'm not sure we will ever be able to hold off Christmas morning again) and while there, Santa came!

Checking out the stocking

Nora was thrilled with her new purse and cell phone...

Say Cheese!

Abby, Nora and Pop

Alex and Abby giving Ethan a Spiderman tattoo

Grilling some meat

Nora at 2 Months

Nora was 2 months old yesterday.  And these last 2 months have flown by!

She has started smiling and 'talking'.  I love talking to her and watching her smile back.  A few things about our Nora:

• She's a healthy girl!  She had her 2 mo check-up today where she got 3 shots and an oral vaccine (poor girl).  She weighs 13 lbs (95%) and is 24 in long (97%).
• She would much rather lay and look at you (when awake) than be held.
• She is sleeping great!  The last week, she has been consistent at 8 hours or so at night.  11pm to 7am, generally.
• She enjoyed her 1st Christmas, even if she was unaware :).
• She still has her umbilical hernia, and the doctors aren't at all concerned, so I'm not either!  It's just a part of her.
• She is eating great- about every 3 to 4 hours during the day. 
• Her eyes are dark blue and hair is light brown, though there is still time for both to change colors.
• Her big brother, Ethan, loves her and I love to hear him talking to her.  It's so funny.  

Waiting to see the Dr. this morning.

Neighborhood Christmas

Since moving, we have really  missed our neighbors.  I knew we would, but we still try to get together as often as possible.  We had our annual 'Neighborhood' Christmas get together (even if we aren't in the neighborhood anymore).  Eric and Heather were wonderful hosts, as usual, and we had a great time.  Ethan and Braden were running and playing like crazy boys and Zach joined in on it too!  While us adults enjoyed chatting and catching up (with a little Nora cuddling on the side).  It's so nice to have great friends to spend time with!  Merry Christmas 'neighbors'! 

Presents!

Zach and Nora hanging out

The engineers

Dr's. Ethan and Braden (they both got doctor kits)

Ruth cuddling with Nora

Ethan and Braden...Best Buds!

Photo shoot over.  Ethan took off, followed shortly by Braden!

Finger Painting!

Here in Mt. Zion, we have this great little ceramics shop called Next of Kiln.  There are all kinds of projects to paint from bowls, plates and pitchers to seasonal decorations and jewlery boxes.  I've painted a few projects there and always have a great time.
Anyway...Arika, Ethan's sitter from the time he was born, is getting ready to move to Alabama.  I'm super sad about this and I know Ethan will be too (when he figures out what is going on).  He has 2 other friends that go to Arika as well, Braden and Noah.  Us moms decided we wanted to get something for Arika for her to remember the boys by.  So, we went to Next of Kiln.  They do lots of finger/hand/foot print things and had a great idea.  The boys had a good time getting their hands dirty and I think Arika will really like her little piece of them. 

Braden, making his mark!  Notice the nice blue streak in Heather's hair.  Braden painted her :)

Ethan's turn.  He really liked doing this!

Now time for Noah.  He wasn't so into it...but he made his flower.

Nora even got in on the paint.  The owner of the shop said she would do a footprint for us at no charge!  So we have a little pink Nora footprint on a tile. 

Finished Product!

 Noah wasn't able to deliver it with us.  And I forgot my camera, so my phone had to do...

Ethan, Arika and Braden being silly!

This picture is one from Arika during the summer.  It's the three 2 year olds!

Noah, Ethan and Braden