Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Christmas--Round 1

Christmas 2009 has been a rousing success thus far. It was our year for Christmas Day with Jonathan's side of the family and we were grateful that everyone willingly traveled to Grand Rapids so we could host at our house. The girls had such fun preparing! Christmas Eve night was full of appetizers and story reading. Mali refused to put out cookies for Santa because "I made those for our FAMILY!". We woke up Christmas morning to gifts of penguins, lions, books, games, gift cards, bikes, and tunnels. We topped off the night with hotel swimming after lots of good old-fashioned hanging out. It was decided that pasta is a new holiday tradition and of course, we couldn't do without Grandma Deni's spinach balls. Click here for all of the pictures.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Snow bunnies and other costumes

Several generous Santas have been supplying my girls with quite the variety of costumes...





Joy to the World!


Merry Christmas from the Ward family. December 25th may be over, but it still is the Christmas season and we're taking full opportunity to celebrate our Savior's birth. Rejoice! Our King is here.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Five Months Old




She's been a charmer this month! Carrigan has learned to devour rice cereal and looks forward to being part of the table during dinner time each evening. Attempts at applesauce and peaches have not been nearly as successful. Maybe we'll have better luck with veggies? She also now loves her jumper and exer-saucer and kicks her feet for anything fun. Her sisters continue to adore her--until she grabs their hair. Speaking of hair, for the record, she certainly not bald--just fair and blond. Maybe she'll grow up having more fun?

Friday, December 18, 2009

Preschool Celebrations





Mali had her debut in the Our Savior's preschool program this week. (I'll attempt to post a video of it someday!) The kids did a fantastic job of proclaiming the good news even though they missed quite a few practices due to snow days. Brinn was content to be the "clapper" and pose for pictures before and after the program. Carrigan played the role of angel, as she often does, and spent most of the time snoozing in her car seat. And yesterday Mali had her first ever school Christmas party with candy cane shaped rice-krispy treats and snowball basketball. Now she's on Christmas break!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thankful

For the safe arrival of Carrigan Grace to the world, for sisters that adore her so much, for our hometown of Grand Rapids and the short drive to those we love in Berrien Springs, for our memories in Milwaukee and Pittsburgh, for the four seasons, for provision even during months of unemployment, for friends to share our lives and make us laugh, for new brothers-in-laws,for our health, for our past and current church families, for celebrations and holidays, and all of the other days in between, and most of all for God's grace...we are so very thankful.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Pre-Thanksgiving Feast

Carrigan was so envious watching the rest of us eat ice cream cones for dessert tonight that we decided it was time to try out the rice cereal on her. She did really well! Unlike a certain sister of hers that always made spoon-feeding difficult. Not to name names, BRINNLY RUTH WARD. But that's another story. It will be fun to have a fifth chair around our table now!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Four Months Old


Carrigan has had quite a month! She was a cheerleader for Halloween, made her first trip to Fort Wayne to play with her friend Miriam, and spent lots of time outside enjoying the gorgeous fall weather. She is now big enough to play in the her jumper and exer-saucer and does great in both as long as her sisters give her enough space. She was a hit at our church's chili cook-off and charmed her way through the crowd. Next up--rice cereal!

Friday, November 20, 2009

Five on Friday

1) Our November has been jam-packed with activities which helps to explain our lack of posting. Two days after our Wisconsin visitors left, Jonathan had a business trip to Indiana so we all went along and used it as an excuse to visit our dear friends, The Meyers. We were there for four days total-what a change from our usual less-than-24 hours-visit! They were gracious hosts, as always. Although I do admit I'm tired of being asked to "cook more like Aunt Ruth".

2) The girls favorite "recipes" of Aunt Ruth? Lunch Roll-Ups. Take one piece of lunch meat and once piece of sliced cheese. Roll up together. Serve. (Why do I bother baking?)

3) While we were there, Mali missed two days of pre-school but was delighted to visit her friend Timmy's class for a day. What fun!

4) We came home to Grand Rapids for about 48 hours and then turned around to spend the day in Michigan. My mom and I went shopping with Kara and another bridesmaid for dresses--no pictures of that, we'll save those for the big day!

5) Jonathan kept the girls busy during that day with the help of Grandma Deni, Ken, Aunt Amber, Uncle Banish, and Grandpa Gregg. As Mali said "Grandma Deni is in charge of carving pumpkins!" so that's what they did! No arguing with her on that one.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Five Adults, Eight Kids


It has been a whirlwind in the Ward household the past few weeks! To start it off, we had visitors from Milwaukee--our friend Hannah, her sister Rachel, brother-in-law John, and kids Grace, Micah, Nora, Bethany, and Lydia. In the short few days they were there, we went to Family Bible Study together, ran in the Alger Heights 5-K (well, not the kids!), checked out the East Grand Rapids Library, sang quite a few Billy Joel favorites and made several yummy meals together. The kids loved having such a full house, as did the adults. We're already attepting to plan another trip to the Badger State--hopefully for Reinke-fest this summer!



For the rest of the pictures, click here

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Trick or Treat



(Please note the costumes of football players and cheerleaders along with Coach Daddy, complete with clipboard)

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Three Months Old




Our Care-Bear is one quarter of a year old! It is as easy as ever to coax out a smile from her and then becomes almost embarrassed and looks away. Now she is even more alert when she's awake and is having a harder time sleeping anywhere besides her bed. My days of running errands with a "portable" infant may be numbered. She also has started making an impressive variety of sounds and enjoying the toys on her bouncy seat. So much fun.

Saturday, October 17, 2009