Five on Friday

1) Winter is now officially half over. Woo-hoo! At last count, this region of Michigan has had 89 inches of snow (the estimate for the entire year was 80 inches) and there is more to come this weekend.

2) In case you were wondering, the girls decided the other day that they will be frogs this year for Halloween and the baby will be a lion. Since they already have their future birthday celebrations planned out, Halloween was the next logical event to discuss.

3) Speaking of the baby, I interviewed a midwife the other day and we are going to change to her practice from our family doctor's. Our experiences with the Midwife Center in Pittsburgh were so positive that we like to have something comparable.

4) Don't tell my food blog, but the kids and I had Pasta Roni for lunch today. I did manage to sneak broccoli in it as well as also serve turkey sandwiches on whole wheat bread on the side.

4) Here we go, Steelers, here we go! Pittsburgh is going to the Super Bowl--again! I already have our family's outfits picked out for that big day. I'm not used to living in a place where wearing your football fan gear is not approrpiate for church. No one had a problem with that in either Milwaukee or Pittsburgh.

A new (blog) addition

Kellie and I have launched a new blog: Two Crowded Kitchens. Check out our takes on healthy living and feeding growing families!

Miriam Elisabeth Meyer

My BFF and godmother to our Brinnly Ruth now has a little pink bundle of joy to call her own. Congratulations to all of the Meyer family--parents Jonathan & Ruth and big brothers Benjamin & Timothy. Miriam entered the world on January 2, 2009 and was 6 lbs, 11 oz. We can't wait to travel to Fort Wayne soon to meet her and add to the shower of pink I'm sure their home is experiencing.

Christmas Part III (Third in a Three-Part Series)

All of our Christmas seasons as a family have involved traveling away from home for at least part of the celebrations. So ever since Mali was born, we have celebrated January 5th, the 12th day of Christmas, to spend time together at home, as an immediate family. We have a somewhat-special dinner together (it's usually more elaborate when we're not in the middle of unpacking and growing a third baby) and have the girls open a present from us. As you can see, it was a kitchen set this year. This year we reflected on our Christmas celebrations and sang a few carols. Now if we could only make it to an Epiphany service...

Pittsburgh 2008-2009

Playing. Porch-swinging. Cuddling, Dancing. Eating. More eating. Rocking. New Year's In-Ringing. All the makings of a wonderful vacation.







(Looking through these, there were so many other opportunities for pictures that we missed. Our apologies especially to the White family, for being so busy eating at your house that we forgot to capture those moments!)

Christmas Part II

What are those things on the girls' heads, you ask? Christmas hats? Elf costumes? Umm, no. The girls enjoyed opening stocking stuffers at Grandma Dena's house after Christmas and were beyond-excited that "Santa' (in this case, Grandma Deni) had brought Mali big girl Elmo-themed panties. Not that Santa had envisioned them being used in that particular manner. But Brinn can't pass up any chance for dress-up so on the heads they went. And the other stocking treats were a hit as well, for both adults and kids alike.

Christmas Part I

We were blessed to be able to host our first Christmas ever this year as the Shunkwiler clan (plus Aunt Kara's beau, Josh) joined us for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. They arrived with the "sleigh" packed with gifts and we enjoyed good food, beautiful worship services, and family time together. Santa was supplied with cookies and milk and rewarded the girls with a toddler trampoline. And like any good father would, Jonathan ultimately told Mali (upon persistent asking on her part) that Santa was indeed pretend, but we could have fun and pretend together. And that no, Jesus was not pretend. She still asks to go pick Santa up at the mall so he can come to our house as well as pick Mary and Joseph up at the airport. We're working on an answer for that one.

A Happy, Happy New Year

We ushered in the new year last night in one of our favorite places in the world...Pittsburgh, PA. Our first trip back "home" since our move. We were planning to arrive here mid-day Wednesday, but were so excited to start our vacation that we left Monday evening and drove straight through. The girls were star travelers--we can only hope this streak continues for the ride home.

And how we have missed this place and those who live here! We have been soaking up time with our friends, had one of several relaxing playdates with the Ryans, enjoyed delicious as well as healthy foods at the Whites, ventured on to our old street and even worshipped at First Trinity this morning. Tonight, thanks to our wonderful Pittsburgh baby-sitters, the Terhunes, we even enjoyed a date night with the Andraes while the three girls ran wild at home.

Michigan, we love you, but I think we will regularly need a good dose of Pittsburgh from now on.

Welcome 2009!