Happy Thanksgiving from our little pilgrim

(The hat is even cuter in person)

Good things come in packages from Pennsylvania

Four of the five of us had the stomach flu last week and goodness, it was miserable. We're not quite sure how Brinnly survived--it's certainly not a result of her diet. However, a few lovely gifts arrived via mail to make our week manageable.


First, from the Wilsons, three fancy-shmancy tutus all in the "right" colors!  Orange!  Purple! Pink!  In that order! As you can see, the girls don't even make it out of jammies in the morning before they come on. 

(She thought Johnny Wilson would approve of the Steeler shirt)

Sometimes Brinnly even wears two of them at the same time. It goes really well with her early-morning hair.

Carrigan just learned how to "cheese" for the camera.

And speaking of Miss Carrigan...

look what Kellie created for her:

Isn't it incredible?  It completely captures our baby girl and I immediately remember the details of the day I took that snapshot every time I look at it.  It will perfect next to her sketches of the other girls on our living room wall.  Have we mentioned lately how thankful we are for our dear friends?

Crayon-berries.

"Mommy, I don't get it.  Why are they called cranberries?  They are only one color."--Brinnly

Not even an ear infection can keep this one down

Girls' Night In

The girls and I had plans the other night that ended up cancelling so we were all a little bummed.  Jonathan went for a much-needed guys' night and I told the girls they could set our agenda. After a yummy dinner of "brinner"--that is, chocolate cheerios, egg bake, and fruit for dinner, we broke out the play-doh.  It was Carrigan's first real go at it and I think she's hooked.  Then they stamped and painted away before we tucked the little one in and ended the night baking pumpkin bread for the next morning. All in all, a "lemonade out of lemons" evening.

Halloweeen 2010

Carrigan finally got excited to wear her pumpkin costume--I made a half-hearted attempted to look like a pumpkin farmer.

Aunt Kara and Uncle Josh joined us for trick-or-treating.

I mean, Woody and Jessie

After weeks of planning to be Snow White and a clown, there was a last minute change into an elephant and giraffe.

Carrigan was fierce about not letting anyone interfere with her stash.

Happy Halloween (and Reformation Day, of course!) from our family to yours.

Fifteen Months Old

This is quite possibly our favorite picture of Carrigan, ever.  It sums up her current state of being--in motion, dressed in "pretties" like her big sisters, and blonder than ever.  She just had her well-child check up and weighed in at 20 lbs, even, and 30 inches.  That puts her right in the 10th percentile for weights (just like the other girls) and 54% for height.  Pretty tall for a member of the Ward family!  Her sound vocabulary is growing and her vocal cords get PLENTY of exercise, even without many words. She has become more of a snuggler lately and we're all happy to indulge her.  She's also picking up more of the nursery rhymes and games that we play at the library and at home and plays them well with her sisters.  But mostly she's climbing and running, and carrying things everywhere.  The bigger the better.

Grandma Deni came to carve pumpkins! And more!

"What in the world is Grandma Deni going to do with ths?
(She ended up carving a C.G. for Carrigan Grace in it for her)

Mali wanted a mad face which she practiced.

Practicing for Halloween

Quick break from leaf "helping".

A great weeken for Grandma and her girls.  And their parents!

ArtPrize and Sprinklers and Nature Walks and Fall...all with the Kurths

Special thanks to the State of Michigan for the fanstic warm weather and the beautiful display of fall colors.  Way to impress our favorite Texans!