Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Random mostly PJ pictures

Just a few pictures of the kiddos lately!
All buttoned up and cute in their flannel pajamas!


Painted face

Trains!




Molly is reading to him



Cozy in his new robe

Thursday, October 22, 2009

After-Homecoming picnic

On Sunday afternoon, we got to go to a picnic with a bunch of good friends from Geneva - some who live around the Pittsburgh area and some who came to visit for Homecoming like us. It was a great day of fun and games and catching up and good food and good weather. We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends. Erin and Jessica did a great job planning and pulling the whole picnic together. The picnic was the best part of the weekend! I tried to take a bunch of pictures early in the day while my kids were still napping, but the group shots I had to get from Jackie, Erin and Carolyn. Thanks, guys!
The guys all played a lot of "corn hole."
(Really? That's the name of the game? Lovely.)


Roommates - Jackie and Jill

Jess and Tallia


Erin and Caleb


Lucy and Aunt Erin


Ella and Emma


Two of the babies - Jess and Tallia and Nancy and Levi


The big kids playing together


Sweet baby sleeping


All the girls got a kick out of watching Lucy eating her Eat 'n Park smiley cookie


John and Emma enjoying a yummy lunch


Jill and Erin - roommates


A group shot of most of the kids (the Gratner kids went home for naps) - of course there was a lot of crying!


Elijah tried to comfort Molly when she caught the crying bug


The guys - Chris, Dave, Patrick, Luke, Nate and Jim


The girls - Nancy, Erin, Erin, Jessica (and Tallia), Jill (and Jake), Jackie, me and Carolyn (with Evans)

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Geneva Homecoming and reunion

While we were in Pittsburgh we got to go to Homecoming and our 10 year reunion at Geneva. We enjoyed seeing friends, professors, and the newly improved campus. It turned out to be a pretty nice day, despite the rainy forcast. We got an Orem's doughnut, had lunch at Alex's (aka Alexander Hall), went to the first half of the football game, and had dinner at Pizza Joe's. It was quite the trip down memory lane! We were also glad to catch up with my Aunt Louise. The kids took their naps at her house, and we all went to the game and dinner together.

The kids had a great time with the Rices' dog, who was very patient.

Jackie and Erin

How many cute girls can you hold at once?


The gang, catching up while Mark Rice played a concert on Memorial Lawn.


Up in a tree!

Jackie and Lily


Molly and Daddy


Oh, that cute toddler walk!






Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Pittsburgh trip - visiting friends

We got to visit a bunch of our wonderful friends while we were in Pittsburgh. Sometimes we were better about taking pictures, but a lot of the time we were too busy enjoying each other to remember to pick up the camera. Sorry about the lack of pictures! Thanks to all of you who made some time to get together - we had such a great time seeing everyone!


Dave reads to the kids - Elijah, Molly, Ella and Lucy. Our kids didn't know what to think of Dave's interpretation of this well-loved and totally memorized book - but Ella and Lucy thought it was great. =)


We also visited Colleen and her family, and had the added bonus of seeing her mom! Elijah had a great time wearing this bike helmet. I guess he's his dad's son.


Nice face, little girl!


Titus, Molly, Elijah and Katelyn sat and colored happily together for quite a while. It was so nice!

One of my oldest friends, Colleen Lynn. This is the first picture we've taken together in 10 years!


Titus, Katelyn, Colleen and Lydia (we were missing Chris), Molly, me, Elijah and Patrick


Girls and the kids.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Pittsburgh trip - visiting family

While we were in Pittsburgh, we got to visit my Grandma and Great-Aunt Jean. Since it is flu season the kids are not allowed to visit Grandma where she lives, so Aunt Jean invited all of us to her apartment for the morning to visit. It was really nice to see them, and for Elijah and Molly to spend time with them.

Elijah and Great-Grandma Jennie had fun coloring

Molly and Aunt Jean



The kids just spread out their toys and books and made themselves at home!


Elijah listens to Uncle Bruce read.



Start 'em young! Molly listens to the story, too.


Saturday, October 17, 2009

Pittsburgh trip - Pittsburgh Zoo

Two weeks ago we all drove out to Pittsburgh and spent the week visiting friends and family, and then attended our ten year college reunion at Geneva. It was a fun week, and we enjoyed having a whole week all together with Patrick.

We stayed at my Uncle Bruce and Aunt Margie's house for the week, and enjoyed spending time with them. On Monday we met my friend Erin and her kids at the Pittsburgh Zoo. We have had so much fun visiting so many zoos this summer and fall - the kids have been to the Roger Williams Park Zoo, the Denver Zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo and the Pittsburgh Zoo this year!

Caleb and Elijah watching the flamingos




It was a beautiful day to go to the zoo, and cool enough that a lot of the animals were up and active! We had fantastic, close up visits with the elephants and the penguins.



Checking out the fish

The kids - Emma, Elijah, Molly and Caleb



The zoo also has a cool aquarium, including some large sharks. It was Elijah's favorite part!





The boys had a great time running through the shark tunnel. It felt like we had the zoo all to ourselves!