A New Year and 1 Year

We had a great visit with Crystal while she was here! She was here for 9 days, but the time flew by! We picked her up at the airport in Chicago and rode the train into town. We got Chicago-style hot dogs, then went to the Sears Tower. We went up to the "skydeck" which was over 100 stories up! We stood in line forever so when we got to the top it was dark (and Jessica was asleep). It was really beautiful to look out and see lights everywhere-except Lake Michigan.



We also had a great time celebrating the New Year. It was fun to be able to play some games for more than 2-players! We also got to open a lot of fun surprises from Nate's parents who sent us a "New Year's Party in a Box" for Christmas.

We also took a day trip to Nauvoo, and stopped at Carthage Jail on the way as well.

Jessica had her first birthday while Crystal was here!!!!!
She still didn't quite understand about unwrapping presents, but she seemed to enjoy cake right off.



Crysy and I used my new cake decorating book that Nate gave me for Christmas to decorate Jessica's cake.

Merry Christmas!

We had a lot of fun this Christmas! It was great to have Jessica this year. She loved having lots of new things around to look at and play with. She didn't quite understand about opening presents, but she still had fun!

Christmas Dress

Grandma Jack sent the cutest Christmas dress for Jessica! We got it Saturday in the mail, so she got to wear it yesterday.
If it looks like she might be crying instead of smiling, it's because I wanted to take the dress off before she ate and she was soooooooo hungry that she didn't want to wait for a picture.

Our Little Reader

Jessica is just fascinated with books these days. She is always pulling them off the shelf, flipping through the pages, and dragging them around the house. (Hope you noticed the peek-a-boo.)


She can stand on her own for a few seconds...but only if she doesn't realize what she is doing. We have to distract her with funny faces.


Jessica loves to play in the old fireplace (now used only for decoration).


I guess I started a new family tradition of making gingerbread people because we've done it each year we've been married. I just think they're so much fun...and delicious!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving

We had a fun Thanksgiving even though we missed our families. We got together with several of our friends at the church and feasted and played basketball and other games.



Jessi feasted as well.



Nate even taught her how to drink at the drinking fountain!

Grassland

Wow, what a change in the weather! Last week started out in the 70s but the end of the week was down in the 30s and 40s. We decided to break out our coats for the first time this fall and go for a family walk to a park we've been wanting to go to. The sidewalk wrapped around a large area of Illinois grassland. The grass was about 6 feet tall! We got a glimpse of what much of Illinois used to look like. It was beautiful!!

Happy Halloween!!

Jessica was a not-so-scary ghost this year for Halloween!



Last weekend we went to "Curtis Orchard" on the outskirts of town and picked out a pumpkin at their pumpkin patch. Instead of getting a nice plump, orange pumpkin, we picked out an oblong tan pumpkin (a variety that is supposed to be good for pumpkin pies!)



For family night we carved our pumpkin-but instead of leaving it out to rot we stored in it the refrigerator.



Tuesday I baked it and pureed it (pumpkin everywhere!)




We ate it like squash and made pumpkin pie, pumpkin waffles and pumpkin-carrot muffins....plus there's more in the freezer for later!!!!! And it has been delicious.