Daniel will be 4 next week. The other day in the car, I told him that I LOVED my babies. He told me, "Mom. I am NOT a baby. I am ALL GROWN UP!" It has all happened too fast.

Mia is 2 1/2. She is a bundle of energy who rarely stops moving. She recently learned to tumble and loves rolling all over the living room. She is wearing size 4T and I think is taller than Daniel. Her vocabulary has recently exploded talking (and making demands) in full sentences. A recent funny thing she said: One day in the car she was looking at a book. She pointed to the picture and said, "Look Mommy! A hopgrasser!" I asked her if she meant a grasshopper? "No," she said. "A hopgrasser!"

Winter fun in Wisconsin. The kids are in their jammies, but could not wait to get outside to play in the snow for just a few minutes.

OK, maybe a little too much aw and wonder.

The snow globe has always been a big hit at Christmas time. They love to listen the to tinkling music and watch the snow.

This year, we had no blood or screaming while decorating the tree.

Daniel and Mia helped to decorate the Christmas tree.

Daniel and Mia made applesauce cinnamon ornaments this year. After you let them dry, they smell really great and you can paint them before you hang them on the tree.

Post Thanksgiving nap.

We went to a pumpin patch with a homeschool group.

While at the pumpkin patch, the kids got to go on a hay ride and feed cows. The cows were hungry and were sticking their heads and slimy tongues into the wagon. The kids enjoyed getting to be so close with the cows.

I just had a hard time getting both kids to smile nice at the same time. They are old enough now to try and "fake" smile which turns their lips into funky snarls and weird curves. Regardless of the smiles (or lack of), they had a really great time at the pumpkin patch.

Our family participates in AWANA at church on Wednesday nights. Mia is a Puggle in the 2 year old room and I teach the Puggles. Daniel is a Cubbie in the 3 year old room.

Daniel got to have his Cubbies vest and book tonight because he has learned his first three Bible verses:
God loved us and sent His son. I John 4:10
While we were sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
All have sinned. Romans 3:23
It is amazing to me how fast he learns his verses and how excited he gets when he can say them back to me. AWANA is such a blessing to our family.

We went to pick apples at an orchard this fall. At the orchard, the kids got to feed goats and ducks, and play on bales of hay.

Daniel and Mia rode on little tractors before we picked apples.

Do I really need to add any comments here? What can I say, the kid likes spaghetti sauce.

Daniel, Mia, and Shane at Family Camp.

Daniel at Family Camp. We really enjoyed camping with all our friends from church for a weekend. The highlight was when Daniel participated in the relay race, running as fast as he could while holding a marshmellow to his head, crossing the finish line, running straight into Shane's arms and breathlessly saying, "I did it, Daddy! I did it!" His face beamed with thrill and excitement.

I did not pose Mia. I walked in and found her sitting on the potty and "reading". I wonder if she found any good articles?

She's so funny!

During one morning at Vacation Bible School, the discussion was centered around the truth that Jesus gives us the power to be thankful. Daniel and Mia's group was the youngest (preschoolers) so the workers helped them to write and draw pictures of things in which they were thankful. Daniel decided he was thankful for bacon, so that is what was on his first page.

Vacation Bible school was so fun! Here Daniel and Mia are wearing their matching Bob the Tomato (from Vegie Tales) shirts.

Recently, we took a trip to the "south", traveling Kansas and Southern Missouri. We started in Kansas City with the kids' Aunt Sarah. We went lots of fun places including the Children's Museum. Here Daniel and Mia are practicing being space cadets.

While In Kansas City, we had great Mexican food that is right around the corner from Aunt Sarah's house. Daniel is enjoying his FAVORITE meal - beans!

Mia enjoying her Mexican meal as well. Thank you Aunt Sarah!

Grandma Mary reading to the kids while we visited Kansas.

Next, we got to spend a couple of meals with Shane's Mom, Marian. The kids enjoyed seeing their Grandma in Missouri. I enjoyed seeing her too.

One of my favorite pictures of Marian and Mia.

I guess Mia is just enjoying herself that evening with Grandma.

Four generations - Grandma Christine, my mom, Mia, and me. I am so happy to have this picture. It will always be special to me.

Grandma Christine, my mom, and Mia.

Last, we went to visit my Uncle and Aunt, Larry and Ruth Ann. We enjoyed seeing my cousins and my Uncle Jimmy while there. A highlight was two trips to Truman Damn. Here Daniel and Mia are looking at a large aquarium. Mia is sporting a hat from Uncle Larry.

Mia sitting in a giant clam.

Daniel and Mia went fishing at the hatchery. Daniel fished for a couple of hours and never caught one. He certainly has the heart for it; he never gave up the entire time.

Mia giving Aunt Ruth Ann hugs. I think they liked each other.

Daniel enjoying one last story from Uncle Larry before we leave for home. Daniel also enjoyed listening to and laughing at Uncle Larry's funny, made-up stories. Daniel laughed for a long time about the story with the mosse wearing a pull up. Thank you Aunt Ruth Ann and Uncle Larry for a wonderful time at your house.

Daniel enjoying a strawberry on the 4th of July.

Today I took Daniel and Mia to go fishing for the first time. After seeking advise, I chose a place where I hoped we would catch piles of anything that would classify as fish. And what a success! Daniel caught about 5 bluegills, Mia caught maybe 3, and I caught one. Of course, all my time was helping them bait the hook and reeling in sometimes an empty line, but sometimes with a fish. Daniel was so excited, he even helped take the fish off the hook and toss them in (as long as he could use the rag I brought (he did not actually want to touch the fish or anything yucky like that). If you look closely, that tiny minnow looking thing on the right is the first fish he ever reeled in.

Mia was the one who squealed when the fish got too close. She had fun reeling it in, but did not want any more to do with it.

A young fisherman sporting the biggest one caught of all; a small mouth bass weighing less than a pound. The kids were so excited, I promised that we would take it home to show their Daddy and I would cook it. After removing the skin, head, tail, and bones, there was about three bites (toddler sized bites) in all. As Daniel ate them, he said, "UMMM!! Delicious!", as he ate it with ketchup. What a fun morning! We had no injuries and a belly full of fish - err - make that a mouth full of fish - err - make that a bite of fish.

Shane and Mia while walking through a state park.