It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Waking up this morning, we found that there was "noe" on the ground. Unfortunately, as there are gale force winds whipping around out there, we can't go out & play in it. I'm sure we'll have plenty of opportunities to play later.

As my email updates have been getting fewer and farther in between, some friends encouraged me to try a blog instead...we'll see how it goes. My goal is to update it at the beginning of each month.

To get you caught up...

Dave/Chris-
The two of us went to the Ohio State football home opener the first weekend in September. It was a beautiful day & we had a wonderful time away!

We have started a new Sunday School class at church for anyone post-high to "newly" married. We are amazed by how many have been coming & so glad that God chose us to start it!



Emily-
Started gymnastics at the Y in September & is LOVING it! Her favorites are the floor & bars because "they are hard & they make me sweat." She takes it very seriously & works really hard.
Emily turned 8 in September & had a couple of friends over for a slumber party. Quite honestly, I was nervous about the normal "girl drama", but there was NONE! I really like her group of friends, who I affectionately call, "God's answer to our prayers"

She LOVES 2nd grade, especially her teacher, Mrs. Martin. The highlights so far have been the "Bodies of Water" project/report
she did for science, the field trip to the Pumpkin Farm & the enrichment class that she is in. I'm so thankful for the dedicated, hardworking teachers at Smithville Elementary!
Colin-
This fall, Colin started taking swimming lessons two days a week at the Y. He is working incredibly hard & really doing a GREAT job. They work on many things, including breath control. Last Thursday, for the first time, using the rescue pole, he was able to "climb" all the way to the bottom of the 9' end of the pool & touch the bottom! You Go kiddo!

He is also really enjoying school. So far in Kindergarten, he has stamped apples on shirts for "A" week, made pumpkin pies for "P" week & "churned" butter for...you guessed it..."B" week. His class has also taken a field trip to the fire station. He has made three really good friends at school...it's so cute to hear him talk about his "good buddies"
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo BooksMrs. Olsen, his teacher, has told us that she likes to refer to him as her "absent minded professor". We are thankful he has a teacher that appreciates his humor & enjoys having him in class.

Cait & Tessa-We are now the proud parents of TWO, TWO year olds!!!!! Yes folk, we have made it to "that age". Actually, although they are your typical two year olds & maybe because of it, they are an absolute RIOT! We have so much fun sitting & just watching themselves being themselves.

They love singing, playing dress-up, reading, doing somersaults, riding theirbikes, getting themselves dressed (or at least trying to), taking baths, talking, getting into things that get them into trouble, doing any & all things together, playing outside, being mommies to their babies, singing their ABCs & of course, they love anything ELMO.

They are especially loving Christmas. Everything is new to them...the lights, Christmas tree, baby Jesus, snow...it's fun to see it through their eyes.

Tessa had an unfortunate swinging accident & ended up with a black eye...Ouch, but it didn't seem to phase her for long.

Cait is our cleaner upper. We hear her all the time singing, "clean up, clean up". Let's just hope that lasts for a while.

Family News-
We went camping the first weekend in October to celebrate Cait, Tessa & my Dad's birthday. It was an absolutely gorgeous weekend! We had fun putt-putting, hiking, exploring, & playing Frisbee golf.

Last weekend, my college roommate, Becky, was in the area & we had a chance to visit. How has 15 years passed that quickly?

We had a really nice Thanksgiving this year. My sister, Judith & her family were here from MI. It's really fun watching my niece, Olivia, who is about two weeks younger than the girls, & the twins play together.





We've been to Grandma Daniels house & she's been to ours a few times recently. The last time we were there, we were able to swing on the rope swing that was in the barn, the kids put on a show for us, we had a HUGE bonfire, and we took wagon rides. What FUN!

We hope you all are doing well. We'd love to hear from you!
Chris (for the whole bunch)