Life on Birch

I haven't been a very good blogger lately but here is a random assortment of pictures of the last few weeks.  We are in the middle of figuring out our plans for next year...I will let you know when and where as soon as we know...but I already know I will be sad to leave this place! 

My neighbors and I are doing a great dinner swap each week and the kids play like brothers and sisters.  We love the schools and the ward and it is really hard to think about starting all over again already.  We will be excited to have a little more space in our next place...but I just hope we find amazing people like we have found here, in NY and in Hershey.  

Enjoy!

5 1/2 months--love the toe-grabbing phase

she is a very intense eater with a LOVE for big-people food

James is definitely the best at making Mia laugh

Zanna is definitely the best at cuddling with Mia

Her sweet monogrammed shirt from Evie--thanks again!

One Sunday before church--these two are such great buddies, and although they get bugged by each other and call each other annoying at times, they love to play and laugh and ride bikes together and I am very grateful for them!

she really is getting too old!

Mia relaxing after a hike with her big pack:)

so serious...

I just love this one...especially Dave. We had a great evening together as a family (still getting used to being together so much for dinner since it rarely happened in NY because of Dave's long hours) and I just wanted to capture it.

Movie night...The Karate Kid and Slurpees :)

her first time holding her own food...apple slices

She loves to suck on her wet washcloths after a good meal

 

I laughed to hard watching Zanna do this at the school Harvest Festival

James and neighbor Zach...I mean red power rangers!!

mia being eaten by her favorite giraffe friend, she has also inherited Zanna's pink silky and loves to play in her crib with all her friends

She smiles so big on the swings and loves when the kids push her

one of my all-time favorites, what a sweetie

Soccer Days...are almost over.  Zanna scores about 3-4 goals a game and understands the game SO MUCH better now. She has become more aggressive too and is really fun to watch.  James' league was a little more relaxed but he has done awesome too and is a little natural...he really enjoys the snacks!

chillin' at soccer

Mia and Annie (our next-door neighbor) hanging out while Shersti and I were learning to knit

Playing in the crib...Mia LOVES her hippo pillow

Halloween Pics...a little late. Dave was a pro racquetball palyer (thought of thought on the way to the church party) Mia was just a cute orange-sweater wearer, James was a ninja and Zanna a pretty black kitty.  We didn't go trick-or-treating but got lots of candy at the ward Trunk-or-Treat and came home and watched Wizard of Oz...you should see Dave and the kids' impression of the lollypop guild- hilarious!

 

makes me smile every time

We finally took the training wheels off the kids bikes and it was about time! They both learned in about 2 minutes and we are loving living here and ride our bikes all the time.  It was really tricky to bike in NY so this is like heaven to them!