Baby No Longer

It was a little hard to wake up one day last week and realize my baby was a baby no longer, she was a big 3 year old! I've called her "Baby Girl" all of her life, until then. And in a way, she will always be our baby. Reality, however, led me to see that she is now past the baby stage and poised to enter girlhood--and I'd better grow up with her. We're now past potty training, and into the "I want to dress myself!" stage. She is definitely smart enough to be expected to understand, and follow, directions. No more excuses, little girlie!



What a charming, funny, full of life little person she is! She has such a big personality all the way around. 3, going on 13 I do declare. Jere's already talking about polishing up his shotgun! She's so sparkly and lives with such a total immersion in the moment that she's a pleasure to share the fun things in life with. Just... don't ask about the owies!

So, here are the highlights of the big farm girl birthday party, in pictures!!

Oh, the little joys of life!

On Wednesday I went to put my supper in the oven (running late due to letting the water run out on the carrots I was cooking and burning them!) and discovered my oven was stone cold. I double checked. Yes, it was turned on. After some fretting, I remembered that the pie could fit in the toaster oven, so in it went and we still could eat supper! So ever since I've spent a lot of time online, trying my hardest to chase down a used stove. Seemed like there were enough choices, but till we chased them down, they didn't work out. The upshot? I'm the happy owner of my very first new appliance--a lovely black stove! Here are some pictures from today, after we got it:

Yes, in case you're wondering, my wonderful, sweet husband bought me a stove with a fifth burner--a long, griddle burner in the middle! Thank you Sweetheart!!!!

Catching up with my baking, making granola again.

Party time!

I feel like I have an awful lot to catch up on! This week was crazy busy, but an awful lot of fun! Jere's sister Grace flew home from Mexico for a couple of week to tend to the orchard, and we couldn't let the occasion go by without something happening. So the rest of the Hege siblings (minus Susie, still in Mexico, and Anita, in Haiti--MISSED you girls!!!!) got together on Tuesday. 8 children 5 and under in a relatively small space was a riot. Grandma Hege, most of these pictures are put on here especially for you!!!! ;-)

 

My boys making the chair go 'round.

Timothy's littlest girlie, Sandra.

Timothy's oldest girl, Jasmine, playing with Uncle Jere. We all had a good laugh over that one!

Our Leanna Jean getting sleepy.

Timothy's middle girl, Brianna.

Sandra again. What a cutie pie!

Enjoying each other.

The newlyweds.

Eliott and Jasmine whirling in the chair.

Then yesterday, Valentine's day, we had a handful of young couples from church over for a Valentine's party. The children (with the exception of one very privileged baby!) were all elsewhere. We had SO much fun. I hadn't laughed that much in a long time!

The cake.

The table.

A place setting.

Most of the people. (Sorry to Micah who didn't get included. I couldn't back up far enough!)

One activity was to feed each other a cookie without touching it with your hands. This was the very tame start. It only got worse--those pictures I think will remain private!!! :-)

We had such a good evening. It was fun to just relax with friends in a romantic setting, though I think I had more fun preparing than anyone else did enjoying it! Maybe we'll have to do this again next year!

Happy birthday to Eliott!!!

Our little Eliott turns 3 today! We actually had his party yesterday, as today we knew was going to be extra busy with getting ready to go on our northern trip. So here are a few pictures of the party, then I need to go get started with my packing and planning!

The birthday boy and his Monster Treads 'Gator cake!

YUMMY!!!!

Our Christmas

Here are pretty much pictures that tell the story of our Christmas. We did go caroling some, but not nearly as much as we'd hoped to since our children got sick and we didn't feel right taking them out in the cold. We felt bad for some of our caroling "regulars", but there are things we can't change. Anyway, on to the pictures. :-)

Christmas Eve breakfast--bacon wrapped "Egg muffins".

Christmas Eve supper--hot dogs wrapped in soft pretzel dough with cheese!

Jaron looking forward to supper.

Cookie tray, sampling all the baking I've done in the last month!

The princess

For special we ate around the fire.

Another view of the princess.

So adorable!

Any more explanation needed? ;-)

Christmastide activities

 

Not sure how much explaining these pictures need! :-)

A couple shots of the pups.

December happenings

We're having a very busy December this year! As you can see from the below picture, there's a lot going on at our house. Cookie baking, school, and oodles of other activities going on. Guess at least it keeps us out of trouble! :-)



Jaron doing school, cookies cooking, empty granola bucket waiting to be filled, banana left over from Leanna's breakfast, can of oil spray from greasing the fudge pan, butter waiting to be made into cookies, etc., etc., etc.!

 

Jaron busy at his school work. He's doing a tremendously good job!

Eliott playing with his tape measure.

Leanna walking.

Yesterday we went to Carolyn Oberholtzer's to bake cookies with some of the others from church. What a blast! We all had so much fun. The children are here cutting out butter cookie dough...

 

Last night we went out caroling for a bunch of neighbors. A number of them weren't home, so we'll have to catch them another day. We had a really good time. Micah and Amy, and Jon and Lisa came with us, then we went back to Micah's house for a snack and visiting once it got too late to bother folks anymore.

 

Tomorrow we plan to go to a couple of assisted living places to sing, then Wednesday and Thursday we plan to go out caroling again. It's a busy time of life, but oh so much fun too!