November 2009

We do a preschool co-op with some families from our branch. This was when I hosted one time. We made turkeys out ouf apples, sticks and candy. Abigail has really enjoyed preschool.

For Thanksgiving we got to go to West Virginia to visit Uncle Steve, Aunt Shanna and their family. We had a wonderful time. My brother and his family also came. Abigail loved playing with her cousins.

decorating yummy cookies

Banjo 101 with the master

Ninja skills utilized for the pinata

Indoor, endless pools are AWESOME!

Abigail had saved all her Halloween candy and we bought a pinata to use, it was fun.

Stories with great Uncle Steven

Announcing...

We are having a little boy! Due date May 21st. Sorry I haven't announced any sooner. I haven't been feeling very well, so I don't get around to the computer very often.

We got to have an ultrasound last week. We were surprised that it was a boy, because Abigail has been talking about her little sister Hannah for at least 2 years now. She said she was happy to get a brother, but that she is going to pray for a sister after the baby boy is born. She is generally very excited about having a sibling. She put a sign up on her door that says, "No babies allowed in my room." I told her that she might have to share a room and that we would have to put the baby somewhere. So with much thought she took down the sign and added "only in the living room" Very generous.

We feel very blessed to be pregnant. We tried for about 3 1/2 years. We actually found out we were pregnant on a Saturday and had an appointment scheduled for the next Monday to go into a Fertility specialist in Grand Rapids. So we are grateful that it all turned out so well.

We will have an exciting summer with Benjamin graduating the beginning of May, a new baby on the 21st and then moving to wherever we get a job the end of June.

Fall 2009

We had a fun time Trick-or-Treating. It was very cold though. At 6pm when we started it was 37* and it only got windier and colder. Late that night Abigail wok up with a high fever and cough. She was a pretty sick girl for a one day, but we got her on some medicine and she got better pretty quick.

Abigail wanted to dress up like Snow White.

Carving a pumpkin for Halloween.

For Family Home Evening we made a kite. It was really fun.

This is a chocolate shoe Benjamin got for Abgail on our trip to Mackinaw Island.

Mark and Jamie came to visit the beginning of October. We had so much fun with them. Abigail was really excited for them to be here. We went up to Mackinaw Bridge and to see the island. It was beautiful. The leaves were radiant. The island's shops were closing down for the season, but it was fun to just be on the island and see the streets. It was a cold and rainy day though, so we didn't stay too long.

We hiked up a "mountain" (if you can say there is a mountain in Michigan) to see a beautiful landscape of the lakes and bridge. It was WAY windy and cold up top, so we took our pictures and headed back down quickly.

We had an awsome hotel room that was literally right on the beach! These pictures were taken from inside our room. Abigail had a lot of fun being in hotels, swimming in pools (one of which was freezing cold), and eating the continental breakfasts. We all enjoyed shopping and eating incredible food at restaurants.

This was on our boat ride over to the island. Our hotel was right next to the dock. We wanted to go over and found out that a boat was leaving in like 3 minutes, we high-tailed it and were able to catch the boat. That is Forsyth speed for you.

We spent a day at Greenfield Villiage near Detroit. They have a lot of cool historical buildings there that Henry Ford had relocated. We got to ride on a train, horse drawn carriage, old model T car and eat at a really fun restaurant that had recipes from the 1800s. YUMMY! Abby's favorite thing was the carousel. She got to ride on it with Grandma and Grandpa.

Grandma Jamie took Abigail to a build a bear factory. Abby made an unicorn named Star Wish. She chose the unicorn over 100 other animals. She has a music box inside of her and is very soft. Abigail has had a lot of fun snuggling with it and playing with it. We all learned the old unicorn song while Jamie and Mark were here. Abby had a great time.

A highlight for Abigail was getting to spend time with Grandpa. They made delicious chocolate chip and walnut cookies, watched a movie and ate popcorn. Grandpa watched Abby while Jamie and I got to go do fun girly things like maternity clothes shopping and getting my very first pedicure. Wow! Fun stuff!

Abby doing a little interperative dance.

Abby with her friend Miriam at dance.

Day at the Potter Park Zoo.

We have done a lot of fun things. Abigail has been in a dance class through the community and a preschool co-op. She has really enjoyed both of them.

Abigail continues bring Benjamin and me much joy and entertainment. The other day she came into the room and gave Benjamin a paper that said 'Be Resbosubo' she told him is said 'Be responsible'. She also gave him on that she had written 'Les red dad' or "Let's read Dad". It is very fun. Benjamin and her have been reading The Hobbit. She also has been writing recipes and then making her own food. One example is her 'Surprise Recipe'. It had flour, sugar, curry, worchestershire sauce, pickles, cumin, vanilla, almond extract, bacon salt, pizza seasoning. She said it needed to be refridgerated.