We're Headed West...

to Utah!

Michael has accepted a position as Assistant Professor at Utah State University in Logan, UT. He will be starting in January, so we'll be moving in mid-December.

Michael took these pictures while he was there in September for the interview. Look at those mountains they are so unreal to me.. I've never been west of Wichita, KS and in two months I'll be living among them. I think it will be beautiful! (Of course they are already snow covered now!)

This picture (above) was taken just outside of the building where Michael will be working.

I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go... Genesis 28:15

A Dr. in the Family!!

He did it! He passed!! Yeah Daddy we are so proud! Michael has officially earned his PhD after passing his oral defense this morning. Here's a picture of him just before his presentation (taken with my phone, not the best pic)

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. Colossians 3:23-24

Elizabeth Smiles

Yesterday I took these pictures of Elizabeth on the butterfly quilt that Michael's Granny made when I was pregnant with Madilynn. Such a special quilt...

Elizabeth just hanging out this morning with Daddy!

Today after lunch I was finally able to catch a smile with the camera.

Then tonight after dinner Daddy caught me and Elizabeth in conversation and was able to get a cute smile!

Elizabeth has been so much more talkative lately. She makes eye contact really well, it's like she can talk to you with her eyes. She's also started cooing, and ahhing a little trying to talk to us, and we've been getting lots more smiles - they are so cute!! The best time for these conversations have been just after she finishes a bottle.

Field Trip

Last week I talked to Madilynn about the Fall season and the leaves changing colors. We colored pictures of leaves and learned the letter "L". We also worked on her memory verse from Sunday School which was "God made the world and everything in it". We said it everyday and by Sunday she could say it all! So cool!! Anyways, after church on Sunday we took a field trip and went back out to Ledges State Park to check out the changing colors of the trees.

Madilynn found lots of pretty yellow leaves

God made the world and everything in it

Madilynn & Elizabeth First Video Together!

Friday night I was able to capture the first video of Madilynn and Elizabeth together. Madilynn wanted to "read" Elizabeth a book. Here they are...

Our Week

Well, we've had a busy week! It has really started cooling down here. I just started getting into the fall season and now it feels like winter already here in Iowa. My mom was here last weekend and showed me how to bake some winter squash and we tried some for dinner, it was good. Then one day this week I used the leftover butternut squash to make some muffins, they were so good!

Monday afternoon Daddy worked with Madilynn on learning to ride her new bike!

Madilynn holding Elizabeth



Elizabeth's feet

Elizabeth sleeping in her swing!

We were going to go to the apple orchards fall festival this weekend, but the weather forecast was looking worse and worse, and the temperatures never got out of the 30's all weekend! So we decided to head out Friday afternoon instead, it was sunny and pretty and a little cool (mid 50's). We got some apples for a apple pie, Iowa grown popcorn, maple syrup, some butternut squash, and pumpkins.

Check out how tall the girls are this year:

I had Daddy hold Elizabeth up to it just for fun!

We went out into the pumpkin patch to let Madilynn pick out a pumpkin

Found one...just the right size!

Then we got home Friday night and decided to try Elizabeth out in the Bumbo seat. She did good it even supported her head a little and she got some practice holding it up.

I realized I hadn't posted this picture yet, so I stuck it in here. Thank you Daddy Gene and Ladonna for Madilynn's birthday gifts! Madilynn now has an apron that matches mine, and her's says "diva in training".

and Elizabeth loves her "Little Sister" shirt, it's so soft!

Saturday we got to watch the first half of the Razorback game - Go Hogs!! I almost forgot to mention while we were out Saturday we also saw some snow flurries - I'm not ready for that yet!

And then hung out at home the rest of the day. Madilynn painted her pumpkin, she really enjoyed it. She kept telling me "I like painting". We'll have to paint more often! (Mommy likes it too)

Then Sunday we made it to church for the first time since Elizabeth was born.

Madilynn and Elizabeth all dressed for church

Mommy, Madilynn and Elizabeth

We were so excited this weekend, Daddy was home with us all weekend!! His weekend class was over last weekend, so the busyness has slowed some. He has also turned in his dissertation and has his oral defense scheduled for next Friday the 23rd! Yeah Daddy, almost done!!

Cloth Diapers

Several have asked if we have started using the cloth diapers yet, and we have! We've been using them now for over a week and it is going well. I have 20 total, and I wash about 16 of them every other day. It's working out fine while we are at home, but we will be using some disposables when we travel!

They don't look too big on Elizabeth, she is getting bigger!

Just a cute picture I got of Madilynn and Elizabeth during tummy time