2015: week one

One of these days I will go back and finish out my weekly photos from 2014.  Things got a little crazy as we unpacked, painted, settled in and got ready for the holidays!  Now 2015 is upon us and already well underway...here's a bit of what we've been up to lately...

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Elise:  Taught the kids how to play the card game "Golf" and it was an instant hit.  I spent countless hours playing cards with my cousins when we were kids; what a treat to share an old classic with them.

Caleb:  After an impromptu drawing lesson from Uncle Grant while we were home in PA (I think it happened in the car on the way to church!), Caleb has been in constant doodle mode.  I can't get over the expressions of these guys!

Lucas:  Many sweet memories being made in this kitchen!

Eden:  Watching her play with my old Sylvanian Family animals makes me so happy!

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Elise:  Had to take advantage of the warmer weather and plant some bulbs this week.  Can't wait 'til spring!

Caleb:  You know you are loved when your dear friends' parents invite you to their house for Thanksgiving because you're far from home.  Loved sharing dinner with the Glenns AND enjoying their beautiful farm!

Lucas: ...oh, did I mention, there were Gator rides, too?!?!

Eden:  This girl barely says a word, but she makes her requests for independence known.  Loves getting dressed and putting on her own shoes.  :)

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Grammie and Granddad visit St. Louis!

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Elise:  Birds' eye view of our new stomping grounds - we made it to the top of the Arch!  

Caleb:  Working on circuits with Granddad...love our Children's Museum!

Lucas:  Craft time with Grammie...another reason to love our Children's Museum!

Eden:  I think she could have stayed here all day...Thanks Granddad for being so patient while watching coffee filter hot air balloons go into the air about a million times!

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Elise:  An inspired salad from my eldest kitchen sidekick; she prepped and chopped everything herself!  She was especially proud of the apples and blueberries she thought to add.  (I could get used to this!)

Caleb:  We discovered a fun new list of "easy readers" and this was an instant favorite.  So exciting to watch our little man get excited about reading!

Lucas:  Reunited with our Legos!  Hooray!

Eden:  Found her daddy on the Veteran's Wall of Fame at the kids' school!  What a sweet and special program they had to honor and thank veterans in the community.  

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Well, we moved in to our house this week and needless to say things have been a little hectic!  Thank goodness Josh's colleague offered to share all these costumes with us on the night before Halloween...otherwise the kids were going out dressed as tourists!

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***And just like that, we're here in St. Louis, starting the next chapter of our story.  We spent nearly 3 months on the road exploring, visiting, and dining our way through 26 beautiful states.  We're so thankful for the friends and family who opened their doors and schedules to spend time with us and for the blessing of safety, good health, and time to enjoy an incredible journey.***

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Elise & Caleb:  So excited to see our "very own" National Park, it was the first thing on our list once we arrived!  They also wanted to savor the thought of getting a Jr. Ranger badge here and decided to wait for it until their second or third visit.  (Love them!)

...They also started school this week!  We had a pretty great time learning on the road, but they were also quite excited to begin second grade and kindergarten at our neighborhood elementary school.  

Lucas:  Soaking up some quite time - just the two of us.  (Big kids off to school, Josh at a meeting for work, and Eden down for a nap)

Eden:  Spent the day at Mills Apple Farm picking...you guessed it, apples!  This little one rode on my back most of the time and I loved hearing her intermittent slurping and crunching while she chomped on her very own apple.

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***The last official week of our road trip was spent in the snowy mountains of Colorado!  We loved spending time at my Uncle Lee's cabin and visiting family in Denver before making the long trek down Route 70 to our new home in St. Louis.***

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Elise:  Point Breeze cabin was the perfect place for a cozy fire, cookies & milk, and our family's first ever game of Monopoly. 

Caleb:  That smile!  This guy has become quite the outdoorsman lately...once again had to pull him in the door after playing in the snow until it was dark.  

Lucas:  So excited for snow in October...what a birthday treat!

Eden:  Snack break!  It's hard work playing the snow in a giant marshmallow suit.