winterizing

here is one of lucy's new hand-me-down coats - very cute. and here she is trying on mom's winter boots just after she woke up from her nap.

cinnamon rolls

rachel and reuben brought over homemade cinnamon rolls today! yum. so fun to have the kids play together. AND reuben and scott made huge dent in our "to do" list before the baby arrives. less than two weeks to go...thanks for sharing the day with us, zylstras!

IVCF thanksgiving dinner

we hosted thanksgiving dinner for the "first year" small group. it was our first turkey, but the most exciting part of the night was enjoying what everyone brought to the potluck - their favorite family recipes - very impressive!

getting ready

here are lucy and scott enjoying the cold weather and putting up the christmas lights. so fun to be getting ready for christmas!

old friends

we had the JOY of getting to see our dear friends bobby and claire and joe and lisa this week. this first picture was taken in a mexican restaurant in colorado springs where bobby and claire are debriefing their last 3 years in japan. we were SO SO SO excited to get to see them before they head to england for school - and to have their baby! (lucy is holding a dog from bobby and claire. he has affectionately been named "ryu-ryu," in honor of the givers.)
the later pictures are of lucy and nolan, joe and lisa's little guy. very fun to have the two kids together - and to catch up with joe and lisa. such a gift. (loving the facial expressions...)

lala & papa, trick-or-treating, big cheeks, and a picture with dad

it has been in the 70s here all week. so fun to enjoy the warm halloween festivities on pearl street with thousands of other kids in costume. here is lucy in her dog get-up. the cheeks are definitely the best part of the look. my folks were here to visit and help out while scott was traveling - such a gift to spend time with them...AND they were a HUGE help!!!