Halloween!

  Halloween was a first for me. Not the actual day itself,  but the trick-or-treating part. No I never went trick-or-treating as a child. Some of might say how crappy that must have been for me! What horrible parents wouldn't take their kids out on halloween? Well, I would say to that, what SMART parents wouldn't take their kids out! It was hot, and all Annabelle wanted to do once we got home was be a pill and eat candy! Yes I know thats what you are supposed to do after getting all that candy, but I have a good kid! She has NEVER acted that way before! It was obnoxious! Oh well, it will probably happen again next year... Will i never learn? She looked really cute though! 

I think she had fun, which, in the end, is all that matters! 

Jacob is home!

    Ok, so I know I haven't been so diligent about blogging for the last, well ever! So here I am to play catch up!
On Friday September 19th my little brother Jacob returned after serving a two year mission for our church in Minnesota. It was so good to see him, we have always been really close so it was good to have him back!
We waited for what seemed like FORVER! We heard over the intercom that his plane landed so we all lined up.

Our shirts say "We heart J A C O B !" Starting at left, Miriam, Rachel, Joseph, Daniel, Paul (my sisters husband) Sariah, Rebekah, Me and Annabelle. Yes I know the color is horrible, Jacob's favorite color is yellow!

  We could see Jakes gate from where we were. After MANY false alarms we saw him. Unfortunately for us he saw us too. He high-tailed it to the bathroom to tell himself that was going to be alright. I guess we are pretty overwhelming, even to one of our own! Then he came out to see us!

My dad got the first hug! 

Then it was mamas turn!

For those of you who have never had Blue Bell ice cream, shame on you!  Come down here and get some! That was one of the three things requested for Jakes welcome home dinner. 

How do ya think we did? And yes, it was all gone with in just a few short hours!

 WELCOME HOME LITTLE BRO! 

Our Adventures

So we have been busy.  We got to go to Dallas for a whole week.  I (Craig) was in training for most of the week and Esther got to hang out with the family in Dallas.  We got a really nice hotel.  It had two flat screen TVs, king size bed.  It was great.  We also got to go to the TCU BYU football game.  Yah not so great of a turnout for BYU.  I was so pumped up for that game and then we got there late and it was 14 - 0 when we finally got to our seats. 

This last weekend we got to go to a work party.  It was at the Don Strange ranch in Boerne, TX.  Its a really cool place.  Annabelle got to ride her first pony.  She kept saying. "Nay, Nay " for a horse noise.  It was so cute.  She also got to pet goats, sheep and chickens.  There were ducks but they were kinda mean and would peck at your feet.  It was a fun time!  We were glad we go to go. 

Here are some pictures of our adventures:

 

My big helper!

  Annabelle has a new favorite thing. Helping me cook. I don't mind, I like the company. It all started one day i was making dinner and she seemed to be getting into EVERYTHING!!! It was driving me crazy, so what do I do? Plop her on the counter next to me. She thought it was the coolest thing ever. The only problem is that now when I'm chopping something, or I am handeling raw meat, she tries to squeeze in between me and the counter, to get my attention so I will put her up on the counter. Its so fun to me that loves "cooking" so much! I guess she is my kid!

  Yesterday she and I were watering the plants and trees in the front yard, and she was helping by holding my hand with her right, and playing in the water with her left. It was such a good experience for both of us. I know that might seem silly, but I feel that we have been growing closer these past few days. It makes me happy. 

This was when it rained this summer. Not from her playing in the hose. 

 She has a few new words that she says and recognizes the objects: Frog, Croak, Yogurt, Delicious ("Licious"),  Flower and today we were walking up and down the sidewalk waiting for daddy to come home and she bends over, pats the ground and says "sidewalk"!!! Can you believe it?!?! I was shocked at how smart she is! Has anyone else had something like that happen? 

She is such a big helper!! And I love her!

The love!

I would just like to take this moment to express the LOVE I have for my little family! We have been in New York for the past week visiting the Haessig side of the family, and I have had the opportunity to be able to sit back a bit and observe my wonderful husband and presous baby girl! Not one moment really stands out in my mind, just an overall happyness has seemed to wash over us! It has been good for Craig to be able to take some time off and play with his family that he doesn't get to see very much. I feel like I have fallen in love with him all over again! I LOVE YOU CRAIG!!!!! I LOVE YOU ANNABELLE!!!!!

She really is his kid!!

  So last week I came into the office to see this. (The picture speaks for itself!)
She had gotten her little hands on the laptop, and get this, had flipped the picture and had changed it to black and white! Craig had to google what he needed to do to fix it! It was crazy! Now I am living with TWO computer nerds! At least she likes girly things too! 

There's my fancy girl! :)

Update

  Oh my goodness! So much to catch up on! We had a birthday back in June, (I know! I said I needed to catch up!) My baby girl turned one! Happy birthday Belle! She had  party with all of her little friends! I was so much fun! She loves cupcakes, pics of that to come, she got some really good presents, and fun was had by all!

            These are the cup cakes I made for her birthday. So yummy!

This is the Cake I made for her party. She loved it! 

Do you think she liked it?

"I get cake AND PRESENTS?!?"
For the 4th of July we went up to Dallas to visit my family. We ate good food, stayed up late, got up way to early to eat some pancakes, (in my parents ward they started at 7!!! ) and watched some guy that looked like Kermit the Frog sing a song about the Alamo. Then that night we watched fireworks. 

Waiting for the bike parade to start, and being patriotic.

My crazy little sisters! 

Another Girly shot!

We brought two of my sisters back with us. Here are Sariah and Rebekah before the dance. Aren't they beautiful!?