Jane is 3 weeks old!

Whew! It sure feels like Jane should be a lot older, but that is probably because I am sleep deprived. Jane was 3 weeks old on the 27th of September. She is finally putting on a few ounces. She had a slow start after leaving the hospital but after 4 weight checks, she started to be on the up swing.

Jane is becoming more and more alert as you can tell by the open eyes in these pictures. She does a pretty good job at tolerating her other siblings showering her with love. She loves to be held close and will spit up right in your face if you aren't very quick...(that would be me!)
Jane we love you and are so happy to have you in our family!

Harvest Time

Over the 4th of July weekend, we planted 2 apple trees, 2 raspberry bushes and 2 blackberry bushes behind our house. One of the apple trees grew a few apples to our surprise. Two of them survived the crazy wind that we get here in WI and fully ripened. So for Family Home Evening we "harvested" our apples.

As you can see, the apples had lots of spots on them, but once we cut the apples and peeled the skins, they were sooo sweet. In the spring we will be sure to spray the trees to prevent this but we were just shocked to get any fruit at all this first season. I can't wait to have more sweet apples next year.

Edward's Apple Farm

We took a family field trip recently to Edward's Apple Farm in Poplar Grove, Illinois. There were so many family friendly activities.
There were lots of tractors and other big toys for the kids to climb on.

Here's Daddy and Eve being silly inside the barn museum of antique farm equipment and other household antiques.

Luke and Miriam with an antique baby stroller.

Can you imagine washing clothes in this?

Or can you imagine gas for 45 cents a gallon? I wish!

The Fife school is in session.

I think the girls' favorite part was the pony ride.

Luke just seemed to tolerate the experience.

The farm had these amazing apple doughnuts and apple cider. We also had pulled pork sandwiches there and enjoyed going through the gift shop. I think this will be a new tradition for us each fall!

Flower Child

My good friend Jesse brought dinner over to our family a few days after Jane was born. She made the best enchilidas and key lime pie! In addition to the yummy food, she brought this adorable flower head band for Jane. It is a huge flower, but it really puts Jane's tiny size into perspective.

Baby Jane makes her debut

Jane Elizabeth Fife was born at 11:04 a.m. on Tuesday, September 6th. She weighed 8 lbs. 3 oz. and was 21 inches long.

Here is our sleeping beauty just after her 1st bath in the hospital:

After the kids got home from school and ate dinner, they came to visit us at the hospital. They couldn't wait to meet her...and Eve was just as excited to see me as she was her new sister.

Everyone had to have a turn holding Jane.

Jane and I headed home on Wednesday. We are so happy to have a newborn in our home again. We love you Jane!

1st Day of School 2011

Today is the 1st day of school. We laid out our outfits last night and everyone woke up happy this morning. Cross your fingers that this habit lasts all year!

Miriam ready for Pre-K.

Luke ready to make a great start in 1st grade.

This is Luke's 1st year riding the bus. Luckily there are plenty of neighborhood children that will be waiting with him each morning at the bus stop.

Miriam's school starts shortly after Luke's bus leaves, so we just walked over afterwards. She couldn't wait to get inside and start making friends.

This morning I was reminded of how much our Heavenly Father loves us and wants to help ease our fears. Last year I drove Luke to school because I wanted to know that he got to the building safely each day and I wanted to protect him from the older kids on the buses. However this year, driving Luke to school was not an option. The closest elementary school was full and Luke is enrolled at another great elementary school, just further away. We just felt that bus was the best option especially with the new baby on the way.

So this morning we prayed that everyone would get to school safe and that they could start making friends. Morgan gave each child a very tender father's blessing and then we headed to the bus stop. While waiting for the bus, Luke saw a little girl that he had met at Registration a few weeks earlier. They had played together on the playground and really hit it off. I then met her mom and found out that they live just a few houses down from us. They are even in the same grade...and the same class. They will be riding the same bus and going into the same classroom each morning. I just felt so relieved knowing that Luke wouldn't be alone on the commute to school and that he has someone that is familiar with the school to help show him around. When the bus arrived, Luke and his new friend Tressa climbed aboard together and then found seats together. I think Luke is going to be OK this year...and so will his overprotective mother.

I am so grateful for life's little blessings. I was reminded today that our Father in Heaven is concerned even about the little details in our lives and wants to help resolve our worries. Such a good lesson to learn this morning!