My sister-in-laws, Teresa and Rachel, and their kids, Jake and Mary, came out for 5 days to visit last week. The cousins had a lot of fun playing together and the women had plenty of time to catch up and relax while the kids were napping or sleeping at night.

Sasha really missed having all the extra people around after everyone left. She will love seeing them again next week at a family wedding we will all attend.

Mary was so kind to "Baby Sasha" as she referred to her ALL day. She'll be a great big sister in the not so distant future. Rachel is due with her second child in April and Teresa is due in May!

Sasha screams for more gelato. She is not patient when it comes to eating sweets!

Jake and Sasha in Sasha's crib which finally arrived the day before everyone came.

Aunt Tersesa reads a bedtime story to her son and nieces.

Before our Girls Night Out while Phil watched the kiddos (two of them slept the whole time, to be honest). Rachel, Teresa, and I enjoyed an intimate flamenco dinner show at El Farol, the oldest restaurant in Santa Fe with great tapas and margaritas. We had a blast and remarked many times that nght and throughout the week how fortunate we are to have such wonderful sister-in-laws. Thanks to Benj and Joe for choosing such terrific wives!

pumpkin patch

While in Goshen we went to a pumpkin "Fantasy Land" out in the country east of town on a beautiful fall day. Sasha loved pulling up on countless pumpkins and probing each pumpkin stem with her index finger.

goshen trip

Two weekends ago we flew home to Indiana for a mini-reunion with my college friends, spouses and kids. We tried to split our time evenly between both of our families and friends. It made for a whirlwind 5 day visit, but it was a lot of fun. Above Sasha is giving a "kiss" to my mom, the only thing she will do on command and really that only lasted for about a week!

Above Mandy (the hostess) and Noah, Tina and Henry, Tara and Emerson, Lisa and Eliza, and me and Sasha.

The girls (9 and 11 months) had fun playing together.

All of the gang--still good friends 9 years after graduating from Goshen College.

Random Photos

I find myself far behind in my blog once again. We've been travelling and hosting guests for several weeks so I'll try to blog like mad over the next few days in order to document all the goings on. For now, here are just a few recent favorite pics. Sasha is still very much into crawling, pulling up on things and climbing over things. We just ordered a gate for our stairs which should make keeping an eye on her a little easier.

Sasha is oblivious to the Colts depressing season this year.

In front of our house on the first really cold day. (My new haircut too....first time I've had bangs since 6th grade!)

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Phil's parents came out this week to visit and Phil took a few vacation days so we could relax with them and do a few daytrips to sites that were new to us as well. Sasha loved having all the extra people around during the week and was in a great mood the whole time even when we dragged her out and about during her usual naptimes. Her favorite pasttime these days is climbing the stairs. She's barely taller than two steps but she is determined and persistent. Above Grandpa Smucker takes his turn at spotting her and celebrates with her at the top of the stairs below.

A picnic lunch before a hike at Tent Rocks National Monument, the country's newest national park/monument 30 minutes south of Santa Fe. The hike took us through a beautiful slot canyon (below).