Halloween!

When I found out that I was going to Utah, I quickly ordered some Gap costumes online for the girls. Anna Claire picked the bumblebee outfit but the only costume left in Mariah's size was the pig. So, Mariah got to be a pig this Halloween--which looked great with herchubby little face well! And, actually, someone taught her to snort like a pig too -- so this is what she now does every time she sees a pig. Anna Claire was thrilled by the whole event and quickly picked up on the getting candy part. She did a Trunk or Treat with her California cousins, then returned to Utah to do more trick or treating with Ken's and Joy's kids.

The Trick or Treat Gang - Anna Claire, Joshua, Eleanor, Mariah, Olivia, Noah, Gracie

Bees n' Pirates

Yeah! Anna Claire knows how to entertain the younger ones -- she gets lots of practice!

Candy overdose!

Mommy, I'm just so glad to get out of that pig costume!

October 2007 - Visit to Tiffs and Jareds

While in Utah, we made a little side trip to California to visit Rob's sister Tiff and her family. (Anyhow, the girls got to play with their cousins Sam and Jacob. Jake is just 6 months older than Anna and she adores him -- as well as her older cousin Sam.

The trip was more than a side trip -- I had to go back to Sacramento to pack up all our furniture in storage and get it shipped to Switzerland. (If you didn't already know, we're staying in Switzerland another 3 years!) Everyone in Rob's family rallied to help. Grandma Judie flew out to help watch the girls and Jared spent a very long day helping me pack up and transport boxes. We couldn't have done it without them! Rob did a quick one day fly-in to help out too.

Anna and Jake with their matching LeapPads.

The three cousins (Anna is protesting the camera -- her new thing).

Mariah just loved looking at the "doggie" outside.

October 2007 - Back to Utah -- again!

About 6 weeks after returning to Switzerland, we made another unexpected trip to Utah. My Grandma Yancey (my father's mother) passed away. She was a wonderful grandma and an amazing, kind person. We will truly miss her. Anyhow, I packed up the girls and we made another long trip halfway across the globe without Rob. Grandma's funeral was beautiful -- such a celebration of her joyful life. All of her grandkids but one made it back -- how great is that! Afterwards, we all gathered at her home -- which is in the hills above Provo to eat and listen to great piano music -- just as we often did at my grandmother's home. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, so I've got no pictures of the event. But the girls had a great time seeing their aunts and uncles, cousins and grandma and grandpa.

I was also fortunate to get to visit my sister-in-law, Joy, in the hospital. She was finishing her second round of chemotherapy treatments and has a surprisingly chipper attitude, especially given that she's been in a lot of pain.

The girls, of course, had a great time with Grandma Tia and Grandpa Ken while in Utah.

My brother Ken, Eleanor (one of their twins), Gracie and a very jetlagged Anna Claire.

Of course, nothing beats riding around in Grandma's and Grandpa's driveway! Yes, that is Mariah, only 9 1/2 months old, but big enough to scoot around on a car.

And the race is on. . . zoom. . .zoom. . .!

Hmmm. . .I think I'll just help myself to some of this delicious stuff in Grandma's refrigerator!

Anna Claire loved hanging out with Aunt CK. Every time I mention her name Anna Claire starts to do a little dance. She loves dancing with Aunt CK.