While I was away . . .

I haven't blogged for a good long time. Sorry. I am sure you all live for my updates. Here are some of the things we've been doing. Here are all the grandkids with Uncle Lance. I took several pictures but some how only got them looking at someone else's camera, not mine! What a sweet group.

These are my four chefs. Almost any time they see me standing at the counter cooking they all pull a chair up to help! (That's why I do a lot of cooking at naptime when I'm down to just a few helpers!) Here we are working on chocolate silk pie for Thanksgiving (which turned out to be divine, if I do say so myself).

Madeline had homemade rootbeer at a birthday party and has wanted to make it ever since. We finally did it--I have to admit I liked the dry ice smoke as much as they did. Very fun!

Anna likes to flip onto her tummy to play now. Here she is eating a burp rag.

I was mopping the floor on my birthday. Eliza saw me and reminded me I didn't have to work since it was my birthday. When I continued anyway, she took the mop and finished the job for me. She even replaced the bathroom rugs when she was done. What better present could a mom ask for?!

On our way to Alisa's baptism we stopped at the zoo. It was an absolutely beautiful fall day! Some nice man took our picture by the big gorilla.

Natalia was scared of the gorilla (and most of the other animals) and would not even stand by these gorillas. Of course, the real gorilla was just off to the right in his cage. She didn't want to be that close.

Natalia used my cookie paddles for ankle cuffs. Gave me a good laugh!

Kevin didn't have meetings one Sunday morning, so I wanted a picture of all these Yearsley women in their Sunday finery. Of course, the suggestion that we all sit down for a picture was met with tears and groans. After an M&M bribe, we got a picture. Not every one is making their best pose, but oh well!