Anna Caroline is 11 months old

My girl is one month away from a year old, and I am so thankful this month that she has brought such joy, tenderness, patience, humbleness, and happiness to our family.  

She is now walking, pointing, has finally said Momma, and while my parents were visiting said Babu a couple times.  She is 21 lbs.  now, and is wearing 12 month clothes and sometimes up to 18 months /outerwear (just cause Momma likes the way they fit better).  She now has 8 teeth.  Is ready for "REAL" food cause she is hating what ever I fix for her and wants to handle the spoon herself.  

This girl loves baths, and has gotten so excited lately when we put on shoes to run errands.  

Her sleeping habits have changed quite a bit and though I love to still rock her to sleep cause it does a Momma's heart good, she does't always cooperate.  

But I love when she wakes happy and looking for me.  She most the times wakes up calling Momma.

I was reading to her the other night and she was kissing Jesus in the book.

She walked for the first time at 10 1/2 months.  Here is the video.

Thankful tree making

Our second year at this Thankful tree tradition.  We are so thankful is helps us remember what we are thankful for, keep a thankful attitude, and realize that were are blessed not by just material needs and wants, but by relationships, family, and that things that will last eternally.  Our God. His Word and Promises for Reconciliation. 

The boys coloring in the tree before we hang it up.  

My happy heart loves to see all my babies doing something together.  Knowing they will share many memories of times together, and their moments of being each others first friends.  

Anna got tired of watching and decided to help.

And Mommy and Daddy only waited 4 days to be added among the list of things thankful for. Sweet Noah is learning to love and think of his parents.

They are growing (much too quickly)

In some small moments you realize your kids are quickly (much too quickly) growing up.

Look at this handsome Lukers.  He now tells me his name is only Luke when he use to only know he was called my Lukers.  

My little "Mary" right out of the bath.  When the boys put a towel over their head they are of course Jesus.  

Luke Michael took these two shots of my growing boy. 

snuggled up while sister naps and brother is at school.

Showing Anna how to write her numbers. 

This grin was caused by too much fun, and Luke dragging her around in the bucket giggling away.

And my girl, getting acquainted with baby jesus toys, and the shepards and wiremen.

Sahill day

One of my favorite pastimes in Rize is to go by the sahill on a coldish day and watch the water.  

And let the boys throw rocks.  

Today we went to a completely different place. 

And passed this beautiful black and white mosque.

A lone fisherman.

Our five.

gazing with my girl.

We headed to the track to let the boys run out some energy.  Anna got some leg workout too.

At the Monastery

The day they left we had our last hooraa.  Fall at the Monastery was just breathtaking.  I had been once before in September, but this was so much more colorful.

Some of these great pics are from Luke Michaels' camera. 

I can not take the credit.

sweet girls.

cold mtn. water

my little ham

The panorama 

The clouds rolled in just as we were leaving.