And...We're Back

A few people have been after me to update my blog and after, what seems like an eternity, we finally have a computer again! Thanks to my dad and mom, we received a computer for Christmas! YEAH! So we are back in business, as far as blogging goes. The one other catch that might affect future blogs, is that my camera software is wigging out on me and I don't know if I'll be able to post too many pictures after this blog. We'll have to see how it goes. This particular blog is chalk full of pics so we can catch you up on the happenings of the Page family. (Caution: because it's been a while and I've forgotten how to organize this, the pictures are not in any order.)


This is Allyson just hanging out first part of December. She is so much fun these days. She is happy, loves her sisters, knows how to communicate through some sign language. Her favorite signs are "where" and "please". She has discovered baby dolls and loves the cat, who really couldn't care less about Ally. She folds her arms when it's time to say prayers. Ally just turned 15 months in December.






In October, Julie's sisters came to visit and one of the days there were here, we took a day trip to NYC. Everytime I go, I forget how chilly it is in the city so we weren't exactly dressed quite right for it. The Aunts had to buy the girls some beanies to keep their little heads and ears warm. We survived, but next time, we'll be more prepared. This is Jessica, Julie and Courtney at the one and only Rockefeller Center.





This was our Ward Christmas Party where Santa made a visit. Courtney thought that since Ally had met Santa last year and didn't cry, that she wouldn't cry this year. Oh, the sweet naivity of a child! Ally wanted nothing to do with him, but we managed to keep her long enough for a picture. (You can tell she was trying to squirm away cause her pants are pulled up!)






At the historic Wanamaker building where Macy's is, in downtown Philadelphia, they have a special display they call "Dicken's Village" There were some murals on the wall of an old village. Then when you walk down the hall, there is a walk-through display of figures and scenery, (like a museum, I guess), that is the story of "A Christmas Carol". (I dont' have the right words for it, but hopefully you get what I'm trying to say.) We weren't allowed to take pictures in that part, sadly. It was very impressive though. Lots of details to each scene of the story, with the statues and props and stuff.


At the end of the Dicken's Village, Santa was waiting again for us. Thought we'd try again to get Ally to smile, but as you can see, no such luck. He was kind of an old-timey Santa. The older girls always enjoy seeing Santa and telling him what they want for Christmas. It's always something different this year.







Okay, we jump back a couple of months. Halloween brought us a veterinarian, a cheetah, and a baby in a candy corn outfit. Julie is not creative enough to get a baby, who's not going to be trick-or-treating, into a costume. Maybe next year. The girls had fun. Aunts Karen and Valerie were still here for that. They didn't dress up. :(







This is Aunt Karen and the girls in Central Park after lunch. (See I told you these pictures were not in any order).








Just a bit of the loot from Halloween. The Great Pumpkin came later that night and took most of it, leaving behind some "Webkinz" as a trade. The girls get to keep about 20-25 pieces of candy and the Great Pumpkin gets the rest. They are so generous to share. And we don't have kids asking for candy every day till Christmas. They get SOOOO much here, including full size candy bars.





Here's Ally folding her arms. This was right after she learned how to do it, just from watching us do it. It's amazing what they pick up even when you are not trying to teach them anything.

Jessica learned how to climb a tree recently. This is the only somewhat decent climbing tree in our apartment complex. She's sad that it's now too cold to spend a lot of time outside climbing it. She loves 1st grade and is doing a wonderful job of reading. She asked for scriptures for Christmas and loves to read bits and pieces on her own.

I took lots of pictures during the fall. We had an exceptionally long and warm fall so I was snapping pictures all the time. I thought this was one of the best ones. This is a major reason I love being on the Eastern part of the country. SEASONS! My favorite seasons are Spring and Fall. I'm not used to it, so it is such a novelty.
Carving the "Magic Pumpkin". Every year, somehow we get a magic pumpkin. Candy inside is what makes it magic. The kids still can't figure out how we manage to pick out such and exciting pumpkin every year. This year it had Kit-Kats. YUM!
Valerie, Karen, and I took a day trip, on my birthday, to Hershey, PA and Chocolate World. Just the three of us. Brian was off that day, so he stayed home with the kids. It was nice to go out with just my sisters. We were so stylish that day, wearing matching 3-D glasses. (we saw a 3-D movie about chocolate.)

So those are a few of the highlights from the last few months. We hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year. WE DID! We are finally back to a normal routine, the kids went back to school on the 2nd. They waste no extra time here away from education. Tat's a good thing, I think. Brian is a year and a half away from finishing! YEAH! we should start the job hunting process in a year or less. SCARY, but very exciting. We have no idea what the future holds. But then again...who usually does!?? HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!