Ella & Mae Meet Cora for the First Time

Our big girls were both so excited to meet their new sister! They both continue to really be drawn to Cora and Valerie is certainly going to have lots of help once we get home. We look forward to these three growing up together!

Welcome to the World Cora Jeanne

Cora Jeanne Detwiler came into the world at 8:13 a.m. on Thursday, November 3, 2011. She weighed 8 pounds and 10 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. She and her mommy both came through the c-section just fine. Cora is pink and perfect!

Cora Jeanne Detwiler

A smushy mama with her new baby girl!

Valerie's first glimpse of Cora.

The "Big 3" came for a visit after Cora's birth. Nicholas has a lot of responsibility being the big brother for three little sisters! He didn't want his mommy to have to go to the hospital to have the baby, so he was sure happy to see her doing well.

Ella and Mae meeting Cora for the first time. They were both enthralled with all of Cora's baby bits. Mommy's going to have lots of help, I'm sure!

GAG Night 2011

Nicholas--Skeleton, Ella--Dragon, Mae--Giraffe

Friday night was GAG night at our church. The kids had a great time and looked really cute. Their costumes were compliments of the costume exchange hosted by Lenn's work.......we swapped our old costumes and ended up with some really original costumes for this year!

Waterman's Fall Festival 2011

It was a beautiful day here on Columbus Day, October 10, and Lenn had the day off so we spent the morning at the Waterman's Fall Festival. We had a really great time. The kids loved playing on the slide, in the bounce house, on the straw bale mound, etc. The petting zoo was a big hit also. Mae wasn't really sure how she felt about the huge mechanical pumpkin-eating dinosaur but she's been talking about it ever since!

Mae is 2 years old!!

Mae Mae ready for her birthday party........she's showing that she's 2 (except she's holding up 4 fingers......but you get the idea!!)

Yummy......birthday cupcakes!!!

Mae with her friend Caleb at her birthday party. Caleb gave her the purple ball and Jillian (Caleb's sister) gave her the Hello Kitty toy

Mae turned 2 on September 21. She is every bit the 2-year-old. She is sweet as pie one minute and pulling Ella's hair the next. She is into everything......climbing the stairs, getting into the pantry, taking off her clothes and diaper........she is busy!! And she's quite unpredictable these days.......she like to hit her siblings or yell "No!" really loudly while pointing her finger at you. I have no idea where she's getting this new side of spiciness........

We love her dearly and can't believe that she's already 2. She will soon be a big sister.......wow!

Summer Fun 2011--part 3

What a big girl!! Ella ready for her first day of Pre-K (Sept 6, 2011)

Sept 12, 2011--Heritage Builders homeschool group tour of Bar B M Farm in Brownsburg

Sept 12, 2011--Nicholas feeding an apple to a horse. Each child was given half an apple to feed to one of the horses in the barn.

Sept 12, 2011--Ella riding Paris on our field trip

Sept 10, 2011--Niko and Mommy anxiously awaiting the first bite of yummy food at the Greek Festival

Sept 10, 2011--Ella and Nicholas at the Greek Festival

Aug 27, 2011--Mommy and Mae at White River Gardens at the Indianapolis Zoo

August 27, 2011--Ella and Nicholas at White River Gardens

Summer Fun 2011--part 2

July 21, 2011--Visit with Biggerstaffs (Isaac is 4 1/2, Alex is 22 months)

July 8, 2011--Mae Mouse playing at McCloud Nature Park

Playing in the creek at McCloud Nature Park

July 6, 2011--Ella with preschool friend Caroline White.....having a very fancy playdate!

July 1, 2011--Lenn, Niko and Ella climbing at The Commons (awesome free indoor playground in downtown Columbus, In.....one of our day trips during staycation week)

Mae playing at The Commons

June 28, 2011--Ella checking out the giraffes at the Indy Zoo.....we visited the zoo one day during our staycation week (June 25-July 4)

So I've set a lofty goal for myself.......I'm going to try to get our blog updated before baby. That means I have a little over 3 weeks to get caught up. We'll see how that goes!!

We had a great but very hot summer. Time seems to be flying these days. Our kids are growing like weeds and it's such a joy to watch them interact (most of the time!).