O Christmas Tree...

 On Saturday morning, amidst the hustle and bustle- we got our annual Christmas tree- I think this is Dougie the Seventh by now!  :)  Jeremiah got to join in on the fun!  He didn't know what to think about that big tree!  Because this is our first Christmas with a very active little one- we decided to go with a smaller tree in case we needed to put it up on a stand.  We had to act quick this year at Home Depot as we had to get back for J's naptime. :) 

Yippee!  I got my first tree! 

Thanksgiving... 2011

Jeremiah trying turkey!

 We had a great time with family and friends for Thanksgiving!  It was so nice again for the second year in a row to not have to travel a long distance- instead we just drove 20 minutes to Grandpa & Grandma Lyons home!  We had lots of family to visit with and ate lots of food- we had something like 12 different pies- that is crazy!  Jeremiah had his first taste of turkey which he spit right back out.  :) 

Jonathan eating his Thanksgiving meal!

The boys playing together- "sharing" toys right! 

 Halfway through the day, I decided Jonathan and Jeremiah needed some excitement!  I gave them both rides on a little wagon which they LOVED!  :)  Jonathan instinctively held to the rope but Jeremiah was too trusting and went hands free.

Please no pictures please, I am embarrassed by my Mohawk!

 When Michael was bored on Thanksgiving, guess what he decided to do to the little man- poor guy! 

 Overall, it was a great weekend with food and fun!  Saturday night we gathered just with the Lyons' family for pizza and Cars 2 movie night! 

All the little ones on Thanksgiving Friday!

All the cousins on Thanksgiving weekend!

 And we were able to do our traditional Black Friday shopping- though it was a bit challenging with a little one now!  So as soon as Jeremiah woke up at 7am after feeding, we headed out for a little bit, at least until naptime!  :)  Look at that happy shopper!  We are so grateful for this time of Thanksgiving to thank the Lord for all the many blessings He has given to us!  Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

He can't wait to hit the stores! 

Yeah!  We got a good deal!!!!

Bathtime & Beyond!!

 Jeremiah is enjoying bath time so much!  He loves getting a bath in the big tub and splashes and splashes so hard!  He loves it!

 At 9 months old now, Jeremiah is a very busy bee.  He leaves a trail wherever he goes.  Now he loves to pull up on everything and try to reach for things.  He is always trying to open my cabinets- think it is time for baby locks. 

 Jeremiah is such a blessing and this Thanksgiving I am very thankful for all the blessings God has given me this year- for my wonderful  husband who is so thoughtful and works so hard for our family and this year for my little boy who the Lord graciously gave to us this year and has brought us great joy!  One of my prayers for Jeremiah is that he would love the Lord with all his heart and soul and I also pray that he would be a thoughtful boy and think of others before himself.  I am hoping he follows his daddy in this as there is no better model for him than Michael!  He serves and leads our family well! 

Jeremiah loves daddy's slippers!!! :)

I am also thankful how the Lord has led us to Cincinnati this past year and for the people He has brought into our lives here and he He teaches us dependence on Him and continues to provide for our every need!  We are blessed and thankful!!!! 

Outings!

 A week ago, on a Sunday night, we went with Ben & Laura and Jonathan and Mom Lyons to a place Michael had been craving- 5 Guys.  The boys loved their high chair seats and had fun banging on the table!  We then headed over to the beloved Half Price bookstores where Michael had a half off coupon.  It was quite the outing!  This past Saturday, Michael and I had a fun date to the Symphony!  Before the symphony, we decided to try out an Indian restaurant in Clifton!  It was amazing!  This restaurant came highly recommended by many at ECC!  If you are ever in the Clifton area- check out Ambar India Restaurant.

 This is us at the symphony!  Michael was trying to be a great composer!  :)  It had been awhile that I had gone to the symphony and from Michael's persective it was definitely worth it!  I liked it too but had trouble with my mind wandering down lists of things to do.  Guess I have trouble stopping and resting?  :) 

What The Lyons Will Do...

For a few extra dollars.  :)  We will...
*  Sign up for a study where for 3 exciting days in a row we have to drive to a location and  poop on command.  I know it sounds funny but hey it payed well!  One morning we raced to the place with baby in tow and passed off the kid to each other as we crossed paths.  :)  Poor Jeremiah!
*  We (meaning Erin) will wash your cars in exchange for our Jetta being fixed!  Thank you brother Ben Lyons for doing such a great job fixing the Jetta!  Erin spent a few hours this week cleaning and vaccuming and shining up their truck and other car in return!
*  We (meaning Erin) will have her brain responses tested out for an hour and earn a good amount of money (at least for us) in return.  She told them that if they found anything abnormal, they should let her know.
*  Because of a friend at church, we have started to sell some ( a few) books on Amazon and so we have a book sorting and packing business!  ( kind of )


Who knows what next month will hold!  We are thankful for all the ways the Lord is providing for us to make  a few extra dollars!  Every bit helps when you are in school!

Video of Visiting Daddy Part 2

This is Jeremiah visiting his daddy at HUC Library.  Who let that kid run loose?

Visiting Daddy!

 Last week, Jeremiah and I decided to visit Michael at Hebrew Union on Monday night when he works at the Library!  We even brought him his favorite- PB shake from UDF.  Jeremiah was all over the place!  He even wanted to help with the books- imagine that!  Jeremiah says- I think I am going to like coming to this library!  It has wide open spaces where I can crawl around everywhere!!  We are so thankful for how the Lord has provided these jobs at Hebrew Union for Michael in the Library and Graduate Office! 

Jeremiah's Greeting

Now that Jeremiah can stand- he loves to pull up on his crib and wait for me to come into the room. 

Fall Fun!

 We have been enjoying the leaves and the beautiful fall weather the last fee weeks!  Last weekend, we did our traditional (6th annual) Lyons' Family Reformation Day including watching the movie Luther as well as eating pizza!  It was a bit more challenging with the babies this year- Jonathan and Jeremiah but it was fun still the same!

 This is my attempt at a 9 month photo shoot of Jeremiah!  :)  Well, not as good as my friend Laura but at least I tried.  :)  And now getting a 9 month old to sit still and look at me long enough is challenging! 

 Things I have been baking:  I have really enjoyed making applesauce this year and freezing that as well as my Grandma's Apple Pie!  Michael had requested several, especially when we found apples at 49 cents a pound at Meijer.  And yes, that is our piggy oven mit. 
Applesauce:  I use McIntosh apples- peel the skin and cut them up with an apple cutter, put them in a big pot and simmer on low for several apples as they boil down- I do put some water in the pot with them and then add a little sugar when it is done- super easy and delicious!  Then when cooled- pop it in the freezer!  :)
Apple Pie Recipe:  (Mom-mom's Apple Pie)
5-6 large McIntosh apples
1-9 inch pie crust
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
(Mix sugar & cinnamon together)
1/2 c. sugar
3/4 c. flour
1/3 c. butter softened (mix sugar, flour & butter together- crumb topping mix )
Mix sugar, flour and butter and put on top for the topping. 
Cut and peel apples and put in pie crust.  Sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar on top.  Top with the sugar, flour and butter mixture as a crumb topping.  Bake at 450 for 10 minutes and then 350 for 40 minutes.  Yummy!

 Last weekend, we also had a Square Dance at church on Reformation Sunday!  It was quite the festivities- this is what Jeremiah and Jonathan thought of our square dance!  They were not as impressed!  :)  I think they liked the straw though!  Grandpa Lyons faithfully watched the kiddos so that Ben & Laura and Michael and I could do-see-do.  :)

 Jeremiah just turned 9 months yesterday- so hard to believe!  The kid is crawling with the intent of walking I do believe.  He just is pulling up on everything and wants to stand a ton!  He loves the swing so we have been taking him to the little park near us- it is also the park where I run and walk in the mornings!  This park is definitely not as good as Cherokee in Louisville but it at least beats running on Colerain Avenue!  :)

 This past weekend, we also had a birthday party for Mom Lyons as her birthday is today!  She has done so much for our family and faithfully serves us!  On Sunday night, she watched Jeremiah so we could go to the Hebrew Union banquet- the food was delicious and I wish I had taken a picture of the chocolate mousse dessert- so good!  I even had to eat some of guy who could not eat it because it contained gluten- my hubby!  Poor guy!  So that has been our Fall Fun so far!  :)

A New Toy!

Jeremiah- discovering a new toy and finding his voice too!  And this is how I found him one morning when I was taking a shower- I had put him in the jumper for only 5-10 minutes and he was so exhausted, he fell asleep!  That has not happened in a long time!

Grandma Renner

 Grandma Renner ( Michael's Grandma ) is such a sweet lady!  The Lord continues to use her in our lives!  She is in her 90s and is such a neat woman!  Of the traits in her that I hope to emulate some day is her joyful spirit and sweet generosity!  The other week she sent us this card that she beautifully painted with a note and a check!  She said that her income had increased and wanted to bless others with it!  What a beautiful picture of a woman who does not see this world as her home nor money!  She joyfully gives to others!  I pray that if I live to be her age- I would be like that someday! 

 Grandma Renner and Jeremiah!

 On another note, who is pulling himself up on EVERYTHING this week- Jeremiah!  During the first half hour of nap, he pulled himself to this position and could not get down- I kept having to go in and lay him back down on the bed- silly kid.  :)

Anything he can pull up on he loves to!!!!  He is a growing boy- busy as ever!  :)