October - December 2011

We spent Fall keeping busy, as usual. Jack's soccer season continued; the "Express Pros" team had an admirable 5-1-1 record in the first year of keeping score. Anna lost her first tooth. Anna is continuing with ballet, and Kate likes to dress up as a ballerina, so she may join her sister when she is old enough. Halloween was fun, but we only did three events this year (instead of four) - the two Zoo-based events and trick-or-treating around our neighborhood. We visited Granny and Grandpa for Thanksgiving and got to see some early Christmas decorations there. Then, we hosted Granny, Grandpa and Aunt Amy here for Christmas. Only a little snow that didn't last long so far this year, but we keep hoping to get out the sleds.

Jack with some serious keeper equipment

Jack goes to the ball

Anna's missing tooth

"my nice dress"

the crew ready for boo at the zoo

Behind you! Watch out for that spider!

Ladybug races the cheetah

eating the ghost cookies

the icing is definitely the best part of the ghost cookies

playing catch at the tailgate in Ann Arbor before the Michigan-Purdue game

Halloween III (we went to three different events this year)

our spooky jack-o-lanterns

helping with the Fall cleanup

Clearly, we need to ride in the wagon to help pick up the leaves

The Crossley children

showing Granny the flowers at the holiday display

Anna having fun at the park

in the jungle with Dad

Our 2011 Christmas card

ballerina holiday

snow falls at Tuckaho

working on the "make-a-bear" with Aunt Amy

racing with Grandpa

Anna at the Sidewinder art installation

Jack at Sidewinder

July - September 2011

We all kept busy from late Summer into early Fall. Kate was old enough to join us for fireworks viewing this year, which was great fun for everyone. In early August, we went to Vermont to visit our friends Kevin and Ruth and their family. This year, that coincided with cousin Sena's wedding near Burlington, so we attended that and got to spend time with Grandpa Be-bap. Back home, after school started, we visited the "Trucks, etc." show and got to climb on and around all kinds of trucks, special automobiles, and equipment. Near the end of September, Jack's outdoor soccer season started, which he really enjoys.

Kate before the fireworks

The Fireworks!

Anna at Zoo-Run-Run

Jack at Zoo-Run-Run

even Kate ran at Zoo-Run-Run

all the runners along with Coach James after the Zoo-Run-Run

Kate with Ally-the-dog

visiting Rancho Descansamos

Jack in front of the hydrangeas

playing croquet

Kate at Lake Bomoseen

Anna at Lake Bomoseen

What makes you think I was playing in the sand?

Cheers!

Skippin' rocks

Kate power-swinging

Kate frolicking by the flowers in her polka-dot frock

With Grandpa Be-bap at the Shelburne Museum

Kate in yellow Shinkansen shirt on the yellow outdoor sculpture

Kate driving the Excavator

Jack checking out the limousine

Anna's turn on the excavator

Jack ready in goal

April - June 2011

Jack started playing soccer, Anna started ballet, and Kate wanted to do everything during Spring and into the start of summer. Once school wrapped up, we took our trip to visit relatives in South Dakota and Nebraska. We sure seem to be keeping busy.

helping clear out the honeysuckle

someone is sneaking in to ballet class

picking up chicks

ladybug in spring

Jack in goal

dress rehearsal for the recital (no flash allowed)

Jack gets airborne

the pedal John Deere tractors at Purdue's Spring Fest

soccer spectator

viewing the football match from the edge of the pitch

Anna needed something to do at halftime, so she ran around (and around, and around...)

Jack on the attack

Kate!

at the bottom of the twisty slide

Anna smiling

Kate at Pioneer Park

Anna as the television news anchor

Kate and Jack on the fast slide

Tyrannosaurus Jack at the Children's Museum of South Dakota. Anna's just running to Dad; the baby T-rex robot is pretty cool, but (thankfully) not too scary.