Look Who's 9 Months Old!

Even though I couldn't get Michael and Abby to look at the photographer together for pictures, we got some great shots of Michael.  He is growing so fast and is so much fun!

Say CHEESE!.... Oh, Nevermind!

Last week, Michael had pictures taken for hitting the 9 month milestone.  The photographer tried to take a few pictures of Abigail and Michael together.  It was quite a circus to get them to look at the camera at the same time because they were having too much fun playing together.  Finally, she gave up and captured the moment.  This picture makes Mama's heart happy!

Tea Time with Some Friends

I just love Abigail's imagination.  Boredom is never an issue with her.  Here we have some unlikely friends-Pink and Purple Dinosaur are dining with Blue and Llama Llama.

Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Palmyra

Last weekend, we were able to attend the Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert in Chautauqua.  The last time the choir performed in Chautauqua was the summer of 2007 (just a couple of months after we moved to Rochester).  I was 8 months pregnant with Abigail during our last adventure.  This time, we had Abigail and Michael with us!  They were both wonderful during the concert.

The day before the concert in Chautauqua, the choir stopped in Palmyra as they traveled.  It was a special treat for me because my friend, Kim, was traveling with her husband who sings in the choir.  They were not there for long, but it was great to visit with Kim and say hello to her husband.  I loved listening to the choir sing on Saturday at the concert, but it was an incredibly spriritual experience to hear the beautiful voices of the choir sing "Oh, How Lovely Was the Morning" just outside the Sacred Grove.  It was one of those special moments that I will never forget.  It also made me think about my dad because this was one of his favorite places to be.

Michael, Tara, and Abby listen to the choir sing in front of the frame house at the Smith Farm in Palmyra (right next to the Sacred Grove).



Tara (with Michael and Abby) and Kim at the Smith Farm in Palmyra

Yummy Strawberries!

Just a few minutes from our house, there is a farm where we can pick our own strawberries.  Our homemade strawberry jam is just about gone, so it was a must to pick some fresh berries to make more.  As you can see, we had LOTS of help!

 Abby was Daddy's helper.  I guess she was looking for berries from a different angle.  You can't see all of the strawberry juice on her face.

Michael was Mommy's helper.  He thought it was really fun to pull on the leaves.  He wasn't so sure about the weeds tickling his feet.

The berries made yummy strawberry shortcake and beautiful strawberry jam.