Here is how to have a baby in five minutes the quick and painless way. Listen up Abby.
Step 1: Unwrap the box.
Step 2: Have mommy snip the packaging cords.
Step 3: Feed baby with (ready all the time) bottle.
Congrats to Abby and Justin on their Christmas Eve arrival. Cameron Noelle!
To Nana and Papa's house we go.
Ella reacts after opening Miss Moo-Moo the Cow puppet show book.
My sister Lisa and brother-in-law Ben came up from Kentucky.
My other sister Ashley, with my neice Carley, left, and nephew Shane.
We went to a holiday party at our friend Jenny, Jeff, Ethan and Carter Rauschert's. Ethan introduced Ella to his "Bee." She had some crazy fun bouncing with him in his inflatable jumper. So much fun that we scoped out a sale at Meijer and purchased Ella a last minute Christmas present.
Angie searched around and found Dan a new home. Her brother Adam has a neighbor who has 22 geese. He keeps adults so they will mate and give him goslings. He says it will be a couple years before he is plumped up enough to have him as a Christmas goose. So I talked Brett and Jesse into coming over and helping me corral Dan to get him into a pickup truck. Dan should have a few good years of procreation before he heads to the chopping block.
Ella sit on Aunt Stacey's lap, while getting a hug from Henry, at the Christmas party last weekend.
This was one of the only times Henry slowed down enough to get him in a picture.
While Papa Jim cut up the turkey this past weekend, Ella figured out that she could scavange a few tasty morsels. You know you guys can here her saying it, "More... More..."
"Cheese! Cheese!" Ella says while holding the camera up to her face. Henry and Ella loved to pretend to take pictures like the adults during the Christmas party this past weekend. Really Ella just likes looking on the back of the camera for pictures. I'm not sure what Henry is doing :)
This is Dan, the displaced Christmas Goose. He is our neighbor Mark's pet that use to hang near his pond with a gaggle of Canadian geese. They flew south for the winter and Dan moved into our yard. So when I filled the bird feader I wasn't really hoping for this type of bird watching. Mark says that he is lost now that his friends have moved on to warmer weather and would like to find a new home for Dan. Anyone up for a Christmas goose, he would go well with stuffing and greenbean casserole. Just kidding, but if anyone wants a new pet goose let me know.
She can't really reach the pedals but she sure looked cool in her new pink ride. She is either destined to star in a movie with Clint Eastwood, sing back up for Bruce Springsteen or sell Mary Kay products. 
(now everyone, clap your hands to the beat)
"I love you for your pink Cadillac
Crushed velvet seats
Riding in the back
Oozing down the street"
"Now some folks say it's too big
And uses too much gas
Some folks say it's too old
And that it goes too fast
But my love is bigger than a Honda
It's bigger than a Subaru
Hey man there's only one thing
And one car that will do
Anyway we don't have to drive it
Honey we can park it out in back
And have a party in your pink Cadillac"
Today is the start of the 12 days of Christmas blog post. For the next 12 days you can visit our blog to get a Christmas edition of Wood Frames. (sing along here) On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me twelve packages of pork chops, eleven cousin, ten cell phones, nine-year-old Ali, eight silly sweatshirts, seven Christmas parties, six Stothards, five Thurms, four Cadillacs, three pregnant ladies, two papas and a goose named Dan.
Like she always says, it's dangerous being friends with photographers. Well here is a birthday celebration from the past that I thought I would break out for this special occassion. Happy 31st birthday Kristy, and many more!
So After Kristy called to let me know about the Northern Lights I waited to see how bright they were going to get. I decided to see how the Giving Tree out at Castor Road would look with the sky lit up. It is quite amazing what they look like from different perspectives as they fade in and out. Check out Kristy's new blog And so it goes and her photos of the lights.
More commonly called the Northern Lights made an appearance at the end of ol' 10 1/2 Mile. Well I guess it made an appearance all over the world. They came and went, but now are back again. Gotta go...
Ella celebrated her 2nd birthday with cake, a houseful of family and presents. Thanks to everyone that made her day special.
Here comes Santa Claus!
Here comes Santa Claus!
Right down Santa Claus Lane!
Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer
are pulling on the reins.
Bells are ringing, children singing;
All is merry and bright.
Hang your stockings and say your prayers,
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.
Here comes Santa Claus!
Here comes Santa Claus!
Right down Santa Claus Lane!
He's got a bag that is filled with toys
for the boys and girls again.
Hear those sleigh bells jingle jangle,
What a beautiful sight.
Jump in bed, cover up your head,
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight
I guess one good thing came from Angie's flu episode on the plane ride to Jasper this past Thursday night. She was home for the weekend and we were able to head to Vander Sys Tree Farm in Weidman to hunt for the chosen conifer. For the past six years it has been a tradition for Lou, Jim, Angie and I (and now Ella) to go to the tree farm to pick out our Christmas Tree. We searched though the rows and rows of trees to find Jim and Lou's. Angie and I picked a three-foot potted Blue Spruce for our tree this year. Not as exciting as sawing, yelling timber, dragging, shaking the needles and all of that holiday jazz. However, we thought we could recycle a little Christmas joy. We plan to plant it and remembering our trees of Christmas past when we live on Castor Road.
On Comet ... On Cupid ... On Donner ... Look at the rack on Donner!
Our little snow princess wouldn't keep her royal mittens on. Her ladies in waiting warmed her hands up with all their hot air.
Just wait until she can push and pull the adult sized vacume. For now, Ella likes to use "Dusty" to help Mommy vacume the floor. Give her ten years and I am sure her mood will change.
No that is not too much Thanksgiving dinner in Angie's belly. That would be our little baby and I guess some turkey, ham, potatoes, ribs, more potatoes and carmel cheesecake. Mostly baby though...
Earlier today, Lydia (our niece) was trying to feel the baby move. 
I can remember like it was yesterday when Ella couldn't stand on her own and relied on mama and daddy for everything. It amazes me every day how much she is changing and growing. Her hands, which were once chubby and wrinkled, now look like little girl hands. My love and awe of her is truly indescribable.
-Words by Mama, picture by Daddy.
Who is that photographer under that trash bag and why doesn't he have proper rain gear? Its Brett trying to keep the buckets of rain off his head. It was raining as he likes to say "harder than a bull pissin' on a flat rock." We left at halftime completly soaked, just in time for it to start sleeting. As I type this it is turning to snow. Anyway, the mighty Chippewas defeated their rivals from Kzoo 31-7. They opened up the flood gates, and I am not talking about all the rain, and scored 21 points in the second half.
Here is the only decent photo that I shot from the game. Just a little O.F. as we like to say. Don't forget boys and girls ... copyright of the Midland Daily News.
Ella and I spent the day together today. She is getting over a cold and it just worked out that I stayed home with her. Here are a few pictures of our pretty yet uneventfull morning. 
Look at the purdy morning light coming in the window. Is this what the livingroom looks like when I am at work? I need to stay home more often! Ella is looking through a book, actually trying to get my attention to read it to her. Oh and yes, I haven't combed her hair yet either, as you can see from the shadow that her bed head is creating. 
After pulling the shades, Ella says good moring to Bella. Did you guys all know that a kitty says Meow. Just checking.
One piece at a time ... or one fist full at a time.
Playing peek-a-boo.
By the bowlfull ... or lady like.
A snack before bed ... with a drink to wash it down.
So who knew, but there is milk in microwave popcorn. Just an f.y.i. to all those babysitters out there, check the labels before popping that corn for Ella. No, she wasn't choking on a kernal ... that would be milk in the popcorn. The over sized bowl you see above is the second batch of the night, good ol' fashion Whirley Pop!
Once upon a time there was a little ducky. At first she didn't really know what to think of Halloween and all this dress up fuss.
After trying out her little webbed feet and shaking her little tail she decided that being a little ducky wasn't too bad.
Especially when Grandma and Grandpa Bishop gave her hugs and snacks. "This Halloween gig isn't half bad," she quacked.
The snacks were great, but she couldn't understand why the doggie started following her around the house. Grandpa quickly had to scold the doggie to keep him from stealing the little ducky's snack.
Not only did she have to watch out for sneaky old dogs but for the weird looking hunter too. "Good thing it isn't duck season," she thought to herself.
The little ducky decided that Halloween was a great time, she visted with all her friends. Mary and Laura Ingles, Buzz Light Year and Barney the Baby Dinosaur.
Her favorite part of the day was meeting all the new people that thought she was so cute.
But her most favorite part of her Halloween adventure was all the goodies that the strangers packed her pumkin with.
