Johnny, Christy, Abby, Katie and Cali

We had such a fun Halloween! We bought a pumpkin the day before Halloween and it was itty bitty but John and Abby still carved it.

Time has just been flying for me and I am behind in everything! Katie is 5 months tomorrow and Abby will be three in February. We have been in New York for almost 2 months now and I am slowly making friends. John has been called to be Gospel Doctrine Teacher in church and I am Ward Chorister and Young Women's 2nd Counselor. We are staying busy and I am still working on the house.

Katie had her 4 month check up in October right after our trip to Vegas. She has grown so much! She was 12 lbs. 15 oz. and 23 3/4 inches long. Just this last week she started laughing. Abby can always make her laugh. Katie loves to stand. I think she will walk before she actually crawls! Abby is still a little rough with Katie but Katie takes it in stride. They are best friends already... always kissing and hugging.

It snowed twice before Halloween. Both times it snowed over 1 inch and it has only happened four times since 1880. We got two of those times! I made Abby wait until John got home to go build a snowman. She was so excited. Here is our first snow adventure in New York.

John completed his CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter) last year so State Farm sent him and a companion (me) to Las Vegas. Abby stayed with John's parents while we took Katie. I was a little worried about how it would be with a baby but it was surprisingly fun. We got there on Friday, October 21st and Christina picked us up. We went straight to In N Out of course! It was delicious! We hung out and went to the Outlets where John had a little fun in the Nike Store. We then took Christina and Brian to Cafe Rio, another restaurant we miss. On Saturday we were able to check in to our room at Caesars Palace. They gave us a beautiful view of the Bellagio Water show and the strip. We met up with Mike and Kirsten Esselman and Ashley and Dave Horlacher who came to see us! Thanks friends! We walked the Strip, went to the Coca Cola and M&M Store. We also met up with Chris and Amanda Ray who lived in Texas but were relocated with State Farm as well. We saw Mystere (a Cirque de Soliel show) that night and it was good. On Sunday we went to the State Farm Dinner and saw some other State Farm friends. We went to the pool a couple days and hung out with Samson and Natalie Tufts (a New York State Farm/Church friend). We went to the Blue Man Group. That was Amazing! I loved it and would definitely see it again. We found an amazing restaurant that we went to everyday called Max Brenner Chocolate Restaurant. It was just delicious and located in the Caesar Palace Forum! In the end, I bet $2 and ended up with $19.45, not bad!

This is a real guy just standing there.Cornacopia in the Bellagio
The Coca Cola Bear!!
Ahhh! We bought Abby a Coca Cola sweatshirt and John's mom a Coca Cola Clock!


This tree's face moved! Eyebrows, eyes, mouth, he even talked! The Girls! Me, Ashley and Amanda

Our beautiful view from the hotel room.

The last night we went down and watched the Bellagio Water Show live.

Katie got used to livin' the hotel life. So cute!

Kathleen Rose VanDerwerken was blessed on October 9, 2011. We decided to wait until we made it to New York so she was already 3 months old by the time we got her all dressed up in white. We took family pictures before the blessing and then blessed her at the house because it was Stake Conference week. Katie doesn't do well in large groups so she cried the entire time. I had her calm but as soon as I handed her to John she started screaming. He gave her back to get calmed down which I did but again she cried when all those men were holding her. Oh well, John just plowed through it. In the circle were the following: John (Dad), Grandpa Richard Quiggle, Grandpa Mike VanDerwerken, Great-Uncle Paul VanDerwerken, Great-Uncle Jay VanDerwerken, Cousin Tyson VanDerwerken, Great-Uncle James Wilding, Good Friend Alan Stevenson and Bishop Nelson. Here is what Katie was blessed with: Strength to be able to proceed forth, an active mind, may find peace in times of trouble, look for ways to help others, she was born during a choice time, have a desire to seek an education, marry in God's Temple to a worthy priesthood holder who will provide for her, desire to have children and to grow in patience in that endeavor and any other blessing that God would have for her. It was a beautiful blessing and a wonderful time.