A Tough Job

TJ and I tried to get a Christmas card picture with the girls in their dresses. It was hard work! It was nearly impossible to get Merilyn interested in standing still - and smiling - at the same time. By the time we started getting giggles from her, Ali was done with the whole process. Maybe next year...

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are spending the holiday with family... We have so many blessings for which we are grateful!

House of Germs

Everyone in our home has the crud. I had a sore throat and stuffy nose, the girls are big snotty messes, and Travis hasn't moved from the couch. Today Travis was trying to explain to Alison why he wanted to go back to bed instead of playing... he told her {in a very graceful, profound way}, "Daddy feels like poopy. He probably looks like poopy, too." Ali gave him an exasperated look. "That's silly, Daddy. Poopy doesn't wear socks. And, poopy doesn't have a nose."

Happy Halloween!

Merilyn didn't quite get the whole trick-or-treating thing, but Alison was beside herself with excitement!!

Watch Out World!

Here she comes! Merilyn has been testing the waters and taking a few shaky steps here and there this month. However, this weekend she really took off...literally! She has her arms out for balance and walks with her bowed legs - it reminds me of what my dad used to say when Alison was learning to walk - "She looks like she just got off a very small horse"!

Weekend Retreat

This weekend I had the opportunity to go to the coast with my staff. It couldn't have come at a better time! Conferences were finally over and all that goes into preparing for them, so we were ready to relax and enjoy ourselves. I laughed harder than I have in a really long time! I love being able to call my co-workers my friends. I am so lucky to be a part of this group of people... and that my husband was willing to take on the girls by himself for two days!

Pumpkin Patch

Alison and her pre-school class took a trip to the Pumpkin Patch last Wednesday. Trav was supposed to be in his training class, so we arranged for Uncle Ross to go with her. At the last minute Trav's class was pushed back and he was also able to go. Lucky Ali! The weather was stormy, windy, and rainy for the first 20 minutes, but it cleared up and was sunny the rest of the day. Ali's favorite part was "Noah's Ark". {It was a little maze with a slide at the end.}