Our Christmas

Jack made a basket on his first try!



This little jig was in celebration of the M&M's Meryl got in her stocking!


Christmas this year was a little different, but it was still good. My family usually comes and stays with us on Christmas Eve, but Jack was sick and they decided to come on Christmas day for a few hours instead. Then instead of our family going to Eddie's parent's house on Christmas night, only Meryl and Eddie were able to go and Jack and I stayed at home. A few days later now, Jack still isn't feeling well, but we are praying that the antibotic will set in soon. I can't speak for Jack, but the silver lining in all of this for me was that Jack and I have gotten to spend a lot of time together one on one - and that's something I always enjoy.

New Year's Resolutions

It's not exactly time for resolutions yet, but I caught a bit of Billy Graham's Christmas special this weekend and there was a clip from a former sermon that inspired me. I can't say it as eloquently as he did, but he spoke on how Jesus was born in a stable and the conditions within it. Then he asked where we were placing Jesus in our lives today. Is Jesus filling the smallest, unnoticed, unwanted portions of our lives (the stable), or is He filling the best and the most central part of our lives (our hearts, minds and souls)?

A Trip to the Choo Choo

A little poetry

Today Meryl told me that "flowers are plants that pose." I thought I'd better write that down before I forgot it!

A Beautiful Place

Finally...after almost 5 years (and two children later) Eddie and I went out of town for a weekend away together. Here are some pictures from our trip. We had a wonderful time!

Meryl's First Trophy

Meryl had her second gymnastics performance on Monday and she recieved her first trophy! Eddie and I are very proud of her!

Gingerbread House

Meryl and I made our first gingerbread house this year. Jack helped too!

Enjoying fall

A Visit from the Hayes!

One of Meryl's first friends was Macy. Macy's mom, Jenny, and I met when both our girls were just a few months old. Both Meryl and Macy had colic and we were going through similar problems. It was (and still often is) so good to talk to someone who is experiencing similar joys and challenges. Jenny and her husband, Mark, had their second daughter, Ava, within weeks of Jack's birth. And we have lots of other wierd connections too...we both worked in radio, we're both Italian, etc.

A good weekend

I'm very, very, very happy to announce that Eddie is out of school from now until the end of the year. Meryl, Jack, Eddie and I had a great weekend together because of it!

Silly Pictures at the Park

Meryl, Jack and I went to the park today to take some pictures in the fall leaves. Here's what I ended up with...

Meryl's First Gymnastics Performance

Meryl's Gymnastics Team Photos

Jack's First Horse Ride

Jack, Meryl and their friend, Connor, enjoyed a horse ride last Saturday. They all loved it!

Happy Halloween!

Meryl and Jack had a great Halloween. The cat is Meryl's friend, Reagan. Yoda is our nephew, Cash.

Dollar Day

Meryl, Jack, Eddie and I enjoyed dollar day at the zoo today. Meryl's favorite animal is Peanut Butter the dog. Strange that we go to a zoo to see a dog. Good thing it only costs a dollar!

Our New Pet

It looks like we're going to call him Moses since that's what Meryl and Jack have said every five minutes since we brought him home. He's very sweet and has graduated from the garage to the downstairs den since he proved to us that he can use the litter box. I had Meryl going for a minute when I told her that he would get a sticker for going to the potty :)

Notice the color of his hair? Finally Jack won't be the only redhead in the family!

Moses?

Well, it looks like we're getting a cat. A friend of ours found the most loving orange tabby and it needs a good home. It's a long story, but the cat does have an owner. And that owner has given us permission to adopt the cat. We just found out his name is Rusty. However, my friend had already renamed him Moses. Eddie doesn't really care for either of those names and Meryl is insisting on Milo. We'll let you know how it all turns out!

Fall

Meryl, Jack, Eddie, my two brothers, William and David and I did everything "fallish" this weekend. A corn maze and dairy farm on Friday, the children's museum Halloween party on Saturday and the nature center's fall festival today. I've definitely had my fill of hayrides with two wiggly pepple on my lap, but I'll take another s'more any day. No pictures this time...I thought I lost my camera. I was thrilled to find it tonight.

Like father, like daughter

Addiction

Fast forward a few years...

First Camping Trip

Meryl and I went on our first camping trip together last Friday. We had a great time sleeping in a tent, roasting hot dogs and making smores - all firsts for Meryl. Here's a picture of Meryl sporting her new backpack/sleeping bag. Jack was packing to. He didn't realize he wasn't going, but he had fun playing with his cousin Cash instead.