Trick or Treat

I WAS NOT SURE IF WE WOULD PARTICIPATE IN TRICK OR TREATING THIS YEAR, AS IT WAS NOT ON CHARLOTTE'S RADAR AND I WAS NOT SURE IF I WANTED TO SPEND MONEY ON COSTUMES. HOWEVER, ONCE HALLOWEEN EPISODES OF "DORA THE EXPLORER" STARTING AIRING, THE LITTLE LADY'S EXCITEMENT OF TREATS, COSTUMES AND TRICK OR TREATING GREW. WITH TWO WEEKS LEFT UNTIL THE BIG DAY, THE HUNT FOR COSTUMES BEGAN.

WE ENDED UP WITH A SWEET, JUBILANT CLOWN AND A DARLING, DOCILE LION.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010

HEADING TO STATE STREET FOR TRICK OR TREATING.

CHARLOTTE PRACTICES HER SMILE (?).

HITTIN' THE STREETS.

OUR VERY OWN TRAVELING CIRCUS.

JUST CLOWNIN' AROUND!

JUST WHERE DOES HE THINK HE'S GOING?

IT DOES NOT GET MUCH CUTER THAN THAT.

STATE STREET LOVE.

UNLIKE MANY OTHER CHILDREN ON THE STREET, CHARLOTTE WAS NOT AT ALL FEARFUL OF THIS LARGE COSTUMED DOG. SHE COULD NOT GET ENOUGH HIGH FIVES. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE OLD MUT ATTEMPTED TO USE A HUG TO ENCOURAGE CHARLOTTE'S DEPARTURE.

SWEET LION.

PRETTY LITTLE CLOWN.

THE LION TAMER.

(I LOVE HOW SWEET JOE WOULD NOT LOOK UP FOR THE PICTURE BECAUSE HE KNEW IT WAS SUNNY. WE SEE THIS BASHFUL GRIN OFTEN. IT CONTINUES TO MELT HEARTS.)

MY TWO CLOWNS.

EXPLORING THE CITY FROM HER FAVORITE VANTAGE POINT.

"WHERE'S CHARLOTTE?"

TOWARDS THE END OF OUR TRIP THE LITTLE LADY COULD NOT BRING HERSELF TO BUDGE AN INCH, CHOOSING INSTEAD TO LISTEN TO THE SASSY SOUNDS OF THE SAXOPHONE. SHE LOVES THE STREET PERFORMERS ON STATE STREET. I LOVE HOW JEFF IS LOOKING AT ME FROM AFAR FOR SUGGESTIONS

ON HOW TO GET HER MOVING. QUITE SATISFIED WITH HER "SUCK-IT."

THIS WAS THE FIRST PIECE OF CANDY SHE SCORED; SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN CONTENT TO STOP AFTER RECEIVING THIS FAVORITE SWEET TREAT.

OCTOBER 31, 2010

WE JOINED FRIENDS FOR A NIGHT A TRICK OR TREATING. CHARLOTTE WAS VERY ENGAGED IN THE ENTIRE PROCESS THIS YEAR. FROM CARRYING HER PUMPKIN BUCKET TO RINGING THE DOORBELL, SHE BROUGHT A LOT OF SPIRIT AND ENERGY TO OUR NIGHT. OUR FAVORITE MOMENTS CAME WHEN SHE WOULD LEAVE A DOORSTEP AND CHEERFULLY YELL OUT "HAPPY HALLOWEEN MOMMY AND DADDY!!!"

JOE WATCHED ALL OF THE EXCITEMENT UNFOLD, WHILE FINDING THE EVENING'S TEMPERATURES A TAD CHILLY.

WE HOPE YOU HAD A SAFE AND MEMORABLE NIGHT OF TRICK OR TREATING!

Autumn Reflections

"let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the lord..."

psalm 96:12

"but the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. he produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

matthew 13:23
"your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."
psalm 119:105

"to this you were called, because christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow his steps."

1 peter 2:21

"be still before the lord and wait patiently for him..."

psalm 37:7

"oh lord, you have searched me and you know me. you know when i sit and when i rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. you discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways."

psalm 139:1-3

"two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. if one falls down, his friend can help him up."

ecclesiastes 4:9-10

"a wife of noble character who can find?

...she watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat of the bread of idleness. her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. charm is deceptive, and beauty fleeting; but a woman who fears the lord is to be praised."

proverbs 31: 1, 28-30

- my goal, my prayer, my desire

"but as for me and my household, we will serve the lord."

joshua 24:15b

"let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

galatians 6: 9-10

Fall Frolicking

THE THREE OF US ARE QUITE A TRIO. OF COURSE, WE PREFER IT WHEN DADDY IS AROUND. BUT, WE PUT FORTH OUR BEST EFFORTS EACH DAY TO PASS THE TIME UNTIL HE ARRIVES HAVIN' A ROCKIN' GOOD TIME. HERE IS JUST A TASTE...

HITTING UP THE WEDNESDAY MORNING HILLDALE FARMER'S MARKET FOR COFFEE AND SNACKS.
NOTHING SAYS "FALL" LIKE PUMPKINS.
CHARLOTTE HAS MADE IT HER PERSONAL MISSION TO COLLECT AS MANY SMALL PUMPKINS AS POSSIBLE THIS FALL.

TRIPS TO THE ZOO MUST INCLUDE A RIDE OR TWO ON THE CAROUSEL.

JOEY'S FIRST SOLO RIDE ON AN ANIMAL. ME THINKS HE LIKES.

PROVING HIS MANY HOURS OF OBSERVING CHARLOTTE HAVE PAID OFF, THE BOY TOOK TO THE CAROUSEL LIKE A CHAMP - HANDS CLAMPED AROUND THE POLE, FEET CLUTCHING THE ANIMAL.

ENJOYING A "MARY VIRGINIA" APPLE.

THRILLED TO DISCOVER A FURRY CATERPILLAR OUT FOR A MORNING STROLL.

LOVE THIS GIRL.

"I CANNOT BELIEVE MY LUCK IN DISCOVERING THAT CATERPILLAR!"

I SHOULD WRITE A BOOK DEDICATED TO MY SON ENTITLED, "SECOND BORN: EXPERIENCING LIFE FROM THE CONFINES OF A STROLLER."

TRUST ME, SHE'S ACTUALLY HAPPY.

A RARE PICTURE - 1) ME WITH BOTH MY CHILDREN AND 2) ALL THREE OF US LOOKING AT THE CAMERA

(THANKS MEL!)

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE FARMER'S MARKET. I'M TELLING YOU, THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO START THE WEEKEND! AGAIN, I ASSURE YOU BOTH OF MY CHILDREN ARE DELIGHTED TO BE IN THIS PICTURE.

EXPLORING THE BEAUTIFUL FALL COLORS!

Joey's 11 Month Shots

IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THIS LITTLE GUY IS ALMOST ONE YEAR OLD!

AT ELEVEN MONTHS JOEY:

- TAKES ONE SHORTER AM NAP AND ONE LONG (ALMOST 3 HRS) AFTERNOON NAP

- LOVES, LOVES, LOVES EATING. AMONG HIS FAVORITES - BANANAS, WAFFLES, PEAS, DICED PEACHES, GERBER CRUNCHERS, AND YOGURT.

- DRINKS TWO TO THREE 6 OZ BOTTLES OF FORMULA/DAY

- PULLS UP ON EVERY OBJECT IN THE HOUSE.

- SUCCESSFULLY CLIMBS THE FIRST STEP OF THE STAIRCASE. I'M THANKFUL HE CONTINUES TO STOP THERE.

- ENJOYS WATCHING DORA THE EXPLORER WITH CHARLOTTE

- CLAPS, DANCES TO MUSIC AND WAVES "HI" AND "BYE"

- LOVES PLAYING "CHASE" WITH BIG SISTER

- NO LONGER GIVES UP TOYS WITHOUT A LITTLE FIGHT. (WE KNEW THIS DAY WOULD COME...WATCH OUT, CHARLOTTE!)

- LOVES INTERACTING (AKA FLIRTING) WITH THE LADIES

- MAKES THE FOLLOWING SOUNDS - "DA DA" "MA MA" "GO" "GA" "BA BA" "HA"

- CONTINUES TO USE AND APPRECIATE HIS PACIFIER

- CRAWLS SPEEDILY ACROSS THE FLOOR, WITH FEW, CAUTIOUS ATTEMPTS AT WALKING

- LIGHTS UP WHEN HIS FATHER COMES HOME AND LOOKS UP AT HIM WITH A LOOK OF AWE AND ADORATION

- CONTINUES TO BE A "MAMA'S BOY"

- LOVES BEING IN HIS SISTER'S PRESENCE

I NO LONGER ATTEMPT TO PUT THE HAT ON THIS BOY.

ONE OF HIS NEW TRICKS.
HIS SISTER DID THIS LONG BEFORE HE DID AS A BABY. I THINK HE SECRETLY WANTED THE EXTRA ALONE TIME WITH ME.

THOSE BABY BLUES CONTINUE TO MELT HEARTS AROUND MADISON.

A NEW FAVORITE TOY - A TOY PLANE (OUR GIFT FROM FLORIDA TRAVELS)

WE LOVE YOU, SWEET BOY!

DON'T WORRY. MOMMY IS PLANNING YOU A FABULOUS 1ST BIRTHDAY BASH.

Destination Florida

JEFF AND I WERE ABLE TO ENJOY A FIVE DAY TRIP TO SARASOTA, FL WITHOUT THE KIDS RECENTLY. WE JOINED DAWN AND BOB FOR A LOVELY VACATION FILLED WITH SUN, RELAXATION, ADULT CONVERSATION, LONG WALKS, GOLF, SWIMMING, GREAT FOOD, AND MORE SUN.

WHILE PREPARING FOR SUCH A TRIP IS A LOT OF WORK, WE HAVE REALIZED HOW MUCH WE VALUE TRIPS AS A COUPLE. OF COURSE, WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT THE HELP OF OUR DREAM TEAM - PAPA, NANY, DOC AND MIMI. WE REALIZE HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO HAVE SUCH INVOLVED GRANDPARENTS WHO WILLINGLY CLEAR THEIR CALENDARS AT OUR REQUEST AND ACTUALLY THANK US FOR "THE PRIVILEGE OF WATCHING THEIR GRAND KIDS." WE DECIDED IT WOULD BE BEST TO TAKE A DIVIDE AND CONQUER APPROACH TO THIS VACATION, SO THE CHILDREN EACH SPENT TWO DAYS ALONE WITH EACH GRANDPARENT AND THEN SWITCHED MID WEEK. CHARLOTTE WAS EVEN ABLE TO ENJOY A TRIP UP NORTH TO CAMP DAVID WITH MIMI AND DOC. OH, THE STORIES THEY HAD TO TELL AFTER THEIR WEEKEND TRIP WITH THE LITTLE LADY. JOEY WAS THRILLED TO HAVE SO MUCH ONE ON ONE ATTENTION FROM SOME OF HIS FAVORITE PEOPLE. AGAIN, WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE SUCH WONDERFUL, COMMITTED PARENTS.

I ALWAYS FIND MYSELF REFLECTING ON MY FAMILY WHILE I'M AWAY FROM MY CHILDREN (AND HAVE LOADS OF UNINTERRUPTED TIME TO ACTUALLY THINK.) DURING THIS PARTICULAR TRIP I WAS REMINDED HOW LUCKY I AM TO STAY AT HOME WITH MY CHILDREN; IT IS SOMETHING I NEVER WANT TO TAKE FOR GRANTED. I ALSO REFLECTED ON MY MARRIAGE AND AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT JEFF IS STILL MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PERSON (IN THE WORLD) TO SPEND TIME WITH (EVEN AFTER ALMOST 14 YEARS; I KNOW I WILL THINK THE SAME AFTER 50). I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR HIM AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SNEAK AWAY AND TAKE THIS TRIP. DAWN AND BOB WERE NOT BAD COMPANY, EITHER!

OUR SWEET GIRL MAKING THE TRIP TO MILWAUKEE VERY EASY ON HER PARENTS.

DREAMING OF FLORIDA BEACHES, PERHAPS?

RELAXATION. RELAXATION. RELAXATION.

OUR DAILY VIEW.
JUST ANOTHER COUPLE IN PARADISE.

ST. ARMAND'S CIRCLE

SUN KISSED AND FULL AFTER A DELICIOUS DINNER OUT.

WHAT A TRIP!