Hey Baby!

Don't really have much to blog about lately. We are laying low and trying to stay relaxed during this time of year. We are really looking forward to next weekend when Brian's parent's and my sister and her family will be coming to visit. I think I'm most excited to see Ashley, wrap my arms around her and give her enough kisses to make up for the past four months I haven't seen her.

Here is a photo of Abby's first Friendly's experience. We decided to go there with friends after the Sunday night service. It was a real treat for Abby to be up way past her bedtime and eat ice cream too! Brian and I got a lot of good laughs out of her completely diving into her dessert and then wiping her chocolaty hands all over us. If you're gonna have ice cream you might as well go all out. Oh yeah, her new favorite phrase is, "hey baaaby". She was cracking us up tilting her head to the side as she said it. The other night Brian came in the door with Joey and she greeted him with "hi baaaaby!". It was hilarious.

Poppy's Birthday

This week we celebrated my dad's (or as Abby calls him "Poppy") 60th Birthday. We had a fun time at the Cookhouse for dinner and were recalling his Birthday from last year. We are all so very thankful for how much better he is feeling and how well he is doing. Praise God!!

A few of my favorite things...

Helping mommy put away the groceries.






















Playing with toys and reading books.






















Having fun with Cai.

















Loving on Joey and sitting on his back. Don't let him fool you. He loves it too!






















Taking the pillows off the couch and jumping in them.






















Playing with baby dolls and giving them kisses.






















Wearing pretty dresses from GG.

Thanksgivnig break

We are back from our Thanksgiving vacation. We went to Poppy and Grandma May-May's house which is 30 minutes away. I know we didn't go far, but it was really nice to be somewhere else for a few days. This year was the first time in 21 years we didn't all go to Maine for Thanksgiving. Although we missed celebrating all of our wonderful traditions, we decided it was a good time to lay low and save money. Some good family friends from church invited all of us over (my parents, Tim & Jess, the three of us). We really enjoyed being with another family and everyone helping with the meal. It was great to not have the burden of cooking the entire meal on one person. The kids wore themselves out playing and loved watching Frosty the Snowman. Also that day, we were able to Skype with Brian's family and Rob, Esther and Ashley. It felt like we were with everyone this year.

Joes loves going to grandma and grandpa's cause he gets to run off the leash and play with Bentley. Abby's new thing is to tell them "NO BARKING!".

















Watching Frosty.

















After Thanksgiving day, Brian had to work the rest of the weekend. My mom and I hit a couple of stores Black Friday and got some good deals. We spent our time making gifts, cooking food, her teaching me how to crochet and watching girly movies. What fun! Saturday was leaf day. My dad and Tim spent the whole day raking. I helped a little too ;) Just in time for the the snow on Sunday! Not nearly enough snow to cancel church, although I couldn't help but make comments that maybe it would just to hear Brian's reaction. I finished my 9 week Sunday school class for the middle schoolers. It was awesome to hear them challenge each other to read the Bible in a year and be interested in writing their personal testimony so they can share it with others. Brian worked the afternoon and then we went back to church for the night service. The nursery was backed up, so we ended up staying with 12 babies/toddlers, changing poopie diapers, mediating fights, reading books and picking up a gazillion cheerios off the floor. Brian realized how out of touch and shape he is after carrying a sleeping baby for the evening.

My Bestest Friend

Rachel and I were in the same Design I class in college. We both perked up during attendance because we had the same name. A day or two later we officially met at a girls get together at a Campus Crusade for Christ function. We have a lot of great memories from college as a result of all the late nights in the art building, being roommates and guiding each other through our relationships with our future husbands. She majored in graphic design and I did photography. Rachel and Grant live in VT. Occasionally we will meet them in Boston which is kind of half way for us. Yesterday we met in Cambridge, right outside of Boston, for a photo shoot. We had soooo much fun. They are the coolest people!!! We love them so much. Grant has so much fun with Abby and she hams it up with him.

Baby Bjorn retired

Taking the dog out at night is a bit tough with a small child. I didn't want to deal with the whole stroller thing, so I decided to give the Baby Bjorn one last try with Abby in it. Let's just say the Bjorn held up, but my back didn't.






















How can you not fall in love with this face?

Over the past week...

Celebrated Brian's Birthday with my family. Thanks to Tim and Jess, he finally got his Dairy Queen cake. Abby enjoyed it too!
























































Went to Cai's Birthday party!























































Leaves are everywhere. One of the best part about living in a condo, we don't have to clean them up!!






















Abby said goodbye to her first friend to move away, Moriah. Our playgroup is shrinking.