In my dreams....

things like this would happen to me every day.  My favorite movies growing up were Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music and Chaplin..... I am a sucker for Hollywood, Broadway and yes Disney World.  So when my aunt Alice sent this to me, tears welled up in my eyes.  I know it sounds dramatic, but it's totally true.  I only wish that I had been there to dance with them all.

Munchie-munchkins

Austin has become a pro with the computer. He navigates around better than I do... not sure how to embrace this obsession of his. I know where he gets it from though :)

These are possible a little more appropriate for the last post, though these were also taken just before Christmas, I believe it was actually Christmas Eve I took these. I just love that little red fleece vest on Taylor. Her memere picked it for her just before she was born. Oh how we love the being spoiled by our grandmothers :)

Austin has really grown to be such an incredible big brother, so much more than we could have ever asked him to be. Even though at times he can be a little rough, he loves his baby (who he often refers to as, my stinky little flower, beautiful girl, Evie girl (from her middle name) and even Lego bat-baby because he is Lego batman) and hugs and kisses her all the time. I told him once that he was going to teach her how to talk and ever since then, he coaches her with specific words. It started with mama and dada and he now asks her to say things like 'garbage truck' and 'pineapple'. Not sure if he really understands when I tell him that she's still too little for such big words. He still loves her, I just don't want him to set too high expectations for her :)

I have been very thankful for another trait Austin has taken a liking to lately. He LOVES! to be photographed. Oh, just typing it I get butterflies in my heart, it just sings to me. He's a natural model too, my little guy, I think he's all about making his girls happy these days.

Okay signing off for now. Enjoy the cutie pictures.

With love, Liz

Taylor at 9 months

Hello everyone. Our little princess is 9 months today already. Not sure where the time has gone, but before our eyes and in a flash she has developed into the most wonderful little girl. About a month ago she began doing the worm as I like to call it, not really crawling, but holding a surfer-girl pose until she presses her arms onto the floor and catapults herself forward. It's a bit slower than crawling, so I am happy about that, I'm still able to keep up with her.

About three weeks ago she stopped eating, not completely, but she'd just eat a couple bites and then she was done. She wants nothing to do with baby food anymore and has put in several requests for things like fillet minion and sushi ;) We've began giving her table foods, like soft vegetables, breads, blueberries, bananas, mashed potatoes, pasta etc. She's taken to all the big girl food very well and even enjoys feeding herself.

The kids and I just returned from a long weekend in East Hampton visiting Grammy and Pop-pop. While we were there, Pop-pop worked with her learning to walk and I think she's just about got it. I'll give it another month and she'll be off on her own. She's very steady on her feet, very graceful.

Well here are a few pictures of her taken before Christmas. Have a ton more to post, from our trip and just having fun around the house. I hope you will enjoy these for now. I took them of her enjoying a teething biscuit, still no teeth though.

With love, Liz

Wreath Laying

Chris was contacted just after Thanksgiving, by a distant cousin from Maine, a person he has never met, but one who had spoken with once of his uncles up in our home town. The cousin lives in our neck of the woods now and helps to orchestrate the annual wreath laying event at Arlington National Ceremony. I am unsure of the specifics, but I know that each year a tree farm from Maine donates wreaths to be laid on the headstones of our heroes who rest in Arlington. This year I believe 1,500 wreathes were trucked down from Maine and laid at the ceremony.

Chris was able to lay one wreath that day and helped out in other ways as well. Last weekend he went to clean up and picked up around 100. If he has time, I believe he would like to post his version of the story. He was honored to be asked by his cousin, has been following the story since we moved here and just so happened that he's related to the man that coordinates the event. Funny how things like this always work out for us in mysterious and wonderful ways.

Enjoy the pictures.

With love, Liz

Christmas at the White House

Here are some photos of the tour we had, thanks to our awesome neighbors and good friends. The kids had a great time. Austin really enjoyed the white chocolate covered Gingerbread White House. Chris was thrilled that we got to see Marine 1 up close. My favorite was the silver eagles holding each of the many, many wreaths throughout the house. I think Taylor really liked the giant nutcrackers that stood guard at the front door.