Christmas Celebrating

On Christmas Eve morning, Santa left books for Eole and Davyn to read.

We decorated the Yule Log to burn while reading our Christmas Stories.

We had a wonderful dinner at Nana and Granddad's house.

Christmas Morning, Santa brought Eole a large color-yourself-playhouse.

One of Mommy's favorite presents.

Eating breakfast!

What we did in December

We cut down our own Christmas Tree at a local farm. Mom's critera was that the tree be cheap ($20!) and wouldn't hurt baby Davyn when he pulls it on top of himself.

At the tree farm...

Decorating the tree...

Making gingerbread cookies with friends

Acting out the Nativity with our friends, the Souter and Best families. Eole insisted on being Joseph.

Davyn was a wiggly Baby Jesus

The Greatest Thanksgiving Ever....

Our first Thanksgiving as a married couple was pretty hard to beat. We didn’t have money to fly from New Hampshire to Utah to be with family, so we made the best of it in our tiny old apartment. Our oven and stove were half-size so we could only cook a turkey breast. While the rolls were rising, we played croquet on the lawn in the cold, New England rain. We watched The Sound of Music and ate pumpkin pie.

We were thinking this year would finally topple our first year’s Thanksgiving as “the greatest ever.” It sure had a promising start with cousins Christy, Gentry, Mark and Laura, along with Uncles Kevin and Mike, Aunts Justina and Melanie and friend Wyatt in attendance. Nana and Granddad would be hosting a fabulous-as-always meal at their place.

The day started out very nicely with Eole and Christy making the rolls.

And Christy teaching Julia how to braid Eole's hair...and then Eole threw-up. Daniel was sure this was just because she had been coughing a lot. So we got in the car to head over to Nana and Granddad's...and she threw-up again, and again.

While everyone else gathered for what I'm sure was a fantastic meal...

Julia, Eole and Davyn sequested themselves in Nana and Granddad's back bedroom with a throw-up bowl and a movie.

We made an appearance for a family photo where Eole was able to hold it together until "the serving of pies" was announced and she threw-up everywhere. Oh, well, maybe next year will be the Greatest Thanksgiving ever.

It's Autumn Time

We discovered “leaves” this Fall.

And what is more fun than leaves and friends?

Davyn took his first swing

We hiked up to Hanging Rock to see the (mostly fallen) Autumn leaves.

Grandpa Ed and Grandma Jammet came to visit!

Halloween

Being a big three-year old, it's time to start some family traditions! We opted to paint pumpkins this year instead of carving.

Davyn-the-Bear supervised the efforts.

The finished product. Can you guess which one Eole painted? It's supposed to be a portrate of Mommy...very life-like, I can assure you.

Davyn went as a bee this year, and his mommy was his honeycomb.

Eole and her neighborhood friends all dressed up and ready to Trick-or-Treat.

Eole Turns Three

Daddy wanted to make his little girl's cake. He made a batch of pink frosting and had partially frosted the cake when Mommy informed him that Eole's favorite color was actually blue. Daddy, always willing to accommodate, quickly added blue dye and viola: A mostly blue-ish pink cake!

Blowing out the candles

Eole was a most gracious gift-receiver. She excitedly Ooohhd and Awwed while opening all her gifts. Highlights included "Froggio" game from Grandma Jammet and a tent from Nana and Granddad, and...

a trampoline from Auntie Melanie

Daniel Turns 30!

How do you celebrate such a milestone? The stars aligned and Daniel had 4 days off in a row! (love that Peds ED rotation!). Since it was October, we found a lovely beach front condo to rent for cheap, cheap. And since it was October in North Carolina, we had 80 degree weather with sunny skies.

Daniel's traditional Pumpkin Pie cake

Digging a "wind" hole

Davyn and Mommy