Happy Holidays!

I realized that I haven't posted any pictures since Halloween, so here are some new ones from Thanksgiving until now. Ben is very excited about Christmas this year. Thankfully the nice people who own the rights to Thomas the Tank Engine material have made a new movie (Misty Island) with a whole bunch of new things to buy - the dvd, multiple train sets and new engines - so Santa has plenty from which to choose! Kate was terrified of Santa a few weeks ago when we went to see him, but since has learned how to say "Santa" so maybe she's warming up to him.

I'll post more after Christmas. Merry Christmas!!

Ben & Kate had their own Thanksgiving parade.

Decorating ornaments with Babbie

Posing in their Christmas jammies

Ben & Daddy reading the Sunday paper

Ben & Anna waiting for the Santa train to pick them up from Anna's house.

On the train with Santa

Checking out their new easel from Babbie & Poppie

Kate inspecting her new kitchen

Ben's school performance

Halloween Past & Present

Here are some pictures from Halloweens past.

2008:

2009:
2010:
2009:

2010:

Florida

Can you tell I'm running out of ideas for titles? We just got back from a trip to Watercolor, which is on the Florida panhandle. Ben and Kate had a great time and enjoyed their break from school. I guess vacations in October will have to come to an end some day when Ben starts kindergarten!

Aunt Anne & Baby Kate

Ben & Daddy doing atomic drops in the water

Kate found a treasure.

Kate and her best pal, Wickie. One of her first words is "kit-ty" which mostly of sounds like "eee-eee."

Enjoying a night out on the town.

Kate playing with Daddy's blackberry. Maybe one of these days she'll break it!

Dress Up

I never thought I would have a daughter who is so girlie, but I do! She loves to dress up and loves accessories like hats, jewelry and especially shoes. So we are embracing it and it's quite fun to see how much she enjoys it!

Showing off the shoes Aunt Anne brought her from Vietnam. Unfortunately they only lasted a few wears before the soles fell off. They were definitely her favorite shoes so far.

So clearly she isn't wearing any dress-up clothes (or anything for that matter!) in this picture, but she had just finished feeding her baby and was quite excited.

This is her most interesting ensemble to date...Aunt Anne's old dance costume and her new winter hat that had arrived in the mail the day this picture was taken.

OBX 2010

We visited the Outer Banks in September with the Barlow, Wenstrup and Wilson families. It was a great trip for the adults and the kiddos. It was a bit chaotic at times with 7 toddlers and 2 infants but we all managed to have some fun. We were a little nervous about Hurricane Earl ruining our trip, but the weather was perfect. Here are some pics from the trip.

Elise and Ben were excited to start the vacation!

Pizza time

Ben, Courtney & Reagan having breakfast overlooking the ocean.

Adelle & Kate doing the same.

Ben enjoying some pool "boogie boarding" with Brian.

Kate adores babies. Here she is giving Paige a hug.

Borrowing one of Elise's princess dresses.

Kate wearing the "immunity idol"

Nude swimming became a favorite past time near the end of the week. Perhaps the parents were too lazy to put on the swimsuits?

Attempting to get a shot of all the kiddos.

Ben and his main squeeze, Courtney.

Sunrise the morning we left.