Fast forward

I have not abandoned the blog. One of my new year's resolutions is to keep it up! I think I had got so behind that it seemed like an impossible feat to catch up. And, since I have not been keeping up with photo albums, much less a scrapbook, for my kids, this just seemed like the easiest thing to get going again. Oh, to have everything organized would be such a great feeling, but that's never going to happen!
The fall has been especially busy, with lots of appointments, parties, and family fun. Everyone has been healthy except for a cold or a short-lived stomach virus here or there. :) That's something to be thankful for!

Visiting Grandma


Going to ballet class in our Halloween costume


Into everything!


Ready for my preschool Halloween party!


Trick or treat!


Henry's school party


William's school party


Rebecca's school party



Ready to trick-or-treat in the neighborhood


Finishing the soccer season


Enjoying the beauty of fall





The day Henry decided to put bubblegum in Ellen's hair, "just to see what would happen"


Dance class exhibitions





Daisy Scout Investiture


Making cookies


Preschool Thanksgiving program and lunch




Thanksgiving at Granddaddy's and MawMaw's

A few pictures

Crawling

A lazy, rainy Saturday

One down with swine flu

Feeding ducks at the park with friends

Enjoying a little sunshine





Bama homecoming

Soccer--the Sharks

These pictures were taken at the boys' first soccer game on Sept. 12th. We've had a crazy season as almost every game was rained out and had to be rescheduled. Their last game is tomorrow night. Henry's been counting them down; sports just isn't his thing right now, although he has played really well. William has really enjoyed it and he has scored several goals! He's looking forward to playing basketball now.

Ellen

These were taken almost 2 months ago when Ellen was 9 months old. Thought I'd better get them up before she turns one! She's wearing the same dress that Vivian wore in her 9-month portraits. The dress and bonnet were made and smocked by Nannie.
She started crawling at 9 months and pulling up at 10 months. She's cruising a little, but she still mostly crawls to get what she wants. And, she gets into everything! She laughs at the word "no." She says "Mama" and "Elmo" (which sounds a lot like "mama"). She loves any attention from her brothers and sisters. She's crazy over animals and loves being outdoors. She's shy but flirty; she's not a big fan of strangers holding her right now. She resists napping! She's good to go after a late morning nap until bedtime!

Sesame Street Live

We were invited last month by my sister-in-law to join my nephew's preschool to see Sesame Street Live. Vivian really enjoyed it, but Ellen was spellbound! She slept a little during the performance, but when she was awake, she couldn't take her eyes off the stage! I think I may have an Elmo lover yet! The boys loved the Wiggles, and Vivian was a Barney fan, now loves Dora.


I can never get Walker to look at the camera!


Beth & Ellen

Two years later

O.K., I may never get caught up on this bloggin' business. I'm always a month behind or more!
September 3rd was Rebecca's Forever Family Day. Two years ago on that day, we met her for the very first time. That day will always be special to us. While we get to celebrate our other children's birthdays as the day they entered our lives (except Vivian but I held her in my arms for the first time the day after she was born), September 3rd is the day, an arbitrary day that resulted from other people's schedules, that our lives were forever changed by one of God's sweet miracles. We got to celebrate after school with ice cream and a manicure! She chose the brightest, fluorescent pink! Keep on shining, sweet girl! I love you!

Shortly after arriving home in Sept. 2007. She has the "lost" look.


Sept. 2009