Christmas Card Rejects...

Thought you might enjoy a few of our not-so-good attempts at taking a Christmas picture. I was seriously tempted to put the last one on our card, because it so accurately represents our never-sit-still children!! (We did finally get quite a few good ones that I will post after the card goes out!)

Not the nicest background. Ella playing with the tree decorations waiting patiently in the bin.

Playing peek-a-boo by the chair.

Eating the blanket.

BUS!

"All I want for Christmas is your nose."

"Who is this kid in my shot???"

We call this "Big Cheesy Face"

Running away...

Giving Thanks!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in PGH this year! We spent the day watching the parade, eating way too much, and going to the Festival of Trees. The kids sat on Santa's lap, and hated it!! We just had to laugh because it was quite a scene. Some pics of our fun!

The turkeys hiding in the fog in our backyard Thanksgiving morning!!


Will at Nan's with his Happy Thanksgiving Elmo slippers!

Prior to stuffing our faces. Will's shirt says, "Who are you calling a turkey?" So appropriate...



Will and my grandmas eating pumpkin pie.

At the Festival of Trees, a family tradition!

Will hugging the snowman.

Nan wrestling with squirmy Ella.

Watching the model trains. Mesmerized.

And Santa... and tears. Perhaps not the best Christmas card shot...

Ake the eves...

So one of the things that attracted us to our house were the six beautiful oak trees in the front yard. The novelty of these trees promptly wore off the first fall we spent here. Since then, we've gotten used to the piles and piles of leaves we have to rake, and truly appreciate the beauty of these trees. This year, Will loves to help "ake the eves" and even demands it some days. Happy Fall!


Will and our next door neighbor Anthony. They are best buds.

Will just LOVES Anthony.

Aking...

Hanging out...

Ella and I share the same sentiment about the leaves...

Ella singing and trying to walk!

Ella has this week discovered how to push her toy cart around without assistance. We're scared, because she's only 7 months old and we're pretty sure she'll be walking completely unassisted in no time! Enjoy the little video, it is short, but you'll get the idea. You can also hear her sing... beautiful :-)

So cute it's spooky...

We all had a great Halloween this year! Our trick or treat was on Thursday, so we celebrated then. Thank goodness too, because Thursday was beautiful and today is very cold and rainy.

We carved pumpkins in the afternoon. Will didn't want anything to do with the guts and would only use a spoon. Ella dove right in and wanted to eat it!





Will and Nan with the wax lips.

Will was a golfer, looking seriously Scottish.


Ella was a chocolate cupcake with pink frosting!


Will and Aunt Amy, who brought some of Will's favorite presents, balloons and blueberries. And spiced rum and apple cider for mom and dad!!!

Happy Halloween from our pumpkin patch to yours!

Teach Well, B'More

Last weekend we had a mini-reunion with some of our dearest friends from our Teach For America days in Baltimore. Honestly, I can't remember when I've laughed so much or so hard. We are so blessed to have such amazing friends with whom we experienced some of the most challenging and rewarding moments of our lives. We missed the Herickhoff's, Adam, and the Laskowski's but still had a great weekend going to the Farmers' Market, watching football and grilling burgers and brats, and heading out for an evening at a great little local restaurant with way too many margaritas. We miss you all so much and hope you'll come back soon.

Will and his Auntie Nic playing bucket head...

Keith and Will playing bucket head...

Ella and Auntie Stef!

To the market...

The gang at the Farmers' Market.

Will's first warm apple cider.

The girls headed out for dinner.

After an enormous brunch at Pamela's.

Pumpkin Patch

October traditions alive, we took the kiddos to the pumpkin patch with the Roskovenskys and the Powells. It was a blast! The boys had so much fun jumping off the hay stack and Ella loved chewing on it!

Will thinking about going through the tunnel.

Yummy.

The first time Will was quite timid, but after that he was climbing up and jumping off by himself. Our little dare devil.

Dancing Ben!

The Roskovenskys in the pumpkin patch. Tyler trying one out.

Here come the Powells.

Bye Will...

Jennifer trying to get the boys to smile for a picture. She's a great Pre-K teacher and Mommy!

No luck with the smiles, but still cute!

The Guarinos!