Thanksgiving week

We went to my parents' for the entire week of Thanksgiving. John David worked some, so it wasn't exactly a vacation week. But aside from sitting in an urgent care facility for 2 hours because Pierce was sick, it was a pretty relaxing week. For the first part of the week, we just hung around the house. The kids enjoyed the time outside:

Isabel loves playing in roads. At home, that's a big problem. Not so much at Mom and Dad's:




Madelyn needed to make a silly face:


Pierce is trying to figure out the binoculars:

Poor Isabel couldn't quite figure out how to navigate going down the hills:






So, she tried going up instead:

14 Months Old

Our Isabel is 14 months old today. She is a great helper with the laundry,





likes to prowl through the trash and find used toothbrushes,


likes to eat toothpaste,


can pout pretty well when she doesn't get her way,


and likes to suck her fingers when she's sad.


But she's pretty darned cute.


She's added a few words to her vocabulary: up, teeth, and hat. I also got her to say cheese today when I took her picture. She'll give hugs on command and has a pretty annoying habit of slapping people. I'm not sure how to get her to stop doing this. Pierce is pretty patient with her; Madelyn gets a little more frustrated. She's a daddy's girl, but I'll do in a pinch. Happy 14 months, Isabel!

Who could stay frustrated for long

when this is smiling up at you?


She likes wearing Daddy's "at".

This is why

I have trouble finding my keys, my wallet, my phone, my


Bible, my notebook, my pens,


my receipts,

my...

Pierce with one of his favorite sidekicks

These are the best pajamas ever!

Better Late Than Never--Halloween

Madelyn was consistent this year in wanting to dress as Dorothy. Pierce mentioned about 10 different things. He finally decided on a construction man. People kept asking if he was Bob the Builder, so we went with that.


Couldn't leave out the ruby slippers:

Last weekend

I'm not sure exactly how to describe our weekend away; it was wonderful, relaxing, fun, stress free, care free. We had such a good time and are very thankful for my parents. They did a great job taking care of the kids! On Friday, we drove down to Blacksburg and spent the afternoon on the campus of Virginia Tech. Before hitting the campus, though, we stopped for lunch at one of our favorite spots, Macado's. Yummy soups and sandwiches!




Then we went on campus and stopped by some of our favorite spots.

Oh, chemistry building, how I've missed thee:


JD missed Randolph Hall, too:



JD lived in Vawter Hall is freshman year:



We walked around the drillfield:


and visited the April 16, 2007 memorial:


Then we acted like old fogies and discussed how much things had changed and headed to the bookstore to pick up some VT gear for the kids. Then we enjoyed some major sales at the new shopping center--Ann Taylor jeans for $14--yippeeee!!

On Saturday, after a very leisurely morning at our hotel, we headed to Charlotte for the wedding. I didn't take many pictures, but here's one of us at the reception:



The kids did great while we were gone, and aside from Isabel being a bit clingy when we got back, the re-entry went smoothly. Now, we just need another excuse to get away!