Christmas Tree 2009

We decorated the tree a bit early this year, but I'm so glad we did. I love looking at each of the ornaments and enjoying all of the memories of each one.


Rosemary helped with the star this year.

Jonathan put up his usual first ornament of the year.

I put up mine.

And Rosemary added hers too. (Check out that cute haircut!)

We did most of the decorating while Ben slept. He's just way too into touching things right now, but I must say, he's doing pretty well around the tree.

Check out 2008 decorating here.

And 2007 decorating here.

Rosemary's first haircut

While Rosemary has had her bangs trimmed in the past, she's never gotten a full out haircut at a salon. This was her first and she was quite excited about going.

When we got there the stylist got her ready. I put the bottom part of her hair in a quick ponytail to save for her baby book and the stylist cut it off. We're letting Rosemary's bangs grow out so she just had to have the back cut evenly.

Rosemary was so good during the whole process and sat like a stone the entire time. After the haircut, we went to the mall and that's when I started to notice how bad the haircut was. When I looked down, there was about a 3/4 inch width of hair hanging down about 4 inches longer than the rest of her hair that the stylist had completely missed. Granted, I didn't get it in the ponytail, but I would think that the stylist would notice that chunk! Then, as her hair continued to dry, I noticed that the left side was about 3/4 of an inch shorter than the right. Jonathan noticed it that night and wanted me to take her back. Eventually I just evened it out on my own and now it doesn't look too weird. Ah, well, makes for a good first haircut story and now I know where NOT to take her for haircuts!

Go Gators! UF vs Vandy game

A couple weekends ago, Jonathan and I were able to go to the UF/Vanderbilt game. (Thanks to Bob for the tickets, and thanks to Zach for watching the kids). You'd think that living in Gainesville we'd go to more of the games, but this was the first one that I'd been to in the last couple of seasons so I was very excited. We knew it wasn't going to be a close game and that's how I like them. Games that come down to the wire are just not my thing. I get way too nervous.

The Swamp just before kick off. Kick off wasn't until after 7, so it was a late night...and it was actually a bit chilly.

Waiting for the game to start.

Go Gators!

Percy Harvin was at the game too. (I had no idea who it was actually when I saw him...and it may not even really be him, but I'm pretty sure it is now that I Googled it).

Tebow scoring a touchdown.

The end of the game

Another W for the Gators.

It was great being back on campus for some game day excitement. The Gainesville that I spend most of my time in is not as university-centered as other parts so it was fun being back in the middle of it all for an evening.

Parent Observation Day

Rosemary started ballet this June and on November 5 I finally got to actually watch a class. We'd been warned that Parent Observation Day would be crazy so I didn't go in with high expectations. Rosemary, however, was so excited that I got to watch. She was awesome. She did fall down a lot (I'm pretty sure she thinks it's hilarious to fall down), but I was so proud of her and how she listened and followed instructions. (Random note - there's a little girl named Sage in her class).

Listening during 'special news.' They start out every class with special news where the girls can tell their teacher anything that they want. After that, the girls can only talk about ballet.

Second position.

Tondu the turtle.

So happy!

Etched Glass Playdate

You may remember the etched glass from a craft night a couple months ago. Well, a few friends couldn't make it so we did a make-up craft day and had lunch and the kids got to play.

Michelle did three vases and they looked AMAZING. Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of the finished product. Krystle's and Vernine's looked awesome too. I kept thinking, what else is glass in my house that I can etch.

The kids played while we crafted. Here are Ben, Josh, and Landon.

And more of Ben and Landon playing in Rosemary's room.

I didn't make this that same day, but I did do a trifle bowl for Janey's bridal shower gift. If anyone is even slightly crafty, this is a great project because it's pretty quick and easy. The directions we used are here.

The ones below are from Pottery Barn. After seeing how easy these are to make, it would be tough to pay the $40 for the ones below.

Photo from Pottery Barn.

Fall Festival 2009

Meet Peter Pan and Tinker Bell.

This year the kids were once again Disney characters for the Fall Festival at church. (You can see what they were last year here). Jonathan and I also got into the act this year as Hook and Wendy.

If you remember, last year there was a pie contest and Rosemary sneezed on our pie. This year, there was a salsa/dip competition...we chose not to enter. :-) But, Jonathan and his mom got to be judges and I think they both enjoyed that way more than if I'd entered salsa. Since I'm not a fan of onions or tomatoes, I'm pretty sure my salsa wouldn't have appealed to anyone.

The entire evening was so much fun. Janice and Richard came up to enjoy the night with us. Our small group helped with a few booths and I got to take lots of photos. There was even some square dancing this year.

Huggin' before heading out to the Fall Festival. Check out Ben's 'dagger.'

Rosemary loved her shoes and I was just praying that they wouldn't fall apart. They were from Dollar Tree and I covered them with the material from her costume and safety pinned on the white pompom.

Little Peter Pan. He hated his hat, but it really made the costume.

Rosemary was ready to start the games.

Hook and Pan.

Mekayla (as Wonder Woman) and Rosemary

The Peter Pan Clan

Brandi painted Rosemary's face. It was a hit. We even let her sleep with it on...which probably isn't the best idea, but it came off fine in the morning and didn't stain her pillow.

Janice and Richard enjoyed some time with Ben and watched Charlie in the dunk tank.

What a handsome Hook.

Ben and Landon trying to escape.

Cotton candy, another hit of the night.

The Peine's.

Preschool Parade

Last week, Rosemary's preschool had it's Halloween Parade.

Rosemary had decided that she wanted to be Tinker Bell and was soooooo excited that morning. She never gets ready that fast!

Our pixie.

(Please excuse the sink full of dishes and cluttered counter...it was a busy morning!)

When we got to school, Rosemary saw her friend Allison dressed up as Silver Mist.

Here's most of her class. Miss Judy led the way and Miss Debbie was in the back. Hunter, the little boy who told Rosemary that she is "his princess," was in the pirate outfit at the front of the line with Miss Judy.

Tink and Silver Mist held hands the whole time...so cute.

First Steps

Ben's starting to get around on his feet now.

It was a great moment that Jonathan, Rosemary, and I all got to see together. Ben had taken a step or two to Jonathan on Friday (October 23), but nothing more. Tonight (October 25), Ben walked about 3 feet on his own from me to Jonathan and Rosemary got to see it too. Woohoo!

McIntosh 1890's Festival 2009

We took advantage of a Saturday with an open morning and drove down to McIntosh, Florida for their annual 1890's Festival. It's basically a big craft show with some activities for kids and lots of fried festival/fair food thrown in for good measure.

The last time we went to the McIntosh festival was in 2002, the day that Jonathan and I got engaged so it was both of the kids' first time to the festival.

They enjoyed it.

Rosemary got a balloon hat from a clown named 'Rusty.'

Ben rode around on Daddy's back while the rest of us walked around and ate kettle corn.

And Rosemary got her face painted at McIntosh Christian Church.

This, however, will stick with me as something too bizarre to really believe is true. We saw this classic car on our way back to the car. My first thought when I saw the dolls in the backseat from a distance was, "Oh, that's kinda creepy." As we got closer, the 'kinda' dropped out of my assessment.

Pumpkin Patch 2009

Once again, at Rosemary's preschool there's a pumpkin patch. I'd hoped to meet up with some friends from church for a picnic one day to get some photos, but managed to be sick that day and couldn't do it. So instead, I just waited until it wasn't so hot out, packed a lunch for me and the kids one morning, and decided that we'd get their pictures that day since we were all healthy.

I had envisioned getting better pictures of Rosemary and Ben together, but neither seemed interested in making that happen so I did what I could. Maybe next year?