Hello...

...we're still here, barely. There is a lot to report on, I'll do my best but I think I need to try lots of little posts in order to capture all that I want to. We had a sad week. My grandpa Rolf passed away and I went to Washington for his funeral and to be with family. On top of that, Tom's uncle Bob passed away at a much too young age. Both my grandpa and uncle Bob will be very missed. And then Eloise had the flu to top it all off. When it rains it pours, as they say.


Grandpa, Meredith and I (1986ish??)

I really don't like speaking in front of groups, in fact I kind of hate it. But, I'm really glad that Meredith and I put together a list of some of our favorite grandpa-isms that we could share with everyone.

This really won't make sense to most, but I am putting an abbreviated list of what Mer and I talked about in remembering our grandpa so that I won't forget what was said. (there were full stories and explanations provided at the funeral, but really this won't make much sense to anyone besides my immediate family!)

1. "goshdarnitanyhow"
2. "merjesskirmick"
3. the old ball and chain
4. the carrot patch
5. nice black pants
6. "if you stick out your bottom lip any further, you're going to trip on it"
7. Meredith's end to being a 1 year vegetarian
8. "How much is that doggy in the window" and "That's Amore"
9. Shoes with damn laces!
10. Grandpa in his chair with the paper, last person up at night, first person up in the morning.

I already miss my grandpa but I'm so lucky to have had so much time to get to know him.

11-4-10

One year old! Eloise's actual birthday was spent at daycare...but they made her a birthday crown that she wore all day and the teachers gave her a card and a book. It was so nice! I said happy birthday to her many times and we sang too. Funny as it may sound, she grew up a little the day she turned one. Eloise was just "acting" older. She was taking more confident steps, climbing up on her toys. And then the kicker, her notes from daycare said that she laid her head in Christian's lap and he patted her back. Say what?! That is moving a little fast. All in all, I'm glad that she is bonding with her daycare-mates and making friends (and Christian's mom is one of the teachers so I know they are well chaperoned :).

I can walk!


The birthday crown going on.


Showing off her moves while wearing a crown.




Me and my birthday girl, not the greatest photo but she looks practically like a teenager to me. Well, okay, maybe practically like a toddler!

Boo!

I realize this is slightly late, maybe more then slightly late but I can't NOT document photos from Ellie's first Halloween. Last year on Halloween I had been hoping to be holding a tiny little baby pumpkin instead of still pregnant! Eloise was dressed up as a lady bug. The costume was cute, easy, and comfortable (and on sale) and after I purchased I remembered that Eloise actually has a little lady bug book that was given to her as a gift and she LOVES it. So I felt like the lady bug look was fitting. She is really into closing doors so she continuously shut the front door. I'm pretty sure she didn't get what was going on but it was fun to have a little buddy around while we handed out candy. Next year I'm pretty sure we'll have to venture out.

I'm focusing on a photo/caption recap since we're now closer to Thanksgiving than Halloween!

All ready for the trick-or-treaters

A ladybug waving to the camera

Where is everyone??

Door.must.stay.closed.

It only took about 10 tries to get her to look at the camera.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!

Why isn't the door closing as easily as before?

Ah-ha, I'll just move these out of the way.

The gang's all here.

Aaaand, done. I'm off to bed.

Happy Halloween!