It must be that time of year....

The temperature's getting brisk, the leaves have fallen from the trees, lights are appearing on homes, the house at the top of our hill has bedazzled the heck out of itself--it's AMAZING that every year they still add something new! (In this case more is not necessarily better), Lauren and Alli's violin practice music sounds suspiciously like the holidays, I'm busy making candy and dipping chocolates, and yes even the pillow cases have a new theme--It's beginning to look a lot like--CHRISTMAS!



I don't know why Alli didn't want her picture taken first thing in the morning...hmmm...weird. Lindsay didn't seem to have a problem!


We had a family dinner on Sunday at Grandma and Grandpa Barrett's newly remodeled home. It looks beautiful and I think we broke it in for them! We were celebrating their 41st Wedding Anniversary! At the end of the night, Grandma got the Christmas Season started early by handing out gifts--darling hand sewn Christmas pillow cases for each grandchild--12! Grandmas are the best! Thanks Grandma Barrett!

Let it Snow!

About a week ago when I came home from an early morning workout, I was greeted by an excited Lindsay saying, "Mom, it snowed on the roofs and the grass!" Then she quickly and sweetly asked if she could play in the snow. She has been waiting since the last snow that we had that didn't stick around long enough to do anything with. Now she saw her opportunity!





Big sister Alli was good enough to bundle her up and take her outside to play to her heart's content. Fun!

Budding Photographer

Alli is 11 years old and loves to take pictures! We are always finding funny pictures of her and other family members on our phones and cameras. She took Lindsay outside earlier this month and these are the results. I think the lighting was great! It helps that she has a willing model, too.







Fun Fall pictures, Alli!

Happy Halloween!

The weather turned out so mild for Halloween this year! The kids all got to go Trick-or-Treating--last year we had some sickness, so our showing was poor! Lauren thought she might be too old, but the draw of full-size candy bars in her friend's neighborhood was way too strong! She was a "cute" witch. She made her tutu and it did turn out cute!


Alli was a dead volleyball player! Scary! Of course she was also a Fifties Girl, a Scary Ghoul, and an Indian Girl--complete with red dot on forehead. What can I say, the ideas just kept coming!


Lindsay was a Ballerina. Her pajamas were perfect to keep her warm and still ballerina-y. She really liked Trick-or-Treating with Alli. It made a bit more sense to her this year.


Calvin was Short Round. Oh, I'm sorry, you don't know who that is? That's okay, neither did anyone else, even after he told them. Short Round is the asian boy in Indiana Jones. "Docta Jones, Docta Jones!" Does that ring a bell? Look closely--I know, the likeness is scary!