so thankful for...

 ~ setting the table with great anticipation

 ~ making our annual visit to give our "neighbors" a treat

 ~ my little girl still needing (wanting) to hold her mama's hand once in a while

 ~ finding the sand rakes and making zen gardens on our golf course walk

~ finding 2 golf balls and remembering to carry a few short golf clubs with us this year

~ these two...so eager to help in the kitchen with the cooking and clean up!
So good to slow down and give ourselves the moment to feel gratitude.
Happy Happy Thanksgiving

ohhhhh...las vegas

Jeff and I got away last weekend and headed to Vegas! We pretty much ate and drank our way through out the city and loved every minute. It is such an amazing and interesting place and 3 days/nights was enough time to spend there!  Here are just a few pictures that we took while there.

Balcony view from our room at the Cosmopolitan during the day.

 Night view

 The Chandelier...a three story bar in the middle of the hotel.

Walking around...very fun to people watch.
We had such a good time ~ Thanks to Anita and Fred for hanging with the kids. Thank you, thank you.

Halloween?

Is it too late to post Halloween pictures?

We had a transformer and Cleopatra this year.

Very fun...but a missed not making the costumes this year. I just didn't think I could pull off Optimus Prime!

Now how to make all this candy disappear? (by not eatting it!)

fall break

I cannot begin to describe how wonderful it was to have my parents here for my fall break for a visit. We "packed it in" with many activities throughout the week. It started with beautiful weather which allowed for bike rides to various parks and to the library.

 We enjoyed a train ride starting in Georgetown and making our way to Silver Plume just missing the peak colors of the Aspens in the high country.

 And there were many many games/magic tricks to be played in the back porch where we could follow the patches of sun throughout the day.

Thank you thank you thank you for making the long trip here and thank you for coming.
Love you!

trying new things

We have always encouraged Ryan and Cole to try new things and expose them to any activity that they are interested in. Sometimes we wonder if they will like it...stick with it or end up complaining which results in "dragging" then to lessons. Our house rule is that you can try anything, but you don't quit if you find out you don't really like it. You have to try your best and finish. This fall the kids pick two new activities they had never tried before...tennis and soccer. Jeff and I were so proud of their determination and eagerness to try something new. Ryan's tennis is now over and when I asked her if she would play again her answer was an enthusiastic "yes!" Excited to see what they will want to do next!

Special visitors

Last weekend we were honored to have Oma and Opa travel from to Toronto to spend the weekend with us. It was such a special time for our family. We enjoyed a warm weekend of sunshine and relaxing. They were also honored guests along with my mom at our annual neighborhood black party.

We love that you came and miss you now that you are gone, but are reminded by little things of your visit that make us smile.

Thank you Thank you

our new friends

romas, cherokee purples, cherries and an heirloom variety...
and waiting so patiently for the brandywines.

We love you so much!