Advent

We're getting ready around here. Preparing our home, preparing the gifts and preparing our hearts for the anticipation of Christmas!!

How can I ever say no to her?

Happy Birthday baby girl.

Eliza's 1st birthday was this week. It is so cliche to say, but I really can't believe that she is 1. It has in some ways, been the best year yet in the life of our family. She has been the perfect addition and I marvel at how much her siblings love her. As evidenced here: they threw a birthday party for her in our garage and invited some neighbor friends. Did all the planning, decorating, cookie making, etc. because "MOM! She HAS to have a party!!!"



{Henry helping Eliza open his present -- a homemade book and some random toys from his room}
{Bradley's book she made for Eliza. It was so sweet!}

{Mmmmmm, sugar is good!}

{"Oh, you are a mess! Here let me help you clean up"}

We love you Eliza Mei! Happy Birthday!!!

Halloween

We have Clinton Portis, a Strawberry, a Flower Princess and TOO much candy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AJ!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jess!!! May this be the year of good, new things!!!

We love you!

1st day of Pre-K

Bradley started Pre-K a few weeks ago. She planned out this 1st day of school outfit 24 hours in advance. Note the matching headband, gold clip on earrings from Grandma Pete, and 1 purse in hand and 2 more in her backpack. We love her preschool which is 5 blocks away. We bike or walk most days beside Bradley as she scooters. This is her signature arabesque move.

1st day of 1st grade

Henry began 1st grade last month and is doing very well. He is starting out the year with more confidence than last year and we are anticipating a great year!

Summer has come to an end. . . or has it? It is so hot outside!

{silly banz - fad of the summer}

{more of our harvest!}
{beach trip to Emerald Isle}

{Bradley's signature Canonball}
{We got to hang out with Aaron & Jacob for a few days when Baby Samuel was born. Can you tell they are cousins?}

{Eliza is still a great but messy eater!}
{Bradley attended a gymnastics camp with her friend}
{Hard to believe that baby Eliza is 10 months old now! She is a happy, peaceful baby.}

Trip to Delaware

We took a trip to visit the Delaware Malcolms last month. John's brother, Daniel and family (Ashley & Reuben) moved up there earlier in the year to manage the Delaware Nature Society's CSA. Beautiful land, simple life and good eats.


{everytime reuben saw eliza, he would lean in for a tender smooch. so cute!}

{cousins}


{onions drying}
{the kids' favorite activity -- feeding the sheep}

Water Country USA & our new toy

We took a trip to Water Country yesterday. It's our 3rd year visiting this land of chlorine and water slides. This year we told Henry that we would go when he completed his summer task of reading 100 books. He did it on Monday and off we went on Tuesday. Way to go Henry! We also got a new camera that adds a new dimension to our photography. . .

What have you been doing?

Here is a glimpse of our summer so far (in no particular order):

{Everyone comes home to NC for a reunion|

{Henry blazes down the pool again this summer. Swim Team just finished and Bradley can also swim the whole pool now!}

{Sprinkler Fun}
{The hubs and I celebrated 10 years of bliss on July 1! Only bliss and absolutely NO strife!}

{More shots from our trip to NC -- Gong Gong and all the grandkids|

{The best surprise and thrill of the summer -- I have a child who eats anything and with passion! Note the carrot stuck to her bib}
{Pulling up and SO happy about it}

{our scarecrow}
{our harvest}
(Eliza's favorite position}

AND THE SUMMER IS ONLY HALFWAY OVER!

Henry playing T-Ball

High School Musical -- Starring Bradley

The kids have a new obsession that is a few years past its prime - High School Musical. Highly entertaining, catchy and clean. The pink cup is her microphone. This is a little taste of the soundtrack of our home these days.

Eliza is MOBILE!

Eliza is on the move. Life changing around here. She can actually crawl/scoot much further than this. I think she was afraid that her sister might slap her with a magazine if she got too close. That girl is smart. . .

Henry loses his first tooth!

You can't really tell because his adult teeth had already come in behind his baby teeth. We've been calling him "shark teeth" lately. He is really growing up. . .