Happy Halloween!

We hope you have a great day! Anna Kate is a ladybug for occasion :). She got to show off her costume this past weekend at our church's trunk or treat event (where kids go trick or treating car to car). It was alot of fun, even though our decorations got blown around a bit. There were some cars that were decked to the nines! Next year, they'll be talking about our decorations :).

Believe it or not, we ran out of candy--and we had 10 POUNDS of it! There were that many kids! And we were told that it was only half that of last year. It looked like rain and probably kept alot of people away. We did get a few sprinkles when setting up, but it stayed away. Note to self: Get LOTS more candy. We did take pictures, but I moved the settings on the camera and forgot to change them back, so none of the pictures turned out of the trunk or treat. They're all blurry....oops!

The other pictures are of Anna Kate and her friend Hannah. It's the same pumpkin patch that we visited earlier this month, and yes, she's wearing the same thing :). Hannah also had a matching shirt--twinkies! It was interesting trying to keep TWO babies' attention for pictures. I have cute pictures of one, but the other might be crawling off or not looking at the camera. Anna Kate was definite it one of those "I'm not going to smile moments." Hannah is 2 months older than Anna Kate--she turns one in December!!

Anna Kate Crawling

Takes real talent to crawl AND spit!

Anna Kate in Action

First video of Anna Kate crawling...

Who Let the Dawgs Out??

Doesn't matter who, but the fact that they did! How 'bout them dawgs! Pulled a huge upset over Kentucky! Coach Killer Crooms strikes again!! We were able to see the game down here on TV; it was awesome to see them "wrap it up in maroon and white!"

The "motivational poster" for State is one of 12 for the SEC--they are hilarious! If you want me to forward the email with all 12, just let me know! Guess we can add Kentucky to this list...

Happy Birthday to Dixie

Today, our first "baby" Dixie celebrates her 63rd birthday in dog years, 9 human years. She is adjusting to having a mobile baby in the house. She is a source of Anna Kate's attention constantly, and Dixie doesn't particularly care for her new-found admirer.

Anyway, we got Dixie just a few days after Christmas 1998 from a breeder in Florida when we were living in Orlando. She has made all the trips with us back to Mississippi, out to Idaho, and now back to Florida. This 10 lb dog has seen quite a bit in nine years! Given her short coat, she's as glad as we are to be back in the warmth!

Happy Birthday, Dixie!

We are mobile!!!

We officially have a crawler!! She tried crawling a few times yesterday, but today, she has taken off! No stopping this child--oh my! As soon as she figured it out, Anna Kate took off for Dixie's food and water. I guess Dixie will be going on a fixed feeding schedule...when Anna Kate is napping :). I'll get some video today and post it!

The days of a seated, non-mobile child are over! Watch out, world---HERE COMES ANNA KATE!!!

Friday Humor

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!Betcha didn't know that Anna Kate went from sitting by herself to standing...and dancing!

Happy Fall Y'all!

It's been a quiet week around our place. On a happy note, Mike celebrated his two year anniversary with his company. Hard to believe it's been two years! We've been doing some fall cleaning around our place since last weekend, and hopefully should be finished by Sunday.
It doesn't quite feel like fall here, at least to the average person. We've 'dipped' into the low 90s and even the high 80s, so yes, it's fall for Florida! We're hoping for some even cooler temperatures.....the low 80s!!

The pictures were taken at a 'pumpkin patch' at a local church. They transform their lawn into a HUGE patch, with thousands--literally--to choose from. You can tell Anna Kate was more interested in these big orange things than she was in taking pictures.

We hope that y'all have a wonderful weekend!

Can you tell this is Little Miss Chievous? Anna Kate's personality really is coming along and she isn't afraid to show it.

We hope you are having a great Monday!

Two Years Ago Today, We Came Home

Mike and I left Idaho two years ago today. Wow, what an amazing two years it has been! Both Mike and I agree that the two years out west seemed to last forever; yet, the two years back in Florida have just flown by. Feels more like months and not years.

It was January 2005 Mike and I had one of "those kind" of talks. We just didn't feel that Boise is where we were to meant end up, and however beautiful, Idaho just wasn't our home. We also felt something wasn't quite right with his job and the company he was working for (boy did we ever nail that one!) We stayed up late that night talking how much we loved living in Florida and would eventually like to end up down there---maybe retirement age? Either Florida or in Starkville :). Luckily we didn't have to wait that long.....

Almost nine months to the day, our bags are packed, belongings on a Atlas moving truck, and the three of us--Mike, Dixie and myself--boarded a US Airways flight to Phoenix, then to Orlando. I will never forget that day knowing that I was "coming home." It truly was a wonderful feeling, and still love the fact we live in Central Florida. Living just down the road from Disney doesn't hurt either ;).

So, it seems that October is a popular month for Mike and I to move. Our family joke was that as soon as we paint and hang up pictures, that it was time to move (that happened with our first Florida home near Orlando, our Mississippi home, and even our rental home in Boise). We definite tried something different here--we painted BEFORE we moved in and hung pictures almost immediately! So far it's working. We have been back in Central Florida for two years, been in our home for a year and NO CHANCE OF MOVING!!! Mike loves his job and his company is on very firm ground and obviously we are not going to move for mine, so I think the chances of moving again--at least out of the area--are slim. So come on down to see us--before we think about moving.....again!

Oh, by the way, our big milestone tonight is that Anna Kate pulled herself up to a STANDING position in bed, holding onto the rails for dear life! Needless to say, that both Mike and I screamed (ok, I screamed, Mike grabbed the camera!) and got a few shots to document the occasion. Personally, I think this child is going to go from a seated scoot to walking, err, running! Crawling is too slow for this gal on the move! I'll download those pictures in the morning!

New Found Talent

Anna Kate has a new found "talent." Wonder how this might serve her later in life? Watermelon seed spittin' contest, maybe? Hope your weekend is a "dry" one!

Today is definitely not our day. Anna Kate has had the sniffles since Sunday and we have been taking it easy since then (limiting our 'outings', no social engagements so far, etc). Well, last night, Anna Kate wasn't a happy camper. She now has a sinus infection :(. She had a hard time going to sleep last night. To complicate the matters, Mama has the stomach virus. I was up all night, well, you know "what" when you have the stomach virus. It's one thing for one of us to be sick, but not both as the same time, with different bugs.

Mike earned his keep today, as he was the only daddy in the doctor's office waiting room. He came home to take her to the doctor this morning. Mike has been with us to see Dr. W, so the visit wasn't completely foreign to him. Matter of fact, we know Dr. W quite well, from church and Dr. W's son is in the same scout troop that Mike helps with at the church. Dr. W is also originally from New Orleans and a LSU fan, so we always end up talking football or something related to NOLA. Maybe that's why the appointment took so long....

Anyway, Anna Kate is now napping soundly and well, I'm here. It's going to continue being a light week over at our place. If you come for a visit, you might get more than you bargain for!

Cheap Entertainment

Round 2! I hope this video works as well...Email me and let me know!

Can you see the videos?

I am resending the videos through YouTube this morning. I heard back that they are not working :(. Once they are posted, will you email and let me know if you can or cannot see this second batch of videos. I have a total of six videos to post (spacing them out over the week...) so keep check back.

Thanks for bearing with us....I never said that I was technically gifted when it comes to computers :)!

Should be Napping

Hopefully this will work! PLEASE email and let me know if you CAN or CANNOT see it!

Eight Months Old!

Anna Kate turns eight months today! She continues to grow and change everyday! We are still "almost" crawling..she gets more on her hands and knees everyday! Won't be long before now! She now can move forward in her walker and has since become Dixie's nemesis. Wherever Dixie goes, Anna Kate is sure to follow and usually bumps her back end. To say the least, Dixie isn't enjoying Anna Kate's new found mobility.

Over the next few days, more videos will be posted. Finally broke down and bought another DVR transfer cable today, so I could actually load the videos! I have several to post. Check back often!