Baby, it's cold outside!

What a cold & rainy day it was here! Luckily we headed to our Romp n' Roll class this morning and got home before the cold rain came...the rest of the day was perfect for napping and playing inside games. Madelyn has been keeping us on our toes lately - from the sweet things like singing songs and saying her ABC's, rocking her baby, helping feed Kona - to the not so sweet things like playing chase when it's time to change a dirty diaper or get ready for bed, and a horrible new trick she has: spitting her milk out of her mouth...then when we take the milk away, she screams. I'm not sure which is more aggrivating! You know, milk isn't the cheapest thing in the world these days! Hopefully this will be a phase like everything else...but who knows what's next!

We headed to the pumpkin patch again last week with Erica & Peyton, I think the girls had more fun running and dancing on the stage for us. They did enjoy feeding the goats again and picking pumpkins of course.

Erica found out today that she is having another girl! We're really excited for them, I know deep down she really did want a little sister for Peyton...now it's for real! Erica and I have been plotting out our journey that we'll take together next year with our newborns and two year olds. I'm sure it'll be bumpy and it won't be perfect, but we'll travel together so it'll be fun! Obviously we'll have family and other friends for help and support but it will be so nice to have a friend going through the same things at the same times!

We're up late tonight - the FIRST National Lampoon's is on - hilarious!! But it's time to get to bed...we need our rest to make it through another day with little miss!

Welcome FALL!

Aahhh...we think Fall is finally here to stay a while! When fall arrives, I can't help but get in the mood for apples, stew and chili, pumpkins, sweaters, warm candles - all the cozy things in life. We had Liz & Mary over Saturday night for chicken chili and apple crisp...it was a perfect end to a cold, breezy day. It's been several months since they've been over so we had a good time catching up. Madelyn entertained her Aunts as usual...and when bedtime came, she said "i wuv u ma-ay" and "i wuv u iz" -- all in one line!

Sunday the fam headed to Ruffin Mill farm for the pumpkin patch and hayride. Madelyn fed the goats, chickens and rabbits...she was bundled up in her warm hat, which stayed on the whole time! She actually liked it!





SOO excited over an airplane!


Hi neighbor!

We'll be heading back to the pumpkin patch Wednesday with our friends Erica and Peyton because my camera battery died while there! Can't go to the pumpkin patch without getting LOTS of pictures...you know ME!!! Thursday we're going to visit our friend Heather who had a baby boy, Cameron, in August...Friday - a doctors appointment for me, 16 weeks along now...Saturday - we may go to the Celtic Festival, and my brother may come down for a visit...Sunday - who knows yet, I'm sure something will find us. Never a dull day anymore :)

Home from the Midwest

Well, Madelyn and I are home from Missouri. We went to Maryville to visit my Grandparents and other family there. We flew out with my Mom last week and got back in Tuesday evening. We had a wonderful time but we're happy to be back home with Ben! It was great to see everyone, and for Madelyn to visit her Great Grandparents, to meet her Great Aunt Betty & Uncle Tim, her second cousin Rachel ...and her GREAT GREAT Aunt Katharine.

I think we'll be sticking around home for a while -- no plane rides in our near future! For any parents thinking of flying with their little one or preparing for a trip, have patience! Bring along some new toys they haven't seen before, that worked for us. Madelyn had her own seat, so we brought along her car seat to sit in - I would've lost an eye if she sat on my lap for 2 hours.

We had a nice time visiting with everyone. My cousin Rachel was in town for the weekend from Kansas City, it was great to see her and meet her boyfriend, Lucas. He's a great guy and I think Rachel may have some competition now because Madelyn adored him! Grandma made delicous food, as usual, and I came home with lots of yummy recipes and motivation to start cooking again. Lately it's been quick sandwiches or whatever leftovers there are so I'm excited to start cooking and baking. Grandma made red velvet cake one night, Mom's request for her birthday. After we gave Madelyn a few bites, the cake wasn't the only thing that came out red!! Whoa! What a shock that was!

It was a nice week, we missed Ben though and we were happy to get home to him again. Here are some pictures of our family:


Baby bouncing on Great Grandpa's knee


Yummy red velvet cake


Aunt Betty


Rachel, Madelyn & Lucas




Grandma's garden


Chillin' in the swing


Great Aunt Katharine

A SPARK of light...

We had an exciting day Sunday...well I did anyway. Ben & Madelyn were along for the ride, just to see me swoon over my favorite author, Nicholas Sparks. He was at a book signing at Borders in Richmond. I read his latest book, The Lucky One, Friday night - I started around 7 or 7:30 and finished around 1 AM! I couldn't put it down. Each time I read one of Nicks stories, I'm refreshed and the true meaning of our marriage comes back into the picture. Not that we are struggling or anything....just that sometimes we let it fall to the back seat with all the things going on around us, it's easy to do! So we had a pretty neat day meeting Nicholas, he spoke a bit about his family and other books that are coming up. He seems like a really good, down to Earth guy.

We spent the rest of the afternoon at Short Pump mall - it was a beatiful day out. Madelyn is still a little sick, so we headed home for a restful evening before bath and bedtime. Tomorrow Madelyn and I are heading up to Stafford to stay the night with my Mom. Then we fly out Wednesday to Missouri, we're looking forward to that visit.


Here are some pictures of Nicholas:

Our weekend in Luray

We spent last weekend in Luray...at The Barn at Evermore. It was fabulous! The weather didn't keep us from enjoying ourselves, we headed up there to meet Grammy, Grandpa and Haylie. The Barn is a restored Civil War era barn - with living areas added later - the atmosphere was rustic and relaxing. About 100 yards off the back porch is the Shenandoah River, Dad and Ben spent a lot of time fishing off the dock and took out the canoe also. No luck though...the fish weren't bitin'!

Our weekend was restful and relaxing - gave us a quick refresher for the week ahead. Madelyn was sick before we went, and it figures a day after we return...we're fighting the same cold again. I don't understand how this nasty goop can come out of such a cute little nose! Hopefully this will go away quickly...our next adventure is ANOTHER plane ride! Next week we're flying with Nana to visit Madelyn's Great Grandparents in Maryville, MO. They have flown to Virginia twice since Madelyn was born, and we owe it to them to go there this time. They aren't getting any younger and we figured we'll take her out there now while it'll be easier to travel with ONE child!!

Here are some favorite pictures:

Pulling up to The Barn

The river frontage

Fun and games inside

Back of The Barn

Madelyn & Grandpa on the tractor

The three of us

Dad & Ben on the canoe

Grammy & the horse

Kona, keeping watch