School days ...

Some glimpses of Emma going to pre-school. She is doing really well and as you can see loves dresses and picks our her own shoes (Michelle you know you love this!)!!!! We are working on getting her into jeans for the winter! More to come about the classroom ...


Me and the girls in the kitchen ... we have been cooking up some nice fall treats (Oatmeal Raisin cookies and Apple Crisp.

Garland Family Reunion

A few weeks back we had the rare opportunity to host a very special family gathering. It has been well over a decade since we spent a day together with the very large extended Garland family. It was so wonderful to have my grandparents, my Mom and sister, and a lot of my Aunts and Cousins come and spend the day. Although we do not get to spend vast amounts of time together, there is always something about family that just feels right. We spent the afternoon talking, eating, laughing, drinking, getting teary eyed, playing cards ... and the younger gang went on a woodsy adventure ... what else would they do in the Country?

Thank you ALL for coming to visit. We will plan another BIGGER reunion ... maybe up to Maine? We missed you Brian, Allison, Dennis, Fred and Cheryl.

Love you all ... enjoy the slideshow. Click on the arrow on the slideshow to PLAY.

Make a Smilebox photobook

We love Fall!

So loving that we have an apple orchard ten minutes from home. Apple crisp tonight!

Did you notice Julia's toting the apple tote? She is so cute!!!

Just holding tight

This past week has been a whirl wind. Though my mother was calm as a cucumber in anticipation of her total hip replacement surgery, I, the forever planner and analyzer, did not sleep a wink leading up to it! But I am happy to report she did excellent and is being a good little patient and cruising right along -- literally. She is expected to go home on Saturday and I will be there to visit and spoil her on Sunday. I can not wait!

With all of that going on, I have really taken time to just hold on tight. I have been squeezing as many hugs out of my little girls as I possibly can. It's amazing. They are growing up so fast. As I type this, Julia is on my lap saying 'shish' (meaning I want to see the fish on the computer) and I am just squeezing her tightly and smelling that beautiful baby fresh smell. Although, she really isn't a baby anymore ... and that leads me to ponder ... are we really done having babies? That can not be answered quite yet. We are just ... holding tight ... because for now things are feeling quite right.

A long awaited Congratulations

It is with utter happiness I announce: Karen and Mike are getting married!!!!!!

Karen and Mike traveled to Europe at the beginning of the month and Mike proposed in Paris. How sweet and romantic is that? We are so happy for them and look forward to celebrating their marriage.

Best wishes to the bride and groom-to-be.

See Mommy ... Swim, Bike, Run ...

in the Trek Women's Triathalon in July 2010.

Sara and I have decided to begin training for a women's Triathalon. I know ... it's crazy right? Part of me knows it's crazy, but then there is the other part of me, the forever athlete part, that screams, Go For It! The Triathalon consists of a 1/2 mile swim in a lake, a 15 mile bike ride and then a 5K run.

Sara and I have been really great for motivating each other so I find it perfectly fitting for us to push it to the next level. We will begin training this Winter with swimming at our local town hall pool. Most of you know ... I am a terrible swimmer, so I definitely know this is going to be a big challenge. Especially when I read about how terrifying it can be for the race to start and thousands of women diving into a Lake and poor little me trying to keep my head above water! But, I am determined. This will be good ... I will learn how to swim and I will stay in great shape through the Winter months.

So stay tuned ... I will write with our training highs and lows.

First on our agenda is a 5K road race this weekend and then a Relay Marathon in October.

Happy Happy Birthday ...

to my beautiful, fun and wonderful Sister, April.

You are the best sister, friend, Auntie any one could ask for. We love you so very much.

Wishing you a fabulous day and a great year.

Big hug and kiss!

18 months!

Julia is 18 months!

Always busy and taking Mommy's bags!

Emma at 18 months, you can definitely tell they are sisters! ;)

Our baby girl is now 18 months old. Where has the past year and a half gone? Julia has made our life so full and is already a kindred spirit. She is very much a Pisces by nature, if there is anyone crying or feeling upset she goes right up to them and looks at them with sympathy eyes. It is so sweet.

Julia has learned so much in the past year, she not only began walking on her own but she decided to just start running! She's very daring and will jump off of anything. She is very independent and shows signs that she will not take any "bull" by crossing her arms firmly across her chest and by yelping out "babadedodeee" We, of course, look at her and say "Oh, really?".

She is very fond of Dewey and absolutely adores her big sister. She dresses up in Emma's shoes and my purses. She can throw a mean fast ball and kicks a soccer ball just like Emma does!

Julia is doing lots of things earlier than Emma did, like brushing her teeth. She has her own little routine where she -- with out any assistance -- will climb up on the stool, get her toothbrush and try to put the toothpaste on it, we turn the water on for her but I think in about a month or so she'll have figured that out too.

She loves to listen to music and has really become fond of Elmo and Sesame Street. Julia also prefers to read in the morning, at night time she's all business and that is she really loves to go to bed! She also really enjoys flipping through books by herself, it's very cute.

Julia's favorite words: Boom, Sis, Melmo, Momma, Dadda, Dyeee (Blankie), Juice, More, All done, Out, Puppup (Up), Dadooom (down), Mooo, Bus, Vrooom, doggie

Happy 18 months to our little peanut, she may be little but she is definitely full of spunk!

Good times

Sometimes you just need pictures.

This weekend we had a blast with just a simple visit with great friends. The girls loved Marblehead, Emma said "Mommy can I just stay with Auntie D and Erol" ... Mommy said "I am sorry honey, you live with us".

Below is a video of Julia enjoying the Atlantic Ocean with Daddy, Emma and Uncle Erol!