Small Talk

Liza: "Daddy, did you dress up for Halloween?"

Ryan: "Yes Liza."

Liza: "Did you give the kids candy?"

Ryan: "Yes Liza."

Liza: "Did you scare the kids?"

Ryan: "Yes Liza."

Liza: "oh. You scared the crap out of them."

We Are Thankful For...

Me: Good health, good food, good friends (we couldn't have eaten our turkey without Almas's turkey carving abilities), good neighbors who are willing to share babysitting and drinks, and good kids who go to sleep without too much fuss.




Isabel: My friends, my cats, and Barbies.



Liza: My kitties!!!



Ryan: He's thankful his turkey turned out after brining, injecting, and basting.

Our Favorite Time of Year

I can't believe it is October already. Even though the temperature is still in the
90's most days, we are proceeding as if fall has arrived. We put up our decorations, got Sam a halloween costume (he's thrilled), and took the girls to a studio for Halloween pictures in their costumes. We have lots planned like pumpkin carving, a visit to the pumpkin patch, scaring the pants off all the kids in our new neighborhood. Lets hope we can fit it all in.

First Day of School 2011

So we have been in school almost 3 weeks now. Isabel is loving 2nd grade except for the little boy who makes bunny ears behind her head. We changed Liza's preschool and she comes home much happier. She is so eager to go in the mornings that she gets herself dressed and packs her own bag. So far so good this year.

North Dakota Trip 2011

I didn't take as many pictures this year as I usually do. But we had a good time visiting with family and friends.

Total Opposites

Above is a visual description of the differences between Isabel and Liza. Another way to sum it up:

Isabel was born on a Monday morning, Liza on a Friday night.

Keeping cool

Issi's Day

Opening gifts. Dad went shopping for presents this year and spoiled her ROTTEN! He must have bought everything he saw but of course he is not the one picking/vacuuming up the pieces.



Astounding she was actually quiet and still for longer than 5 minutes and she wasn't sleeping.

Liza: "Hey wait a minute...somebody pulled a fast one here, this isn't all about me?"



frosting with a few cupcakes thrown in.







Isabel and Abigail.


I would have done a post about the 4th of July but it is so hot and dry down here they banned fireworks. Normally Ryan stocks up and puts on a show with the neighbors. This year we are just keeping cool in the pool. We decided not to brave the crowds for the big fireworks show since just walking across a parking lot makes you feel you are melting.

The pictures are from Issi's birthday. The kids all stayed seated and concentrated on painting, you could have heard a pin drop. It was amazing and just Isabel's thing. The girls both painted cats of course.

Recital 2011