A busy few months...

Hi everyone! I hope some of you who have faithfully been checking the blog will be pleasantly surprised that I posted some updates! Please make sure you see all 3 new posts (not including this one) that kind of break down our fall by pictures. Sadly, we did many things that we didn't get pictures of (although we got some video footage instead). I will be happy if I get a new digital camera for Christmas so I can have my camera in my purse again.

I tried to sum up a few things in the posts, if we had pictures of said event, however there were a few other things we did like:

Taking the kids to their first pro football game...Patriots vs. Bills. We got to visit with our friend, Danny, both the night before and right after the game. The kids got sunburned (poor planning on my part for sunscreen) but were good travelers as usual and were pretty good during the game.

Ethan finished his first marathon in 3:35 (I hope I remembered that correctly). He never stopped and the kids and I were at mile 18 and 26 (of the 26.2 total) to cheer him on. He did awesome!

Rory got his first haircut. He did great and didn't cry. It's hard to believe I let him get so shaggy and it's almost time for another one! He has quite the full, thick head of hair.

Ethan and I both recently turned 29. We didn't do much to celebrate either day since they were on work days but still worth noting.

Taya had several field trips this fall including 2 pumpkin patches and a few to the local nursing home. She got a pumpkin on each trip to the patches and has made friends with an elderly lady. Her teacher usually has funny stories to tell me each day when I pick Taya up from school.

What has kept me most busy is taking on the role of entrepreneur. I'm in the very preliminary stages but I think that's what takes the most time! I have been marketing, contacting physician offices and gyms, to see if they utilize dietitians and to see how we can work together. I'm also learning the ropes of becomming a provider with different insurances and Medicare (not easy and very time consuming) but I'm getting there. My business is Everyday Nutrition, LLC (website in the works).

Thanks for being patient with me. I actually took the afternoon off so thought I should post while it's quiet. Wishing you all the best during the upcoming holiday season!

Halloween

Ethan and Taya had a blast carving a pumpkin this year. Ethan was also really involved in picking out Rory's costume and helping Taya get hers. She got to pick and wanted to be a princess.
This was really the first year Taya has known what's going and she seemed to have a good time. She was invited to a classmate's house for a party on the 28th, we went to a family party at OSU on the 30th, then on the 31st she had a party at school as well as a costume parade at a local nursing home. She was very tired when it was time to trick-or-treat but she made it to a few houses. We enjoyed having our friends, Chris and Sheelah, over for chili and drinks while we handed out candy.

Taya the princess and Rory the dinosaur/monster.

More pumpkin decorating!

Alaska!

Yes, we went to Alaska...over 2 months ago! Despite the lag time for posting pictures, we had a wonderful time celebrating the marriage of Emlyn Mann and Cody Long who reside in Anchorage. The 4 of us really enjoyed our time with the Mann side of the family and it had been over a year and a half since we'd all been together. Since my small, easily portable camera isn't working we took our large camera but didn't take a ton of pictures. Ethan's dad took >400 so we knew there would be some documentation of the trip. Ethan has those on his computer so maybe we'll do an "Ode to Alaska" post one day.

We saw some wildlife including a bald eagle, Baluga whales, salmon, and a moose. We didn't see a bear like we hoped we would, oh well.

A bald eagle
A glacier

One of many rivers.

This moose made an appearance at the rehearsal dinner. This was as close as I would go (and this is with the zoom lens); Ethan got much closer for pictures on his phone.

The only picture on our camera of Taya in her dress.

The only picture on our camera of the beautiful bride and groom.

A lake.

L to R: Ethan, Erin, Papa (Les), and Emlyn.

Taya had a blast with her aunts! Elysia wasn't feeling well this day so didn't go on the day trip with us.

The best family picture we had on our camera from the whole trip.

A chilly, rainy day.

Taya thought seeing this old mine was "kinda boring" but she was a good sport. She'd rather be bored with all of us than miss the trip.

An old gold mine.

End of August

A few pictures from the end of August.

Taya's first day in the pre-school classroom. She loves 'Ms. Jen's' room...they learn a new letter and number each week, do lots of fun crafts, and on nice days they get to play outside 2 times! She loves to write with pens and markers and is starting to spell out words she sees. She is also taking dance lessons and enjoys listening to music. Right now her favorite singer is Taylor Swift and she can sing 3 of her songs!
Most Saturday mornings (when we're home) consist of getting doughnuts from the local shop and cleaning. While I clean bathrooms and try to get laundry going, Taya and Rory dump out "the kitchen" which is a purple plastic tote with all of the kitchen accessories. Rory doesn't like the kitchen sink in it's spot either, so he usually takes it out while they play.

I just can't get over the happiness these 2 bring to my life and watching them interact is indescribable.