"That's my sister."

The look on Gabrielle's face is just priceless.  This is how she looks at her big sister.  Aaliyah IS Gabrielle's favorite person.  I love it. 

Mug

What a CUTE "mug-shot!"  This photo was taken of Gabrielle as she watched her big sister entertain us for the evening.  Aaliyah did some singing, dancing , clapping...and falling down. Gabrielle seemed to like the falling the best. 

Advertisement-

We have a new favorite activity at our house!!  

When the sales clerk at the register rang this purchase up, she did a double take.  (I also think she may have hid a little smirk.)  

But I thought Hey! Why not?  I couldn't think of a good reason not to try it, so...I embrace the finger painter.  It's fun!  Try it!    

We covered the ENTIRE kitchen table with paper, invited the family over and created a MASTERPIECE!

It's late...

It's late, and Gabrielle is wide awake...so we are looking at photos. This was a cute one I took a few days ago...I don't know why I hadn't posted it earlier.   :)

Munchkin Pumpkin!

Aaliyah misses her Nana and Papa!

Phil

FIESTA!

This post is in honor of the old men who are getting rich one quarter at a time.  

Gabrielle's FIRST trip to "Fiesta!"

Explanation: On the way to "Fiesta", there is a bridge.  A creepy, one and a half lane bridge that people buzz across as if there were room for two.   There is a toll booth, it looks like an out house and is manned by men who appear to be in there late 90's.  A sign says something about three tickets for .75 cents.  Each ticket is good for a one way trip across the bridge.  Thing is, they don't make change. Really!  They don't.  So we give them a dollar and cross the bridge.  Then we have two extra tickets.  One to cross on the way home and... one to save. (For later, but they don't sell individual tickets, you have to buy three at a time...)  I tell you...someone is making some money !

Home sweet HoME!

I am reminded of a story my dad told me.  

A long time ago, when the world was flat and we didn't have cell phones, Grandpa Jim was called away on a business trip.  His family missed him while he was gone.  One of his children, thought to create a banner to show their dad how much they loved and missed him. After careful debate and consideration...they decided that the banner should read "Welcome Home Dad!"  The five young children spent hours and hours and hours on the lettering and design.  They poured all their energy into making the sign.  (Wait a second...five young kids? Stuck in the house in the dead of winter? Dad away?  Maybe the banner idea was Grandma's!  She must have been superhuman!)

Anyway- They finished the banner and tacked it out across the garage door.  But, due to the bad winter weather. Grandpa was not able to return on the planned date.  He was detained another day, and then another!  

So the kids...(and creative mother) edited the sign.  

They made one small change-and cut it.  

Now It was in four pieces...stacked on top of each other.  You know what it read! :)

WELL

COME

HOME!

DAD!

This is the banner that greeted Grandpa when he was finally able to reach home.  I'll bet it warmed his heart.   

I halfway expected to see that sign (edited yet again...) to be on MY garage door!  :)

It wasn't.  But there were streamers, cupcakes and family.  Home had never felt so sweet. 

First Family Photo

This was our "first family of four photo."  A lot of memories were made at the airport.  Gabrielle still likes being held in "the sling."  Aaliyah still prefers that she travel in her car seat. 

We like COFFEE!

We like Coffee a lot.  As we are having sleepless nights in quick succession, we are especially thankful for Coffee right now.  Thank you Toby and Mindy for introducing us to a new roaster. We love this roaster!  Everything that they produce has been DELIGHTFUL.   We also love the FRESH PERSPECTIVE they facilitate and encourage.  Check em' out!

remedyroastingcompany@gmail.com

847-854-2044 

www.remedyroastingcompany.com

Last Chance Texas Photos...

Here are a few photos I took in Texas, that hadn't made it to the BLOG....but needed to.  :)

Fall

We took the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful fall day and snap a few photos.  Two hundred and fifty three to be exact.  I have a new respect for child photographers.

Fun Fall Family Foto...say that free times fast!

SISTERS!

"Do you got Gabrielle?"  

When I walked out of the secure area of the airport to my waiting family, theses were the first words  I heard.  Aaliyah was looking in the empty car seat and looking very worried.  (I had Gabrielle in the sling.)  Again Aaliyah asked "Do you got Gabrielle?" and I showed her her sleeping sister I was holding.  She looked at Aaron and I and asked us to put her in the car seat.  So we did.  Here are the photos of that first few minuets of sisterly bonding. :)  What a joyful day!   More photos to come...soon. 

The "long road" HOME!!!

Gabrielle did wonderfully on both flights.  We were fortunate to have a less than full flight on the second half of our journey.  We enjoyed having two seats to ourselves. 

Interestingly enough, Gabrielle was born on the 30th of August, and had her first flight on the 30th of September.  What a memorable day.