Fair pictures

Nicolas and my killer cheesecake that should have won, but didn't. Oh well.
Waiting for the judging...


Petting goats with Aunt Jess. Notice Megan's "one finger" touch. That's as much as she would do, which is actually a huge step for her, to ACTUALLY TOUCH A LIVING ANIMAL. (That isn't a cat or a puppy).



They were soooooo tired!
I'm pretty sure Marina would've eaten the goats if we'd let her.
Megan attempting to dunk a policeman.
In Aunt Jess's fire truck!
Kind-of speaks for itself, doesn't it?

Megan's traveling

We bought tickets to go to South Carolina right after Christmas today. I told Megan about this, and she went and packed her little Elmo backpack (full of baby dolls and toys), put it on her back, and informed me she was ready to get on an airplane to go see her Grandparents. It's going to be a long wait for my little girl until December 27th!

Megan's Tumbling Class

Megan had her first "Tumbling and Creative Movement" class today, which basically means she and five other little girls get to dance around with fun toys (tambourines, ribbons, pom poms, etc.), then learn how to do somersaults and the like. Basically, it is the cutest thing I have ever seen. But the best part is that the teacher says they need to wear leotards. So, before Megan's next class, we are going to buy her a "pink leotard with sparkles" (Megan's request) to tumble in. *sigh* I was so meant to have little girls....

Another football season began this week, which just means that all Chicago fans will have an extra reason to be depressed for the next five months. (Gasp, did I just say that?) Poor Dn. John (and Breandan, Fr. Philip and Fr. Gregory, for that matter). Ah well. Hope springs eternal, right?

Julie & Julia

I went and saw Julie & Julia today with Kari and my sister. What a great movie. Definitely go see it! All about cooking and food...made me want to buy 50 pounds of butter and cook until the cows come home!

Another fall day

Well, our friend Michael made it into town last night from Chicago. He's here visiting for the week, and is currently painting the eaves with Dn. John outside. Next stop, siding! Yay!

We are really into fall here, in good ol' Alaska. The weather is crisp, with a tiny bite to it, and all the leaves are starting to change. My cranberry bushes are a brilliant shade of red already. This is leading me to want to be in my kitchen, creating delicious fall foods...pumpkin breads, jams, leaf shaped cookies...the works. Anything with cinnamon and nutmeg reminds me of autumn.

Marina had a great first birthday. We celebrated for her, with lots of hugs and kisses and presents with lights and sounds. Megan had a harder time, since she was pretty upset that it wasn't her birthday, but she eventually got over it since she got to play with all Marina's loot. Pictures to come soon, as well as a couple fun videos.

A year in pictures

Happy First Birthday Marina! I love you.

A year ago

One year ago, right this minute, I was watching Sarah Palin at the Republican National Convention give her acceptance speech for the vice-presidential candidacy, while counting contractions...knowing that a new baby was about to change my life, and not knowing if I had a boy or a girl learning jujitsu under my ribs.

*sigh* I can't believe my baby will be a year old tomorrow.