Thanksgiving Pictures

We are back online, after way too long. For our regular followers so sorry for the delay. It is hard for me to keep up with the blog. As a New Year's resolution I decided I would be better....but you know what happens with New Year's resolutions. Ugggh, perhaps I should try to update this weekly rather than montly so it becomes part of my routine.

Here are some pictures of Mariana at 15 months. Thanksgiving was a beautiful, warm day and we were able to take pictures outside. We celebrated Thanksgiving in Asheville with friends and although different than being at home with family, it was a wonderful time to reflect on all we are thankful for. We must admit we are very thankful for health this year, as well as family and friends and the joy that Mariana has brought into our lives!

Happy Halloween!

Mariana was a little ladybug for Halloween. She had so much fun playing with her little friends in their costumes. On Halloween night we all went over to Mary Lynn's house for a party and to hand out candy. Mariana had a great time checking out all the costumes. Mommy and Daddy thought she was the cutest of all!

Time to Carve the Big Pumpkin

Mariana loved helping Daddy carve the big pumpkin!




She wanted to reach the bottom of the pumpkin to help get the seeds out, so here Daddy is giving her a lift.





Check out those seeds...so slimy and cool!




Yeah, the finished product!

Fall in Asheville

It's me, Mariana, with my new pumpkins.



Wow, this pumpkin is really big. I don't know how I'll ever get it in the house. Oh, by the way, check out the pretty fall colors in my backyard. We love living in the mountains.







Opps, Mommy caught me giving the big pumpkin a kiss. I love pumpkins!

Pumpkin Patch...

On October 26, 2009 Mommy and Daddy took Mariana to our local Pumpkin Patch to pick out a pumpkin. Mari had a wonderful time cruising around the big pumpkins and playing with all the itty bitty ones. After lots of fun playing with all the pumkins, we finally came home with two. A small one for Mariana and a BIG one for Mommy and Daddy.

Books, books and more books!

Another one of Mariana's favorite activities is reading books. Here you can see her imitating an elephant trunk. She is starting to try to recite some of her books to us. It is soooo cute.

Jammin' with Daddy!

Mariana LOVES music and as you can see here one of her favorite activities is playing drums alongside her Daddy!

Trip to Hershey to see Gran and Pop!

On September 21, 2009 Mommy and Mari flew to Hershey to visit Gran and Pop. What fun we had as Mari showed off all her new skills...including saying "Hi Pop!" and "Hi Gran" to greet them at the airport. Throughout the week, she followed Pop around the house from the moment she woke up until she went to bed. She also picked up on a few of Gran's catch phrases and came home saying "Oh, fooey!" on just about any occasion.

Several highlights of the trip included playing with Gran's bubbles, a trip to Cocoa castle, feeding the ducks with Gran, visiting Nana and her friends, playing with cousins Olivia and Grace, celebrating Grace and Uncle Dave's Birthdays, going to Olivia's Homecoming parade and reading books with Nana! What a fun trip!