Abigail's Baptism. Our camera overexposed all the pics, but they are still cute. Mamaw and Papaw stayed in town an extra day to attend the baptism. Abigail had the pastors all laughing - she kept smiling and sticking out her tongue - her recent favorite thing to do when she's entertaining people. Rachael enjoyed sitting on the steps in the sanctuary with Mamaw and Papaw after the service. Jacob and Joshua stayed in the "Special Angels" at the church and played during the church service.

Thanksgiving has come and gone - I'm still in shock! My parents drove down from IL. My brother David, his fiance Jo, and my nephew Brandon drove down from St. Louis MO. And I did not take a single, itty-bitty picture - argh! David took plenty of pictures, though, and I am hoping to beg for a cd. This was our first time meeting Jo. She is a REALLY nice girl (yes - she's a girl because she's younger than me! I'm going to be the old woman in the familly!). David and Jo did wonderfully with all the kids. They played a lot with Rachael, Joshua, and Abigail. Jacob pretty much stayed to himself. He did like to watch Brandon play computer games. Joshua's new obsession is a Bob the Builder book. He grabs your finger, and puts it on different letters and numbers, and wants you to label it. It is cute, until you've spent an hour or so with your hand in his vice grip! But everyone was really great with Joshua.

This was the first time that Rachael has said "Mamaw" and "Papaw." She has really enjoyed their company, and likes to yell "Where's Papaw?!" She cried each night when the company left. The first night everyone arrived she found some markers and colored everyone's hands with them (as well as the furniture and floor). Everyone was a good sport. Mom said that the sink in the hotel room was colored with all the marker from everyone's hands!

The day after Thanksgiving I went shopping with Mom, Jo, Rachael and Abigail. Jo took Rachael on a carousel ride at the mall twice - Rachael LOVED it. Jo bought David a Texas Longhorns hat. That night I nursed Abigail, put her to bed, and then Deren and I met David and Jo for Thai food. We had a great time. Our first date night in ages. Mom, Dad and Brandon stayed with the kiddos. Rachael and Joshua were asleep when we returned. Jacob was up watching Bob the Builder. David, Jo and Brandon left Saturday morning. We were bummed. But I am looking forward to hearing about their wedding in June. They are hoping to get married in the Bahamas. How fun!

Mom and Dad are still here. They are going to Abigail's baptism with us tomorrow. I will have to take pictures for sure, because David is not here to bail me out!

We're going bananas getting ready for the holidays. We had a big list of things to do today. I wanted to set up the Christmas tree and decorate for Christmas, get the totes in the garage stored in the attic, put mulch around the flowers in the front. NONE of this got done. We ran around like mice on a wheel all day, and got about as much accomplished! Rachael had the stomach bug last weekend, and threw up again today, after being fussy all week. I'm worried about her being sick so long

"Going Bananas!"

Rachael wore the hat Joshua helped to make at school and ran around the house yelling "I'm a Princess!" tonight.

"I'm a Princess!"

Stay away from the cranberries! We are celebrating the holidays as usual - Joshua is home sick with a cold, and I am watching and waiting for the others to fall as well. Went to the grocery store with Joshua this morning. They had a cute display of cranberries floating on water in a large metal bucket. Joshua poked at a cranberry, discovered there was water underneath, and the party was on! To think of all the germs floating in those cranberries now!