snow days

We got our first real snow around here, and a good amount of it. enough to play in!! So thats exactly what we've been doing:


actually, i don't know if i'd call what chester did in the snow "playing". He was pensive and unsure, but gave it a good stare down, then went back inside (better than i thought)


just in the front yard


checking out this weird stuff


this is the typical "look" she's been giving us lately when we bundle her up. being encased in things isn't really her "thing" but i kept telling her we were about to do something really fun....
anyway this (above) would be the BEFORE pic


here's the "really fun" first time sledding thing


and this would be the AFTER shot. i'm calling this a success and am looking forward to our next downhill adventure

but much better then still pictures of this would be a video:


and because you know i like to let you guys have a chuckle:

whats going on

Nothing crazy to report, but then again, there is never a dull moment around here. Below is a random assortment of pictures that don't need (or rather, aren't getting) explanations, except the ones that are, or whatever.




talking tree


my new favorite look. i call it the rooster (haven't figured out WHAT to call the outift yet)





Naia's first book fair. a huge hit




so what if its december and all the real flowers are dead. we can still wear dresses and pick flowers around here.

you didn't think i'd forget to blog about...

...the PARTY of the CENTURY, didya?!?!

I get by with a little help from my friends and i got these pictures in the same way. thanks for the donations!!
here comes a whole lot of pictures!

(warning: you might see a pig carcass here)


and we had a luau with a little help from a tent.

look at that set up!!

the balloons

the cake

THE STAR


...and all the fun!!









it wasn't for a lack of effort or planning, just experience, that mr piggy needed to finish cooking above ground. it was fun doing an imu though.


some of the mingling

I will never forget this party. Thank you so much to everyone that made it possible, attended, and helped celebrate our little hula girl's first birthday!

i have been away from the blog lately, not on purpose, its just that life keeps happening. so i know i have lots to catch up on, but i saw this and thought it was funny, so for now, this is all you get =)

Naia's Birthday Party luau gala event

Naia's Birthday party was AWESOME. We all had so much fun, Naia partied like a rock star, and we got to see so many family and friends. I'm trying to gather pictures from the event to post up here. it was so exciting, i forget to take as many pictures as i'd like. but in the meantime, here's a little piece of the action
.

(i am a geek)

...AND that pig didn't cook itself...here's a little behind the scenes snippet of brooks digging the imu while fielding comments from the peanut gallery

Sweet Naia is One!!

Happy Birthday to our Sweet Baby Girl

We love Halloween

and we speak for Naia when we say that =).

And really, i remember having fun on halloween as a kid. But being on the other side of the child/grown up side was, i think, even better. Maybe its because it was my first halloween as a mom or because Naia is nearing the one year mark (which i'm dreading a little in a bittersweet kind of way) and everything seems even more special and important and monumental these days. Or maybe i'm just generally a little emotional with the end of infancy. Either way, halloween was AWESOME.

Naia was SO excited and had so much fun, was pointing at everything and everyone, and letting out very enthusiastic "ooh ooh ooh"s. I think she got a kick out of knocking on doors, which opened to show such friendly NEW excited faces, handing her all sorts of things. I got a kick out of how neat the holiday really is and how wonderful little interactions with complete strangers can be. I had this great feeling of gratitude to all the candy givers, especially a couple that went all out and made haunted yards and houses.... anyway, here are a few pictures of our day.


Deter by day


pumpkin (same outfit from last year at thanksgiving!!) by .... afternoon



monkey by night...and for trick-or-treating:







and we closed out the night with some of Naia's favorite fans

Naia LOVES her nana

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

A little trip

NOTE: do not attempt to adjust your computer screen. We're having a make over here at Wandbnews... Not sure if its finished either. I'm not really "feeling" the new look. anyway...

Its been awhile. We've been soaking up the beautiful fall weather, maybe soaking it up too much, because mama is SICK. I think someone might be telling me to slow down. Thats OK, it gives me time to find silly videos on youtube and update this blog =).

So, i thought our recent trip to vermont might be just the way to catch up. What does a chick like Naia do in Vermont, you may wonder...?

WELL...

she chases chickens


fits in some good old edumacation


meets new friends... here's one almost the same age =)


she practices walking (more on this in a minute)


learns that getting cozy helps in the cold


she rides her first tractor (with a little help from another new friend)


gets so excited to play that she loses her pants


and she finds a few SECONDS to relax =)

So we had a great time and an adventurous trip home, where naia slept through her first snow, woke up for her first flat tire, and had a huge suprise for us when we got home: her first steps!! she did 3 steps, twice. we celebrated and went to bed. Since then, she's increased the number of steps everyday and last night we stopped counting the steps. she went from play room through the bedroom and into the hallway!!! I guess its another case of "father knows best". In the car on friday, Brooks said naia was going to walk this weekend. She snuck it in in the nick of time.
While i'm not signing her up for any walk-a-thons just yet, she is. literally, on her way. And the proud smile that goes with the shuffling strut is one of the most beautiful things i've ever seen. We have proud smiles too.

I love this!!

Brooks and I just saw this last night. For the few internet savy readers we have here, this is old news. For the rest of us, enjoy>


i just wish i would've thought of this.

my pretty pumpkin