Thanksgiving 2015

We were down in Virginia this year for Thanksgiving. It was a big crew, as usual. Doug, Vickie, Quinn, Carley, Nana, our friends Carl, Amanda, Gianna, and Ella from North Carolina, and Aleen and Yvonne were all there.

We deep fried the turkey again this year. It think it might be the 5th or 6th year we've done that. It's always delicious. Doug was the turkey master again. I think he waits all year for this. He was out there for hours getting the oil and the turkey just right. But time worth spent because it was super tasty.

Doug lowering the turkey

The weather was amazing and we got to spend a lot of time outside. We took a few hikes and just enjoyed my parent's amazing property. It was also an opportunity to try and get a cousin picture. Alas, more failed attempts... Why they can't all smile and look at the camera at once is beyond me.

Ariana is highly skeptical of her cousins. 

Lauren has clearly had enough. 

Sophie's First Ballet Performance

Sophie and Lauren have been taking ballet for about 3 months, and Sophie had the chance to perform in the school's annual holiday performance of The 12 Days of Christmas. She was a drummer. Although she was super nervous leading up to the big day, she did a great job and had a good time. She even told me afterward that "it was pretty fun." I'll consider that a success.

Here's the little drummer girl

With her friend Rachael

Florida

Dave had his annual sales meeting in Florida again, this time in Clearwater, so we made a mini-vacation of it and the whole family went down for 5 days. The weather was beautiful! We had 2 days with the whole family, and then 2 days with just me and the girls while Dave was in his meetings. We hit the pool early and stayed the entire day - it was lovely.

Carl, who works with Dave, brought his wife, Amanda, and their kids, Gianna and Ella. Sophie and Gianna get along famously, which was really nice.

Sophie, Gianna, Ella & Lauren in an chair perfect for 4 friends

We took a boat trip to a little island where the girls found shells (you can see Sophie and Gianna's skirts are full of them). We also saw dolphins on our way back, and a bunch of cool birds. 

The best shot I was able to get of the girls. Beautiful morning walk on the beach before hitting the pool. 

Dan & Maithili's Baby Shower

We're just one month from the arrival of Dan & Maithili's son! On Saturday the family was all in town to celebrate Nana's 90th birthday, and on Sunday we hosted a baby shower at our house. Maithili looks great and says she feels good too. T-1 month!

Dave, Dan, Maithili, and me

Everyone at the party decorated a onesie for the baby, and we displayed them in the playroom

Halloween 2015

What an amazing October! The weather has been really beautiful - in the 70s many of the days. We've been trying to spend as much time as possible outside, knowing that it won't last long! 

We hit the pumpkin patch at Milky Way Farm in Chester County. We had a hard time narrowing down the pumpkins we were going to take home, but we finally settled on 5 to carve, and many, many mini ones for around the house. 

The finished products. 

Lauren (Sophia the First), Sophie (a Cheetah), and Ariana (a cupcake)

Denver Weekend

In October I got away for the weekend to visit our friend Wade, who moved to Denver three years ago. Dave stayed with the girls and I headed out solo (ah...). The weather was amazing and we took full advantage, doing as much hiking as we could fit into 3 days. 

This was a hike in a town called Nederland, which is outside of Boulder. It was beautiful and ended at a lake on the top of the mountain (pictured below). Wade's dog Boomer joined us and proved to be extremely agile scrambling up some of the steeper inclines. 

Pope-cation in MD

The Pope came to Philly at the end of September and the entire City had to basically shutdown. We took the opportunity to enjoy the 4 day weekend in Rock Hall with the Devine's. The weather was beautiful - perfect early fall days and nights. We spent a lot of time on the water.

John, Dave and the girls trying to catch jelly fish off the dock

Sophie and Ava waiting to take Tiny Boat out

The girls on Tiny Boat