Hello, anyone there?

OK, I admit it. This is a desperate attempt to regain readership! Not to mention the fact that I've noticed I'm at the bottom of the "recently updated" lists that people have on their own blogs. I think I've sunk to a new blogging low. Those who know me well know that when I get overwhelmed by something, I tend to put it off in favor of something easier to check off my to-do list. Of course, I know that only makes it worse so that when I finally to get around to doing it, the task has only gotten that much bigger. Case in point.

Its not that October was a boring month for us- quite the contrary. We spent about 10 days in Albuquerque for a multitude of events. It was the International Balloon Fiesta, my Great-Grandmother's 100th birthday, and Grace's 3rd birthday. Matthew also is officially half-way to the one year mark (hence my recent problem- read below). And we also put both kids in one room. More on that adventure later.

I think I've decided to leave you with this week's pondering and someday soon I will get pictures up from this month. I have several dear friends who are pregnant right now (recently so!) and one who just had a baby. I got home from visiting the later in the hospital and Erik saw the look. He said, "You want another one, don't you?" Well, something like that. I really had the baby gagas (I know, I know! I still have a baby, what is wrong with me?!?) until Matthew pulled two nights this week that were way worse than anything he ever did as a newborn. I'm talking crying for two hours kind of stuff. Up at 3am for over an hour kind of stuff. That caps off a month of not sleeping well.

Baby gaga problem solved. Thanks, Matthew. :)

Grace turns 3!

Grace's balloon themed (it was the Hot Air Balloon Festival and Grace loves balloons) birthday party was at Nana and Papa's house full of family and new friends. Oh yeah, there was cake there too. :) I just love this picture!

Can you hear her belly laugh?

The great butterfly catching game Susan brought, perfect for 3 year olds and apparently adults too!



My beautiful child, all the way around.


The birthday girl can get an early lick of her own cake!

"Do I really want to be three? Do I get a say in this?"


Grace is no longer my little baby, though she still gets that nick name because I just can't seem to stop calling her that. She has outgrown her "baby speak" with the lone hold out being "clof clof" for wash cloth. And don't expect me to be correcting that one! She loves: reading, learning ("Mommy, tell me about _____"), cooking-both in her kitchen and mine, dress up, Clifford, the library, the zoo, the park- going anywhere really, doing ballet, making her baby brother laugh, the colors orange and pink. She dislikes: being alone, anything out of place- a cabinet door open, things not properly organized, strangers, anything daring (this includes jumping).

And we wouldn't have her any other way.

One hundred, years that is

We were in Albuquerque for many reasons, one of the main ones being my Great-Grandmother's 100th birthday! Lets all pray we are this sharp and healthy if we make it to 100!

Nell, my Great-Grandmother
Elise, my Grandmother (aka Gram)



Grace, the first great-great grandchild!