Lots of Family visiting!

This Christmas was awesome with family coming from Missouri, California and just north of the beltway in Maryland. We all gathered at Mimi and Bubba's house. From Missouri: Jennie, Sue Ellen and J.T., from California: Lynn and her boy friend Matthew and from Maryland: John David, Jessica and Isabella. It was a blast and lots of Memories were had! Erik's mom Becky came for Christmas Day and the day after for Elijah's birthday. Sue Ellen made all of Grandma's old cookies and said that she had to call 1-800 Heaven a couple of times to clarify some of the recipes.

One cute thing Elijah said that I will always remember was when "Cousin Jennie" asked him what his birthday meant and he said, "My birthday means family getting together." I thought that was really sweet coming from a just-turned-5-year-old!

Levi thoroughly enjoyed his first Christmas (mostly watching his big bro tear thorough gift wrap and play with his toys)!

The family all enjoyed meeting Matthew (even though things got kind of hairy when he and Lynn first arrived) Erik especially enjoyed the chance to rock out the night before they left. Next time, we'll try to hook Matthew up with some instruments that stay in tune.

Santa Boys

made a return to Geochaching!!!!

We finally got the boys out for some Geocaching fun. Nine years ago at River Bend park in Great Falls we found our first Geochache box with our close friends Sandi and Kurt. We kept it up for a few years, but stopped when we started having children. We called ourselves the "the blind mice" since we didn't use a GPS, just used the clues and we were remarkably successful. Yesterday out of the blue Erik and Kurt said, "let's see if there is a Geocache behind the house." And yes, in fact there are tons of them close by the house. We went out in search of the treasure and promply found it (well, Kurt promptly found it) without a GPS (as always ;-P). Booyah! Blind mice back in action!

Me first teeth...look!

Mimi Hopper and Grammy Bishop with Levi.

Mimi Hopper
&
Grammy Bishop

Family fall picture

Thank you Mimi and Bubba for getting our family picture for the second year in a row! You have lots of patience! Love you!

Halloween 08

Elijah insisted on being an owl for Halloween. I looked and looked and this was the only one I could find! He was happy to be the only owl in the neighborhood parade.