WOW I've Got Feet! and Teeth!

Annie has been making all kinds of new discoveries and on the changing table. The other day she realized she has feet...yup, two of her very own. She's pretty excited about them and can be seen checking them out from time to time. We already knew that she had feet (and nice ones at that), but we didn't want to ruin the surprise for her.


Ahh to be that flexible and content.


Darla got Annie a cutie vintage hat/pants set. Annie was modeling the hat today and checking out her top two teeth that popped through this weekend. She's going to hate the fact that we took this picture when she is about 13.

Sledding and Other Snow Adventures

It was a given that we were going to go sledding since there was snow on the ground for Christmas. The three brothers all posing for a picture before the big pile on and subsequent wrestling match down the hill and at the bottom. Good times, good times.



Annie had never been out in the snow and she was most underwhelmed by the whole experience but she was a good sport and let me take her down for one good run in the snow tube...Darla reminded me "no jumps Steve!"





Deb made a sweet snow angel when we went over to our childhood sledding local, affectionately called "the Big Hill" Not quite as big as we remembered but we still managed to nearly zoom into sheds and sticker bushes. No relatives were harmed in the making of these great memories.

Near to my parent's house a huge playground has been constructed and conveniently called "Annie's Playground." It was necessary to check it out for future trips back East and for a cursory slip down the not so slippery sliding board/tube contraption.



On an adjactent property was a beautiful old green barn that simply glowed in the setting sunlight. We were fortunate to catch a few of the fading rays...stunning against the snow.



Here I am with Annie and the new scarf that Darla made for me and my new Christmas hat...thanks Love!

Catching Up, Christmas 2009

Annie's first plane ride was smooth sailing! She enjoyed looking outside as much as she does on good old terra firma. We were grateful for not becoming the bane of the plane.

Christmas in Maryland started off with about 18" of snow and by the time we left on the 28th, it was all gone.

Thought you'd like the before and after pictures.

Uncle Mike and Aunt Heather enjoyed some good cozy couch time with Annie.

Annie was excited to meet Uncle Chris and his girlfriend Deb.

Grandma couldn't get enough of hanging out with Annie and was plotting on how to get Annie to stay longer...including bribing her with promises of ponies and puppies.

PopPop and Annie took some time to look out the window and watch the winter snow melt away.

Annie's in her Christmas Eve dress...she slept most of the service but woke up for the candlelighting and was captivated by all the flickering lights.

Annie had the biggest stocking by FAR!

And Chris had the SMALLEST hat.

Annie got to meet her four footed cousins Kit and Simien...she wasn't quite sure what to make of them at first, but by the end of the week she was riding them all around the house (just kiddin')!

And this was perhaps the most common sight this Christmas...Annie being photographed.

It was a wonderful vacation home in Maryland! Thanks to everyone who made it such a restful and sweet time together!

A few more Christmas pictures...

Here are a few more pictures from Christmas - some from our Christmas in Portland, some from our time with Nikki, Aaron, & Georgie. We will do another post of our time with Steve's family in Maryland.