Sweeter Than Candy

Happy Halloween Everyone!

We found this little Nemo on our front stoop and decided to keep him.

After all, he was a great exploitation for knocking on neighbors' doors and getting free candy.

One look at this face, and nobody minded.

Nemo went for his very first Trick-or-Treat by stroller...arriving in style.

He charmed the neighbors.

And even carried his own candy bucket until it got too heavy.

As the cool winds blew and the sky grew dark, Nemo fell asleep.

But not before gathering his mommy and daddy some pretty good loot.

(he actually reached in a basket and chose this little one--just his size)

But . . .

I still know something sweeter than candy . . .



Sunday Savior Salutation

Dear God,

I would like to know

why all the things you said

are in red?

--Joanne

"New Castle Baby" Rides Again

When my mommy was a little girl, she had family that lived in New Castle, Virginia.  In that beautiful well kept secret place lived "New Castle Baby."  My granny says "New Castle Baby" was the most awful looking doll my mommy ever played with.  Her arms and legs were duct taped together, she was dirty, and her hair was all matted.  Mommy had lots of other nice dolls, but she still liked "New Castle Baby" the best.  Whenever Mommy visited New Castle, she would take "New Castle Baby"wherever she went because when Mommy went back to Roanoke, "New Castle Baby" had to stay in New Castle where she lived.  "New Castle Baby" went to restaurants, played in the snow, went to the creek, ran through the sprinkler, rode on the lawn mower, picked beans, and rode around on my mommy's little girl hip. 

Well . . .

this weekend . . .

"New Castle Baby" rode again.

For real.

He ate at restaurants.

Went for piggyback rides.

Played under magnificent trees (yes, I'm under there).

Went flying with GranGran.

Gazed at the changing leaves.

Got my own leaf.

Got my own branch (thanks GranGran).

Tasted my leaves.

And rode on my mommy's big girl hip.

I got to go back to Roanoke.

But I'm still a "New Castle Baby."

Male Pattern Baldness

This is my Uncle David.

His birthday is May 5th.

My birthday is May 5th.

Uncle David has no hair in the middle.

I have no hair on the sides.

We make a good pair . . .

Uncle David and I.

No Questions

It's a little late to blog about it, but last weekend our family took a fun little trip to Old Town Warrenton.  It was really a lazy fall day, threatening rain, but we made the best of it.  We looked through the quaint little shops with our "punkin' head," Jax, and then finished the evening with a dinner at The Outback Steakhouse.  Funny, dinner out is definitely NOT the same with a baby.  We enjoyed our food...lol...in shifts!

Taco enjoyed his dinner--no questions asked.

Sunday Savior Salutation

One for today, one for last Sunday while I was on vacation:

Dear God,

Maybe Cain and Abel

would not kill each other so much

if they had their own rooms.

It works with me and my brother.

--Larry

Dear God,

Please send Dennis Clark

to another camp this year.

--Peter

My Favorite Things

We didn't go far from home, but we found a beautiful Fall photo opportunity at a little country store in Warrenton, VA today.  Yesterday, mom and I took Jax to the 34th Annual Fall Festival in Fairfax, VA, and found him the most unique and adorable accessories.  There was a vendor called Raggidy Edges who made bibs, burpcloths, and blankies out of real vintage materials.  This was right up my alley, and between mom and I we got Jackson 2 bibs and a blankie made from a 1950's vintage chanille bedspread.  I love the shabby chic appeal it has next to Jackson's chubby cheeks.  Honestly, it just makes me want to eat him!  Anyhow, these vintage bibs, coupled with the Fall hues and country atmosphere of the store worked perfectly together in my camera's lens.  Don't you agree?

Pumpkins

Candy Apples

The '50's

Babies

Orange

Autumn

Halloween

Cool Weather

Changing Leaves

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things

 

Sensational

This Bahama Mama got back from her girlfriends' cruise on Thursday,

and here's how it all went down.

Day One:

Was just short of a disaster!  My flight was supposed to leave IAD at 8:32am.  However, as the aircraft accelerated for takeoff, the engine sputtered, and it stopped on the runway.  We were having "electrical problems" which threatened a cancellation of the flight, and subsequently my entire vacation with Megsie.  However, they got us a new bird, and at 10:50am we took off.  That cut it close panickingly frantic for making it to the ship for embarkation...but, we did--at breakneck speed.

That day we relaxed by the pool, explored the ship, drank cocktails, and enjoyed our first Warm Chocolate Melting Cake in the dining room.

We were seated at a table of 11 girls--and it was fabulous!  Our waiter didn't like us much, but we had a blast!  More bread, anyone?

Day Two:

We arrived in Freeport, Grand Bahama early in the morning and the crystal blue waters were calling our names from the Lido Deck.

Once off the ship, we shared a cab to Port Lucaya where we did some jewelry shopping (holla green quartz) and hit the public beach.

I stopped for a photo with one of the locals.

Day Three:

Nassau, Bahamas--The Atlantis.  Need I say more?  Megan and I got a "day pass" for the Atlantis Lagoon/Beach and aquariums.  What a breathtaking sight.

We swam in the clear Lagoon, walked atop the white sands, and explored the beautiful hotel and resort.

We saw sharks, jellyfish, and the ruins of The Lost City of Atlantis.

And we walked along the beautiful beach (although we weren't allowed to get in the water due to rip tides and high winds from tropical storms).

That evening we partied it up UVA style--good booze (a little more classy now that we're older--note the bar) and an all-night-dance-party in the onboard club until 3am.  Represent!

Have I ever mentioned how much I love the Cha-Cha Slide?  I do.  Really.

Day Four:

Was our At Sea day.  And after accidentally (really, accidentally) sleeping until 1:15pm (woops!) we woke up, had brunch, and went to an onboard Art Auction.  I won a piece of artwork, and bought a Scott Jacobs painting called "Eeny-Meany"--look it up!  We spent the rest of the day lounging by the pool, listening to music, sipping frozen drinks, and saying farewell to new friends.  Lovely.  It truly was.

Carnival Sensation

Vacation

Sensational