Thursday, December 29

we've only known her two years





November 1
Sunroom
It's hard to recall specifics of the day when you are running two months behind. But I guess it's safe to say that Edwin is happy here. And seven months old.


November 2
Back Yard
The last bit of siding to go up.


November 3
Ducky and Bunker's Place
What used to be Kiki's Place is now Ducky and Bunker's (or as Leena calls them, Gila and Bintner). We had a welcome to the neighborhood dinner on the back deck.


November 4
Living Room
Speaking of Kiki...


November 5
Back Yard
A nice semi-surprise visit from Meg, a fire pit, and some wine.


November 6
Front Yard
The only good thing about this mess is that it didn't happen at Walmart, which is where we were five minutes beforehand.


November 7
Molly's Place
First day of birthday cake prep for Leena's 2nd. As long as Edwin and Alice play nicely, we can be productive. And we were!


November 8
Warner's Place
After-voting walk around the neighborhood. Leena claimed all of our votes.


November 9
Kids' Room
They are oblivious to the election results we woke up to. Also, the only time Edwin uses his crib is as a holding tank when I am getting Leena out of bed.


November 10
Kitchen
Day two of cake prep for Leena's 2nd. Decorating with a baby on your back: true friend, serious skill.


 November 11
Back Yard
Siding complete! Getting closer (almost) every day.


November 12
Inside and Outside
It's Leena's 2nd birthday! Decorations, cake, the birthday girl, and a rainbow of friends. It's too hard to sum up all this little girl means to us and we've only known her two years. Apologies for so many photos, but I'm the boss here.






November 13
The Colliseum
Sister's night out/I gave birth two years ago/give mom a break. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood were everything we could've hoped for. Except for the boots I wore. Still paying the price for that, making this the most expensive concert I've ever been to.


November 14
Living Room
Our new addition, Tina the reindeer.


November 15
Bathroom
Now that she's two she can hold a pen correctly, not take a nap for a week, and talk way more.


November 16
Bathroom
Sibling bath time is more fun for everyone.


November 17
Parking Lot
If you read the warning label on the cart, this is exactly what it says NOT to do. Mom for the win.


November 18
Back Yard
It might not seem like much, but the upper siding is painted. So is the trim. Which means the outside of the building is basically complete!


November 19
Station 7
Family photo opportunity. I'd say they pulled it off.


November 20
Schemmel House
I didn't take a photo, but my sister took this one of Adah and sent it to me to use as a Christmas gift for our parents. Actually, I think it's a selfie.



November 21
Cyborg Room
Special visit from Auntie Tucker before Thanksgiving. A visit from a Roller, even if short, is always like a breath of fresh air.



November 22
Kitchen
Thanksgiving pie prep. Cherry by request.



November 23
Kitchen
Thanksgiving pies complete! Three pies for four people. The cherry was the best.



November 24
The River
Not many photos with both of them that aren't blurry. So even when they aren't even that great they count as a success.



And Leena's Thanksgiving tradition: eat the turkey leg on the bone.



November 25
The River
Serious after-nap chat with Bintner. He's probably telling her she can have anything she wants.



November 26
The River
Who wore it best?

 

November 27
Three Lakes
It wasn't long ago she couldn't do that by herself. So much change in so little time.


November 28
Lewis Ginter
Went to GardenFest of Lights with Sister and the Bott's. It was rainbow themed. Or at least there were several rainbow decorations. Then we had a chili dinner.


November 29
Back Patio
That's not a piece of firewood!


November 30
Lewis Ginter
We went back to see the indoor displays and the giant tree. One of the perks of being across the street. This is not Leena's typical smile so I'm glad it was captured.






Sunday, December 4

another awesomely bad photo





October 1
Bedroom
Hopefully this is the first of many story times together. 


October 2
Mekong
You know you've become an adult when for your birthday all you want is some alone time. Andy (and Gramps) took the kids for the morning, I went to a movie (the new Bridget Jones. It felt like the most appropriate one to go see by myself in the middle of the afternoon as a thirty-four-year-old female.), and we went to Mekong for dinner as a family. The icing would've been sleeping through the night, but we can't have everything, right?


October 3
Lewis Ginter
Her new favorite thing is to climb the windows in the tree house and look for the ducks in the pond.


October 4
Sunroom
The fourth is the new first. This guy's half birthday. It really is hard to believe six months have already passed with him in our lives. It's gone by so fast. But also so slow. Has somebody said that before?


October 5
Lakeside
Another new favorite is "pushing" all the dogs in the neighborhood. Tater Tot obliges.


October 6
Libbie Mill
We rarely read when we go to the library. It's more of an indoor jungle gym for us.


Lewis Ginter
Sometimes your kids take really bad photos and they are just as great as the good ones. Especially when you catch a glimpse of their teen years (hopefully late teen years, or never, for that matter) and the first time you catch them drunk or high.


October 7
Lakeside
Winning, for the second year in a row, "largest pile for community clean up day".


October 8
Libbie Mill
Probably the one he will be getting drunk and high with, but for now they are cute little babies sitting innocently in the window seat at the library.


October 9
Flood Wall
We decided to stroll the city in the morning. Nice to get out of our hood on occasion.


October 10
Lloyd Family Farms
Took the kids to the pumpkin patch while Andy worked on the shop. Coolest one I've ever been to with all the pumpkin varieties as far as the eye could see. And it's impossible to get a picture of a 23 month old and a 6 month old together, looking at the camera. So we will settle for Leena looking at this little gourd.


October 11
1811
Maybe we bought the house across the street just for the swingset. JK. But we do use it a lot.


October 12
Shop
My kind of progress. The kind where you can see significant physical changes in the building.


October 13
Front Yard
Edwin is killing the selfie game.


October 14
Lewis Ginter
He's also killing the pacifier game.


October 15
South of the James
More city outings. We are so not lame. And we have friends that meet us places. Thanks, Mike and Kristen!


October 16
ARC Park
More bonding!


October 17
Front Yard
Growing up so fast. She concentrates and has intentions when she colors.


October 18
Sunroom
Beets and bad hairlines.


October 19
Lewis Ginter
Dad's portrait studio.


October 20
Crump Park
The sound of her laughter that goes with this photo is fantastic.


October 21
Shop
Progress check.


Three Lakes Park
Meanwhile, another awesomely bad photo.


October 22
Central Virginia Celtic Festival and Highland Games
Watching bag pipers and trying not to let our hats blow off our heads. Porter's head. He's the only one wearing a hat.


October 23
Lewis Ginter
Feeding fish with Grandpa Bud.


October 24
Sunroom
Grits from Jeta and Matt's wedding for breakfast! Add a little smoked gouda and you are on to something!


October 25
Front Yard
For someone who usually ends of eating with her hands, she's not so sure about the slimy seed digging.


October 26
1811
Big changes across the street. Like skin treatments. And getting ready for an estate sale so the other grandma can move in.


October 27
East End
The sky. With trails.


October 28
1811
The estate sale. Underway with no shoppers. Luckily, we still have a couch to sit on, a tv to watch old Grey's Anatomy, and a rug for babies to play on.


October 29
St. Matthew's
The first of our Halloween activities and the one plus side to Leena taking a short nap: enough time to make it to Trunk or Treat.


Dinner and bath at Sister's house afterward. It's been a very cousin-filled weekend running the estate sale. Definitely made it more fun and manageable, especially when the haggling got heated.


October 30
Warner's House
Halloween activity number two: Brooks' first birthday party.


October 31
The Stump
Halloween activity number three: the real deal. Happy to have several opportunities to wear our American Circus costumes (which got progressively more complete) since there were a few handmade components. And loving festive family opportunities. Leena is old enough to enjoy them now and Edwin is a good sport.