it's all measured in phases

November 21

Kitchen Counter

Thanksgiving: Phase 1

The crust doughs are made.

November 22

Sunroom

Back of House: Phase 1

The windows have been purchased and acquired.

November 23

Dining Room Table

Thanksgiving: Phase 2

The pies have been made.

November 24

Sam and Meg's

Thanksgiving: Phase 3

The family has gathered and eaten.

November 25

Thanksgiving: Phase 4

Bob and Elisabeth's kitchen

The official move to Christmas. Cookie making and listening to Amy Grant. It had been awhile since I'd heard "Baby, Baby".

November 26

Lowe's

Front Porch: Phase 1

Purchasing Lumber. (I guess Phase 1 might have actually been when we uncovered all of the rotten wood that was "holding" the porch up.)

Followed by Hers His Burritos.

November 27

Chimborazo Park

I stopped at the park by sisters to see what the sunset looked like and I found Richmond's very own Statue of Liberty.

November 28

Sunroom

Back of House: Phase 2

Old doors have been replaced with new French door and new casement window.

Front Porch: Phase 2

Bob and Andy secure the premises before knocking all the rotten stuff down.

November 29

Front Porch: Phase 3

Rafters and new header in place.

More phases tk.

Sooner or later, you'll know he's right

November 15

Little Rock, 1978

You could say I was distracted today, hence going to the archives for this one. Uncle Tom passed away this morning after an eight-month fight against lung cancer. He was one cool dude and touched many lives around the world. He touched mine, too, and even now I'm still learning how to be a better person because of him.

November 16

Parking lot on Foushee and Franklin

Extra time before swim lessons equals calling my mom. It was a rainy day outside, which felt right, given the last month.

November 17

Grandma's house, Little Rock

In the span of one week in February all these munchkins will turn two. Sitting at my Grandma's house with my cousins, we caught a glimpse of what it must have been like for our parents. Because when we were little there were probably 15 kids within five years of each other. It was so fun to see all of my cousins' kids running around, playing with each other, and doing the same things we did as kids. I swear, the toys in the toy drawer are thirty years old and the swinging bar is definitely held by more than one screw.

November 18

Holy Souls Church, Little Rock

To the left of the tree my aunt and uncle are laid to rest and to the right, my grandpa. This wall is becoming a pretty powerful place.

Same day, later on

My Parent's House, Little Rock

So my uncle was once the house player at a casino in Katmandu. He taught me most of what I know about poker. Starting when I was old enough to sit still through one hand, I watched and he gave me commentary about what was going on. We had our "First Annual Tom Kelly Memorial Poker Tournament" and I think I made him proud.

November 19

Beck Compound, Little Rock

All the cousins got together to watch football. We just can't get enough of each other when we are all in town. This is the peaceful view from the kitchen windows.

November 20

Little Rock Airport

Saying good-bye is always hard, no matter what level you are doing it on.

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving.

I can't help but be thankful for the love that I feel every day from family and friends.

The Other Williamsburg

November 7

Sunroom

Z giving me the stink eye for interrupting her nap in her new favorite spot. I can't say that I blame her.

November 8

Kitchen

Baking corn muffins in the ten cent generic princess cupcake holders Andy got me.

November 9

Front yard

A near full moon through the clouds.

November 10

Williamsburg (the Colonial one)

Walking down the pedestrian road, we saw some giant sunflower skeletons hanging on to their stalks for as long as possible.

November 11

AMF Williamsburg Lanes

Andy and I going head to head. We played two games and on both of them I got two strikes in the first two squares. After that I kind of went down hill. I guess that's the only place you can go after strikes though. (He won. Cumulative score. But only by six points.)

November 12

Colonial Williamsburg

This trip was really my first time to the historic place and seeing all these reenactors made my day. Over and over again. And then we got to go in the stocks (<-pictures!) and my day was made again.

November 13

Bathroom

Back home now, but something bit me in Williamsburg several times. This was just the most photographic one.

November 14

Living room

He's asleep.

Some weeks are pretty normal and that's okay

October 30

Sun Room

Yody's first fire! We are so proud of her.

October 31

Hanover and Strawberry

My first Halloween in the Fan. It was a rainy one, but by far the most insane trick-or-treating I have ever witnessed. And that's my friend Abby as the ringmaster of her circus-themed house, because I'm pretty sure there was a clause in their lease about going all out on Halloween. If you look closely you will see her tiny top hat.

November 1

Stove

This is a flipping egg disaster. I attempted to flip two at once and only one survived. I'm okay with the failure, though, because it was pretty dang funny. I've had egg spillage incidents in the past and they always seem to land on every possible surface on the way down.

November 2

Kitchen Wall

I think we discovered some earth quake damage...Or maybe just classic paint crack syndrome.

November 3

A Street in the Hood

After I accompanied Andy to his barber (I felt like I got to go inside a secret club), we took a walk and look at that fall showing us how pretty she is. Rub it in all you want. I love it.

November 4

Kitchen Table

My first attempt at creme brulee. Both chocolate and vanilla. I think it was good because at 3:00 I ate half of a chocolate one (saving the other half for Andy, of course) and then at 6:00 I finished it.

November 5

Patrick Henry Pub

We walked outside to leave and there were tons of motorbikes of all varieties. Not until I lightened this photo did I notice the lady bug helmet!

November 6

Office Couch

A little star crafting in the afternoon.

P.S. I got one more job. At another bakery and I think this one will be better. I will keep you posted. Literally, because these are called posts.

Tough Mudder by Morning, Gaylord by Night

October 21

Dining Room Table

Preparation for Andy's Tough Mudder race tomorrow. What is the best trail mix ingredient? Most would say M&M's, hands down. They would all be wrong. It's Oatmeal Squares cereal.

October 22

Wintergreen, VA

Apparently this is what it means to be a Tough Mudder (pictures!). I preferred to remain a Tough Spectator. (Yes, I had to sign a death waiver to watch.)

October 23

The Potomac

Our annual visit to the Gaylord (pictures!). At least we rode the ferry to Alexandria this time. That's my pops and me all cool in the wind and sun.

October 24

Dining Room Table

Oma brought us some Kinder eggs back from Germany. Andy's had this carpenter grandpa elephant (he's wearing a bow tie and reading glasses). Mine had a drawing with hidden sea creatures and a secret decoder to see them with. How apropos.

October 25

Bed

The summer to winter change out. It's sad to put all these pretty fabrics under my bed, but it always feels like shopping when it's time to get them back out.

October 26

Carytown Parking Lot

One thing I love about "after work" is still seeing the sun in the sky, even if it is low and about to disappear.

October 27

Kitchen Counter

We keep getting squashes from our CSA so I finally used them all at the same time and made a pretty good squash soup. Yay fall time!

October 28

Sunroom

Whit and Andy getting our new wood stove, Jody (pronounced Yody), all ready for use. Good thing, too, because this morning it was 33 degrees and tonight it's supposed to be 29.

October 29

Whiskey Bar

So I am most ashamed at my lack of preparation for Halloween this year, and last for that matter. Anyway, this is what I came up with in 20 minutes. At least they are real firefighter suspender pants and at least I have a good ready-to-put-out-a-fire face.

Fourteen

October 14

Raleigh, NC

Tucker's Living Room

I was supposed to go to New York for the weekend, but it was too far for everything going on. And I really needed some old friend time. Luckily Tucker is only 2.5 hours away. I called her Thursday night and she let me show up Friday morning. This is Asher, 4 months and 1 day old and cute as a button in his sneaker socks.

October 15

Outside Raleigh

Pumpkin Patch

Asher's first exposure to a field of pumpkins. Here are more photos where we posed him with them and since he can't support himself yet, we used strategically placed pumpkins to hold him up.

October 16

Richmond

Mom Siam patio

We were drinking and dining and Michael noticed this praying mantis on the drain pipe. I had never seen one before.

October 17

Delta Flight 1198

My Aunt Kathleen passed away this morning after a 7 month fight against brain cancer. Sister and I flew home and when there is not much that could help the day be better, we bought some Jelly Belly's for the ride.

She'd pull out a handful and we would alternate choosing beans. This was a good pull.

October 18

Little Rock, AR

Sitting on the stairs at Grandma's house

As everyone trickles into town, we gather at my Grandma's house. I was afraid I would lose it when I saw all my other aunts and uncles and cousins for the first time and I did a little bit. But my Grandma was so strong and composed and she said, "God gives us all these little kids and he takes them back eventually. But you are my consolation."

October 19

Little Rock, AR

Around the corner from the pull toys hanging on the cabinet

Sometimes when we have dinner at Grandma's it is easier to assign which table people will be sitting at so there is a list that is always posted in this same spot. I got the bedroom. The little kids got the laundry room. So there is that.

October 20

Little Rock, AR

Dining Room table

This is Aunt Kathleen and I at my Grandma's house (the one on the left in 1994, the one on the right a few years before that). We showed up on Easter in the same exact dress (unplanned) on two separate occasions. One of my favorite parts is that I don't even look that embarrassed. Goofy sure, but I'm okay with it.

Today was her funeral and it was surreal. Each day is when I think about her not being here. My heart hurts and breaks a little more each time I think about everyone who is going to miss her so much. But she fought hard and she was ready to go even though we weren't and now she is with her dad.

But I have memories like that that will always make me smile and be thankful for this incredible, giant family.