Ainsley reads with her dad

Eating Chicken Soup With Rice

Ainsley and the Herons performed this song at our last Community Meeting. She and Dangy LOVE to listen to it daily :-).

SANTA!

We actually got them both with Santa this year!!!

Letters to Santa

Ainsley wants just a few things.


Dagny has a narrative for hers that basically asks for a stuffed kitty and puppy.

Christmas Tree

Though not as adventurous as going out to the middle of the woods, we still had fun picking out our Christmas tree this year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year for Thanksgiving we ventured out to a small restaurant called Normandie Farms. The weather was BEAUTIFUL! The food was delicious... including the pumpkin soup!











The girls loved running around outside after we ate. They especially loved climbing the tree.

Sadie Gets Groomed

The girls were very excited to take Sadie to her first puppy grooming.

Welcome Jordi!

We loved having Aunt Jordi come and visit us for a few days. After spoiling ourselves in the morning, we took the girls out for "dots" and some playground time... which wouldn't be complete without a trip to Nordstroms :-).

We were also lucky enough to see "The Preening Swan!" Awesome movie Jordi!

Halloween 2011

The girls had a great time this Halloween. Ainsley was a witch, Dagny was a Princess and Karl and i were...well....just wait for it.

Ainsley enjoying the River School parade

Dagny enjoys her time as well as her unicorn

Melissa as a Fairy..although hard to tell with her heavy winter coat

Karl as a prince...dog came with the princess, not the costume.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Time for the Faire

It had been a little while but we made out way to the Maryland Renaissance Faire...nothing changes.

The girls enjoy a little food before we attend the joust. Karl got his steak on a stake...all is well in the universe.

The girls LOVED the joust...we saw it twice.

Our little princesses at the end of the day - exhausted but had a great time. Faces painted, princess hats purchased, nap time in the car. Huzzah!

Fall Photos

In early October we decided to take a few pictures of the girls and we got some great shots...really showing the girls and their personalities. It is truly unbelievable how fast these girls are growing up grown up.

Melissa Gets Older

Yes - it happens every year - Melissa had a birthday. We had a great time.

Melissa blowing out her candles


Dagny helping her mommy out

...we got a dog

Yes - we finally got a dog. It was one of the first things Dagny ever asked for besides milk so we broke down and picked up a dog from a great place in PA. I (Karl) wanted a Labrador and the girls wanted something a little smaller so we "compromised" and got a Yorkchon.....it gets bigger....I think.

Meet Sadie...she is small but cute and really feisty....the girls LOVE her.

Dagny takes a moment to enjoy our new dog.

First day of school 2011-2012 River School

Right after Labor Day was the first day of school for Ainsley and Dagny - thankfully they are old pros at this and are having a great time.

The girls before we go to their new classrooms.

The girls and mom.

The four of us before Ainsley kicked us out and started her day.

Dagny and Karl

Wagons Ho for Lynchburg

Over Labor Day weekend we had an opportunity to visit with dear friends Brian, Emily and their son Oliver. We had a great time - we enjoyed and appreciated their company and hospitality.

While in Lynchburg we went to a great Children's museum where we all worked on our gross motor skills.

and practiced riding ponies...

and raced bikes..Brian cheated.

Posing under some huge insect sculpture.

A great shot of Ainsley on the swings that Brian took.

Melissa hits NYC

Around mid-August Melissa travelled to NYC to meet with Jordi and check out a show "Sleep No More" which she absolutely loved.

The view from Melissa's hotel looking downtown.

While there Melissa had to hit a favorite from way back Alice's Tea Cup

Melissa also hooked up with her cousins Christin and Courtney.

Melissa had a fantastic time.

Grandma Nancy in DC

A few days after Erik and family left Grandma Nancy came and visited and the girls had a great time hanging out with her. We did the usual, zoo, park, etc and took time relaxing.

Time at the park...the girls always enjoy a new swing pusher.

and then it was time for the zoo where floppy hats are in this year.

Girls posing with grandma.

Girls had a great time and so did grandma.