snuggle season

 We're in major snuggle season with a little baby around.

So much fun to play with

 and watch.

 Holding, 

loving,

and growing.

all in a week's work

Cameron's first week has been quite busy....

lots of this,

 some of that,

 watching big sister at her preschool program, 

 multi-tasking with big brother,

cotton ball extravaganza,

 meeting cousin Jonah! 

 

and witnessing lots of general holiday excitement!!

and now we are 6

We can't give our children the future, strive though we may to make it secure. But we can give them the present.

-- Kathleen Norris

Amidst the dark days of December and the humming buzz of holiday prep, we pause to welcome our baby and expand into a family of six.

 

 Little love, Cameron Emery, born on December 7.

A blessing among many,

 a reminder of life's intense and immense joys.

 Reason to pause, sit in awe

and savor life's greatest wonders....a baby.

ready or not

December is upon us, in all of its gray glory. We have been spending our waiting-for-baby days....

 making lists,

 loving the early snow, 

 stacking wood,

 finishing up projects (in our swimming suits of course),

and cleaning every possible nook and cranny.

in a nutshell

A mish-mosh of photos from before, during, and after Thanksgiving....

 Making name cards for Thanksgiving, 

 and taking this job very seriously.

 Storytime with Pop.

 Little pals, 

 

 and mini pals.

 Readying the XL table,

for an XL turkey.

Rice krispie bars for the masses.

 Auntie and nephew looking more like mother and son with their red hair!

Until next year, sweet potato puff.

leila!

 

 Baby Leila is our guest for the week!

 

 Here she is sitting on her cousin.

 Annabelle has been BUSY taking all sorts of pics of our guests....here is Leila's lovely Mama, Auntie San! 

 

 Leila and Auntie Melissa.

 Little princess.

 If she can't be a redhead in real life, at least she can play one on film. 

 Little scuba diver,

 and....gopher?

 Thank you cousin Leila for being such a patient photo subject for a very excited bunch of cousins!

no hair, lots of eyes

 Cast your mind back.....

 to when Annabelle was 2 yrs 9 months old and gave herself a haircut.....buzzzzzzz while Mama was busy with baby Linnea.

 

 Now fast forward to Linnea, age 2 yrs 9 months, recreating the mullet while Mama was on the phone. We seem to have a bad trend with blondies and scissors at precisely this age!

 In other news, pumpkin theme of 2012 seems to be the multi-eye effect.

And the always entertaining and exciting bubble bath.

fall, by annabelle

Another funny bunch of pictures taken from Annabelle's camera, documenting fall through her eyes....

Backpacks, all ready to go.

Brother, patient kitty.

Fall, through the window.

Sister, as always...silly.

Her most loyal photo subject.

Self-portrait, with mustache.

Kitty on the rocks.

Lots of pumpkin drawings.

Her feet, of course.

Fall!