More pictures from Thanksgiving weekend

Ellie under the Christmas tree

Ellie and Grammy celebrating Grammy's birthday in Charlottesville

Ellie blowing out Grammy's birthday cake candles .. all 6 of them!

Too bad it wasn't a singing card - those are Ellie's favorite cards!

Grammy, Bill, Ellie and Jude - at the top of Carter Mountain

Papa, Bill, Ellie and Jude - at the top of Carter Mountain

Bill, Ellie and Jude - on a blustery day at the top of the mountain

Ellie and Grammy sharing apple cider donuts - Ellie loves them, can't you tell?!

The Little Artist

Ellie is enjoying painting .. which was a special treat to do with Grammy ... she does amazingly well keeping it between the lines!

Blowing Bubbles ....

Saturday at Carter Mountain Orchard

Although it's expected in the mid to high-50's today, at the top of the mountain this morning it was about 40 degrees and windy!~ Ellie loves the apple cider donuts and looking out on the orchard. We ate quickly and then took a look around Monticello since we were out that way!

They're heeeerrrreeee......

Grammy and Papa arrived about 3pm on Friday after a full week of Ellie asking, "Is today the day?" We spent the afternoon making Ellie laugh and her opening presents. Dinner was slow-roasted pork, warm potato salad, southern baked beans and green salad with pears, pecans and crumbled blue cheese. We had leftover pecan and apple pies for dessert. Of course it wasn't too long after arrive that we celebrated with cocktails and a variety of cheeses, fruit and crackers! Welcome to Virginia!

Happy Thanksgiving 2009

This year Thanksgiving looked a bit different than it has in years past. Big change is our moving to Charlottesville, Virginia. And of course the other change is Ellie is getting older and understands more and more all the time.

She was eager to help in the kitchen today. We began with breakfast .. crabmeat quiche with fresh pineapple and strawberries. Ellie snuck in lunch of Ritz crackers with peanut butter & jelly (special treat on crackers for the holiday!). And right on schedule we sat down at 4pm for Thanksgiving dinner. They turkey was wonderful. Only a 10lb bird this year, but it tasted great .. and made the very best gravy ever! We also had mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, broccoli, cranberry sauce and cornbread muffins.

Ellie helped Bill carve the turkey .. and although she is not much of a meat eater, she loved the little pieces of meat he carved off for her ! Her favorite was the corn muffin - of course! She asked to say 'grace' before we began and we ended telling each other our favorite parts of the day!

The holiday weekend continues as Grammy and Papa will arrive tomorrow. They'll love our mild weather! We just got in from an after dinner walk around the neighborhood. The first year that I can remember that I was able to wear shorts, even outside!

Holiday Hertiage Parade

On a beautiful, brisk, sunny Saturday morning we ventured downtown to watch the parade. Tons of families, kids, dogs, and people milling about waiting for the arrival of the parade. Last evening they witnessed the arrival of Santa and the lighting of the tree. We decided to wait until this morning to venture down. It was wonderful. Ellie loved that people walking in the parade were throwing all kinds of candy her way! She's a big fan of the candy cane this year!

Thhhhhhhhhe Yankees Win

Ellie received a Yankees 27th World Series Championship t-shirt in the mail yesterday from Papa. She was proud as punch to put it on today with her favorite Gymboree blue tights. All day she asked, "Do the Yankees play tonight?" She just doesn't understand the term, "see you in the spring," yet!

All's well at our house ...

After a few weeks of sickness, it appears we are back to our normal selves .. here's a few pictures of Ellie helping me make Bill's lunch this morning before work. You can see her smiling face .. and just see how much better she feels!

Crispie Treats

This weekend seems we're all recovering from some form of a 'bug' or another. Bill had broncitis, I had pneumonia and now Ellie seems to have a head cold with runny nose and bit of a fever! Just as Bill and I seem to be on the road to recovery, now Ellie is sick again ... This is how it started a few weeks ago with her having a sinus infection! I'm afraid this is going to be a vicious cycle this year!

In any event, last week we made Crispie treats. I had promised Ellie we would make them for her school party, but we made brownie cups instead. SO the Crispie treats were all for us!

Perspective on Motherhood

While sitting the in the doctor's office yesterday awaiting my appointment that confirmed pneumonia, I picked up the October issue of WebMD the Magazine and read the Editor's column.

When Nan-Kirsten Forte was asked by her 15 and 11 year old daughters why she would ever want to bring children into this world full of stress, misery, sadness, carbon footprint, terrorism and cancer, she responded.

" 'Because I wanted to share the turquoise blue of the Caribbean, the purple sky at the top of Ampersand Mountain in the Adirondacks, giggling until someone wets her pants, and greeting a smiling face across the room with a knowing wink.'

They were stumped, so I continued. 'You need to know that life is bliss and misery mixed. Perhaps we would never recognize one without the other. You will get your hearts broken and feel grief and loss many times in your life. But you will also become confident and clear-minded. You'll feel profound joy and love and laughter; you will feel awe, respect and humility. This is how you know you're alive and why you will want to give yourself and others a chance to feel the same.'

Mouths open, eyes wide, smiles spreading ... both went back to finishing their homework."

Now THAT'S a reason to become a mom, and a reason to continue to strive to be a good one!

http://www.webmd.com/magazine/nans-note

Bill meets the new Virginia Governor

State Farm employs nearly 1,400 people in Charlottesville, Virginia. So when Bob McDonnell was planning his campaign itinerary he put State Farm Operations Center on his tour. Bill had the opportunity to meet him in September and his photo was taken by our Public Affairs department. Bill contacted our company photographer afterward for a copy of the photo saying, "you never know this could be the next governor or even president." So now Bob McDonnell is the new governor. Must have been rubbing elbows with Bill that got him there!

Princess Toes

Miss Ellie wanted toes painted the same color as Mommy. Finally I agreed to the color as a special occassion .. in honor of her Halloween costume as a Princess. So now she says she has, "Princess Toes!"