November Updates

Some quick Hailey updates...

I am taking a season off from my beloved winter guard activity to spend more time with Hailey, Nathan and myself. While it makes me sad not to be involved this season, I'm glad they can continue the activity and I am grateful to spend time with my family. For example....

Sunday afternoon (November 16th) we had our first real snowfall of the season - the big white flakes. Now, Hailey is 2, so this isn't her first winter...but its the first winter where she has been really aware of her surroundings and able to communicate - the snowflakes were 'bubbles'. It was darn cute. Monday evening, it was still snowing so we took her on a walk around the neighborhood. "Look at all the bubbles!" and she had her mouth wide open the whole time trying to catch them...that was priceless. It was one of those moments you remember.

I would have missed that if I was at winter guard this year.

Let's see...what else is she doing...oh, she's much more into sharing lately. The other day she picked her nose and offered me the booger. That was awesome...yeah...awesome.

She ADORES Sponge Bob Squarepants. She has some Sponge Bob videos and she could watch them all day if we'd let her. All in all, I knew she would get addicted to some character (this is the first of many I'm sure) and I can handle Sponge Bob, I think its funny. She also loves Tigger and Pooh and her Dr. Suess video with Green Eggs and Ham (Sneetches...etc.). I try to stay away from getting her clothes marketed with kid's tv show characters all over them, but invariably, her favorite shirt has Thomas the Train on it. I may have to give in and get her some Sponge Bob pjs for Christmas.

Christmas...I'm already a little 'Bah Humbug' this year. Several of my most favorite traditions are going by the wayside this year, and I am a little bummed out about it. These are shopping traditions and my family and friends are 'cutting back' this year (they say that every year, but this time they mean it), so we just aren't going to do the annual trips this year. Luckily, we do have Hailey... little kids put life the joy and excitement back into the holidays... so I'm sure I'll get over the blahs the closer it gets to Christmas.

I think this is my favorite single comic of all times.
The only thing this picture is missing is a 70 pound dog licking everything in sight, and that would be my house on any given day.