Thanksgiving

We did a lot of traveling for Thanksgiving, as usual. We went to Cleveland first for a few days. Elizabeth and I then went to Cincinnati by ourselves. Christian was trying to get some work done on his big presentation. It turns out it got rescheduled for January. Oh well, it was a nice visit anyway and we got some good pictures!

This is Elizabeth with Mammaw and Santa. We went to Lunch with Santa at my old high school, Mt Notre Dame. My sister Kathy and her kids went too. You can probably tell from this picture that Elizabeth didn't really like Santa! 

Elizabeth talking to a cow (one of the Nativity animals) at Lunch with Santa. Maybe the cow could understand her babbling. I know we don't understand much of it yet. 

Elizabeth loves to play peek-a-boo. She figured out a new way to play at Mammaw's house by ducking back and forth in the doorway.

And you gotta love the Fred Mertz pants! 

Elizabeth and Aunt Donna in Cincinnati. Donna came all the way from Alabama for Thanksgiving. It was in the 60's so we all thought the weather was beautiful. Donna thought it was cold. I think the South has spoiled her. 

A very cute kid! 

This is the step in Grandma and Grandpa's house that goes from the living room to the kitchen. It's actually one of Elizabeth's favorite "toys." Usually on of us is sitting on the step because she likes to climb up and down and up and down and up and down......... 

Elizabeth and Grandpa are playing with her new toys. She loves her Little People. 

Elizabeth enjoying a very tiny sundae at The Cheesecake Factory in Cleveland. I had the Godiva cheesecake and amazingly couldn't finish it. I always finish dessert, especially if it's chocolate but it was just too much for me. I guess I finally met my match! 

Elizabeth with Grandma and Grandpa in Cleveland 

Tonight on FOX: When gorgeous babies attack!

The new phone book is here! The new phone book is here!

Either you get it or you don't.

The music lover

Elizabeth always wants her Papa to play his guitar. She even tries to help sometimes. She also loves to play her toy piano. Maybe someday she and Papa will play a duet!

Elizabeth also loves to dance which is difficult to capture in a photo. She loves all different kinds of music but her favorite station is the one that Pappaw Ron listens to in Cincy, MOJO.
 

Then and now...

Remember the chair Elizabeth's Great Grandpa made her? She was so small when this was taken that we had to prop her up with blankets. 

... now Elizabeth can climb in and out on her own. Actually, she sort of dives out of the chair but she seems to think that's fun!

 

Some Halloween pictures

Papa and his new puppy! 

Learning to dress ourselves

Learning to walk

Elizabeth loves this step at Grandma and Grandpa's. We didn't love it as much after awhile (and neither did our aching backs.)

Sophie and the Pumpkin

Elizabeth was very happy to get this little pumpkin from Sophia. This was at Grandma and Grandpa's in Cleveland a few weeks ago.

Some Gatlinburg pictures...

At the Boyds Bear store in Pigeon Forge (which is actually being closed so most things were 50% off!)

The Sleepy Chair

We were definitely sleepy here...this was pretty late for both of us to be up.

Some of the girls...

Angie (Kathy's friend), Kathy (my sister), Birdie (my mom), and me! Elizabeth needs no introduction, of course.

Her first "pony" ride

Sour Cream

Elizabeth enjoying her food at No Way Jose's. I let her dip a french fry in the sour cream and then I couldn't get her to stop. She's definitely her parents' daughter.

Shopping Break

Shopping Break

Gatlinburg was decorated at every corner and bench with pumpkins, gourds, mums, scarecrows-name a fall decoration and they had it.

Dissertation update

Hi everyone,

I've chosen a date (it's written in pencil) to defend my dissertation proposal, which is just about the biggest day of one's career as a doctoral student. (Getting a job offer would probably be bigger, although it's probably up for debate.) And I have a lot of work to do until then.

So, any posting will probably be done by my lovely bride. She's been a bit shy about it so far, having posted approximately zero percent of the material to this blog. But she's planning to do a little more than that.

I know you're all pining away for more updates on my gorgeous little monkey. Sorry I can't do more for ya...I should do more blogging once I get my career in line. (Heh.)

Somebody's walking

Ellie-bean's been walking. She's just doing a few steps at a time, of course, but she's getting going. It's been a whole buncha fun.

That's right, use both hands to cram it in.

 

What a good girl...

...giving Papa some of her cake.