Tree

Merry Christmas Eve!

We bought this tree on Dec. 24, 2000 for 1/2 price at Michael's. This is its 8th year -- always the same blue and white scheme. The little snowmen and crystals made their debut in 2003.

Candleman

Catherine thinks that Frosty is a candleman -- not a snowman. It's easy to understand why. She learned about candles before she learned about snowmen. We have a snowman votive holder. It and the tree are the only Christmas decorations in our house this year, so there are no other snowmen in the house.

It's really fall over funny to hear her say "CANDLEMAN!!!".

Fell

Today was the last day of fall. It went out rather dramatically. You could see the front in the sky that dropped the dewpoint 25 degrees instantly as it passed.



Catherine and I were in Starbucks at the time.



E did some smiling today. She's much smilier now, all of a sudden.

Sleep

Catherine has been sleeping in her big girl bed for over a month now. Sleeping under sheets is yet to be learned -- but then again, sleeping parallel with the matress is too.

She's had a cough lately, especially at night, so the vaporizer is going full steam (pun intended).




35mm f/1.4 1/40 sec @ ISO 3200

BUCKS!

Catherine likes Starbucks. Her first trip to 'bucks was when she was a week old. Of course, she didn't order anything then. Now she likes "nade" -- blended lemonade. Daddy took her to 'bucks on Sunday (and took a few pictures).

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving morning included the customary watching of the Macy's parade -- C's 3rd viewing!





C says "Dance with me!!!"


Thanksgiving dinner at Scott and Misty's.

Catherine never looks this "Osh Kosh"!.





C hung out with her cousin Austin, who is very sweet with her.



Later in the evening we had a baby shower for Amy and Markus.



Everyone wanted to hold E -- especially her grandma!



On Friday Brian and C drove to Norman for Thanksgiving, part 2.




A rabbit in the courtyard. Rare in Norman.




C enjoyed having a large, attentive audience




Uncle Doug makes a good audience.



Gran Gran gives good baths.

Catching her balance. She likes to walk on ottomans.

Cake! Candles! Celbrating Pop's birthday.

Pop and his younger brother Ben -- Ben has come for Thanksgiving 25+ years in a row.

Autumn

I don't know why, but this year's color is the best I've ever seen in 30 years of living in Texas and Oklahoma. The right amount of rain at the right times earlier this year, I guess. The urban environment isn't necessarily the best place for pictures of nature, but there's plenty of people out there shooting in the Smokies and no one else to record the things I'm personally enjoying -- at least not in the way I'm enjoying them.

You can see bigger versions of the photos by clicking on them -- at least this one is worthwhile, IMHO...

November and December tend to have the best sunsets as well -- so far this year is no exception.