Santa at the Library

Last week our local "Santa" came to the library to do a program for the children. Rebecca and I really enjoyed it last year, and this year we were glad to find a time when Daddy could join us. This guy is really great, quite believable, and the children love him. He always brings a harness from his reindeer and other bells from his sleigh, reads a couple stories, and sings songs. Then all the little ones get to talk to him and take pics. Rebecca's request this year was "a toy car and a baby doll". I think we can manage that one!

Rebecca's 1st Snowman!

This morning we woke to a light dusting of snow, but for Rebecca it was what she was waiting for....since August! In August she had watched an episode of Caillou where he builds a snowman and she has been wishing for snow ever since. So this morning daddy bundled her up and they went out to see if they could find enough snow to fulfill her wishes. ;-)

Daddy had to gather snow from off the truck to get enough.

Snowball!

So happy!

He's so tiny!

Rebecca's very tiny snowman!

Putting up the Tree

Yesterday I was really beginning to wonder if our tree was ever going to get finished. We picked our tree out on Wednesday night and got it in the stand to dry (it was rainy and cold most of the week). The plan was to decorate it Friday night, but we ran out of time and red beads. After spending Friday evening and Saturday morning trying to track down more red beads (that matched the old ones) we gave up and turned to ribbon instead. Finally last night we finished and Rebecca and Daddy put the star on top just as our Christmas lights outside were coming on. Our home is now ready for the season  inside and out. Rebecca had so much fun helping with the tree this year. She kept telling Aaron '"look daddy we're decorating!" I'm raising myself a great little helper and can only imagine all the things we'll be able to do as she gets older. Daddy is really going to need some male company; so let's hope this baby is a boy! ;-)

These two pics are for my mom.....look familiar? My mom made me this sweatshirt when I was about 4-5 and now Rebecca is wearing it!!!

Ta Da!!!

Rebecca goes to the Circus

Daddy bought tickets for the Circus Thanksgiving afternoon. Rebecca was curious, but not quite sure about going. She kept telling us "the tigers might bite me". As if to warn us that she was willing to go, but we should know the dangers. LOL Once we got to the Circus here interest revived, although I think she liked the popcorn most of all. We got a few pics, but it was hard to get good shots in the dark. I think our favorite part was the bear riding the motorcycle and if something could be changed we'd like to see less scantily clad women. ;-)

As Aaron was purchasingthis light up toy for Rebecca the vendor told us as a bonus it plays music. (oh boy!)

The music was annoying sure enough but also odd because it was in a foreign language. LOL

Getting ready for Christmas....my favorite part of the year!

Looking forward to the next three days and having my hubby home!!! Aaron has been really working hard and long lately setting up generators for the hospital downtown. I can't even remember when he worked a "normal" week. Oh well, for the next three days at least he'll be home with us and if we cross our fingers, maybe we'll even get to have him home all weekend. So what are our plans for the next few days? Let's see, decorating, eating, decorating, circus, and probably more eating. LOL Tomorrow we also get to go back to my doctor. We have reached 12 weeks! I'll be glad when the morning sickness is finally gone for good, but other than that things are looking great! Thanksgiving day we'll be going to the circus and to Grandpa and Ginger's for dinner. We also have putting up the Christmas tree and Christmas lights on the agenda. What a fun filled week!

Rebecca and I got a jump start on the decorating this afternoon. The expression on her face as I popped open the totes of Christmas stuff was adorable. This year is going to be so much fun with a three year old!

Moving Days and Rebecca as a Little Piggy

                                           

This little piggy went to Aunt Melissa's for a party!

Helping move into the "red house"

Daddy trying to find little things for her to carry.

Watching as Daddy and Grandpa bring in her stuff.

It's been a busy couple of weeks but all our things are under one roof again. Its been great weather for moving and for Rebecca to enjoy her new backyard. We've got alomst everything unpacked and pictures are hung. Now maybe we'll tackle some painting before the tree goes up......then agian maybe not! ;)

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made!!!

 We are very happy to announce that another little Alldredge is on its way! We are now past the crucial eight week mark and today had our first ultrasound, showing a healthy and quickly beating little heart. We won't know for a while yet if we are going with pink or blue in the baby's room, but Rebecca's vote is in for a pink baby. No matter what the result though, we'll be happy to greet our little one in early June.We feel very grateful to God for this great blessing and a healthy pregnancy thus far!

The pics are a little "blobby", but we think its an adorable little blob, with tiny feet and hands being knit together as we speak!

Home Sweet Home

We are really excited this week! Earlier this months we went house hunting and found a place we just loved. At the time of our offer we were hoping to be in by Thanksgiving, then we got hopeful and started shooting for November 5th.....lo, and behold, we are getting to close this Friday! I can hardly believe it....when do house deals go so smoothly?! Here is a pic of what we will proudly be calling home in just a few more days. I won't post any interior photos until we get things situated, which could be a while.  Wish I could have each of my friends over this winter for cookies and cocoa!

Mayse Farm Market

This afternoon we finally got around to doing the one fall activity that Rebecca has been talking about for the past few weeks. Before today we had collected leaves for artwork, visited a festival at an apple orchard, picked pumpkins, played in a corn maze, and decorated our porch, but no where had we found a hay wagon to ride. Mayse Farm Market today had wagons running out to their own pumpkin patch. She really had a good time during the ride in the 'bump wagon'. She has dubbed this actvity thus after reading Apples, Apples, Apples, in which the family rides a bumpy wagon to the orchard. Rebecca also went through another corn maze, tried out some slides, and ran the hay bale maze in record time! What a fun fall afternoon!

Daddy had to show her how the straw tunnel worked, but she still wasn't interested in crawling through the darkness.

Rebecca goes to the Pumpkin Patch.

We've been trying to get our hands on and read all sorts of books about autumn and the activities that come with our favorite season. So far Rebecca's favorite is a book called Apples, Apples, Apples. We're planning to go to an apple orchard in the next couple weeks and also to find books about pumpkins, because we've already had the chance to go to a patch not far from here. As for fall time foods, I can't keep cider in the house!!! Rebecca loves 'natural juice', as she calls it and I bet if I ever get around to making a pumpkin pie, she'll find another favorite.

Florida Trip - The End

Wow! Its been quite a week around the Alldredge household and I just haven't found the time to get this trip wrapped up....not to mention I have new pics to share from the past couple weeks. Last Saturday we looked at a house and we fell in love with it, so now we are in the busy stage of paperwork, inspections, insurance, phone calls, and all the other fun things that lead to closing a house deal. We are looking hopefully toward the first week of November for possesion. Between regular housework, trips to the library, morning walks, and organizing closets in preparations for a move I've snagged very little computer time. Aaron has also had a rough week and by the time he makes it home tonight he'll have over eighty hours racked up in just this seven day week. Top all that with a broken dryer and you just have to start laughing at yourself.......its life! ;) Without further ado, here are some shots from our last day aboard the ship on Wednesday ,our last day in Florida, and our long flight home. We spent 7 hours in the Cincinnati airport trying to make it home that Friday and Rebecca was a real trooper and behaved wonderfully even though she was so bored!

On out last day Aaron and I snagged a little time in the afternoon for a lunch date.

I think Triton's was my favorite of the main dining areas.

Very elegant and for lunch classical music was playing

Chilled duck with greens.

                                     

Chilling on deck nine, it was a beautiful day!

A but breezy, but look at that blue water!

Say cheese!

Rebecca on the main staircase.

Playing with her princess souvenirs from the gift shop.

Our head server Jaoa, from Portugal

Last night on Deck

Boo hoo! We're leaving

She crashed on the flight from Orlando to Cincinnati

So very, very bored.