Happy Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year ......

Has it really been three months since my last post??? Well, time flies when babies are learning to crawl and cruise, teething, and mastering all sorts of new tricks. (See video)

Time flies when 11-year old boys are busy with scouting and campouts, swim team, traveling to and from Las Vegas, Lego-building, snow-cave digging, video gaming, and also mastering all sorts of new tricks. (See video)

Time flies when moms are wrapping up the final semester of graduate school, including licensure exam, research project presentation, and comprehensive exams. (Sorry, no video evidence ..... but my LMSW license should be issued within two weeks, and that is evidence enough for me!!)

Time flies when dads are working with real estate buyers who, given the current state of the market, have 40+ listings in their price range to peruse, as opposed to 5-10, when applying and preparing for a return to undergraduate school (this January), and escaping at every opportunity (of which there are fewer and fewer these days) to the local shooting club or ice fishing hole. (Again, no video evidence)

A few highlights of the past three months:

For Halloween Bella was a spider (very cute-lots of pictures). Brennan was a grim reaper with blood running down his face (very disturbing - no pictures).

At Thanksgiving we ventured eastward to spend the holiday with the Glenview Mohrs (and to celebrate Seth's first birthday). Bella and Seth quickly became friends despite fierce competition in the 2008 BabyGames. A rundown of a few of the events and winners: Drooling - Seth; Raspberry-blowing - Bella; Waving - Seth; Crawling - Bella; Stinkiest diaper - Tie.

BabyGames 2008

The Christmas season was busy but very enjoyable. Brennan spent Dec. 19-26 at his dad's in Las Vegas (where there were a couple inches of snow when he arrived!!) We celebrated Christmas Eve with the Horsburgh family, watched Bella celebrate her first Christmas morning (and as is customary for babies .... she enjoyed the wrapping paper and bows far more than the package contents), had a belated Christmas prime rib dinner on the 26th at my parents' (with Brett's parents in attendance as well), and then celebrated another "Christmas morning" at home on the 27th.

We spent New Year's Eve with good friends. Bella settled down in the Pack & Play at about 8:30, but was up at 11:00 in anticipation of 2009. I think a translation of her late-night baby babble would have revealed her resolutions to grow some hair, get a few teeth, and make it across the kitchen to splash in the dog's water dish before being intercepted!!!

We hope that 2009 is full of health, happiness and prosperity for you and your loved ones!! I am not resolving to blog more often, but we'll see what I can do. Cheers!!!!