Got Fish?

Today Allison and I took advantage of the weather and hit a local trout stream. She has been practicing for a month or so now and the time seemed right for a test run outside!


Here we are getting ready and hiking down to the river



Allison is working out a little line on the first pool. At 20 months old she is really getting into it!








Here are some casting lessons for some of you first timers!

Time to try out another pool and really get down to investigate. Yes that is ice along the banks. Brrrrrrrrrrr...cold Allison says!




Time to head for dinner!

It's Pumpkin Carving Time

Allison likes to do some pumpkin carving.

First it is the cleaning of the pumpkins.

Then she likes to see how much she can lift. Lets start with the little one... lift with your back!

Now it is time to get down to the business of carving.

This is how you carve Aunt Nancy.

Wheatfield Halloween Parade!!!!!!!!!!

Well, what can I say, I have been super lax about keeping up with the blog. We have been to the beach, hiking, pumpkin patches and no one has seen any of it.

We are going to skip right to Halloween! Allison participated in the community parade this year. She was a pink poodle!

She thought that was the best thing in the world being able to walk down the middle of the street!

Allison was checking out all the little Princesses and robots and monsters walking down the street. She was sad to see the firetruck leaving and the parade over.

Where is everyone going? Why are they walking the other direction now?

Stay tuned for trick or treating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My first baby doll

Allison went with mom and grammie to get her first baby doll!

She had to carry it in her lap through the store.

Is this a smile of happiness or what?

Then it had to be unwrapped in the parking lot.

And it's time for a nap on the way home!

Piggy Tails...Necklaces...Shopping Bags?

Well Allison has discovered pony tails, piggy tails and jewelry. And all at the ripe age of 16 months. Wait is that a shopping bag she is getting into?

Here she is sporting her piggy tails... very proudly I must say.

Pony tails with bows?

Oh no, here we start with the big smiles associated with a full shopping bag!

Jewelry too?

Now I have to wear them too?



As long as I contnue to get this how can I refuse?

Helping Build the Patio

Allison has been helping with the construction of our new patio. She is very interested in playing in the sand and spreading the straw over the new grass seed.

You can see she is learning how to pull the straw from the bail.

At the rate we were going it was going to take all evening. She likes to pull one piece, investigate it and then throw it. That is 100 percent focus right there!

Would you like to help?

Oh wait, we have a wall to climb on. I think we are done spreading straw around.

Oh my we are finshed!!

Whew!!!!!!!!!!!! It is hard work being a helper.

Showing Aunt Nancy the Town

This morning we decided we should show Aunt Nancy what we enjoy about our hometown. To do this, we needed to check the air pressure on our bikes and grab our helmets!

First, Allison has to run around the driveway with her PJ's and sunglasses on. Meanwhile, I have replaced two bike tubes in Darlene's rear tire. Whew, third one is a charm; bikes are ready to go!

Then, it is into the bike seat for some cruising. Notice the cool orange helmet with little monsters on it!

One last check to make sure everything is secure for our little girl.

Here we are in the "mandatory" family photo before we take off out the driveway.

Allison, Mom and Aunt Nancy get a little photo op. in before the ride begins.

Bike riding really wears us out!

But wait... with a quick pit stop only Nascar can compete with, the bikes are put away, waters are grabbed and we are off to the Baltimore Farmers Market for some fresh fruit and veggies! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....crepes, fresh local coffee, black raspberries, blueberries, and cherries, OH MY!!!!!!!!!!

As I write this, the girls have decided they needed to take a break with some shopping over at Arundel Mills... how long can they go like this!