Painting and snow...

This weekend has brought a record breaking snowfall/storm to the area. The snow is beautiful and plentiful...over 20 inches so far! More pics to come...

The snowy weekend provided a much needed opportunity (in my mind) to begin painting our new home! After trying a few samples, we went with my mother's original recommendation, Vanilla Brandy.

Clearly a before shot...

and after.....ta da!!! Just waiting for Wes to start painting on the walls. He loved to hold the brush with me and paint, although he really just wanted to do it himself!

And she's off!!!!

Hailey loves to push this toy around the basement. When she started this at 8 months, I quickly decided to let it be a special activity...as in, I don't encourage mobilization at this age!!

Dive Day!

Our first dive was a sunken ship...The Carthaginian, which was about 100 feet underwater.

This was one of my favorite views. Loved floating on my back and looking up...

yikes...see the shark??

I lost track of the number of sea turtles we met!

Hi DAD!!! Thanks for a wonderful day! And thanks to Mom for watching the kiddos!

Hailey in Maui

Yummy!!

Princess Hailey has gone to sleep!

With one of her godmothers, Auntie Katie, who she got to meet for the first time!

This is sweet. It is next to impossible to get a perfect shot of them!

Our sweet baby girl...turned 8 months the week we returned:)

Wesley in Maui

Wes' first visit to Maui, age 6 months!!

Second visit to Maui...age 2 1/2

Wesley loved walking on the beach and digging with his shovel. The water knocked him over a few times...and then he was quite afraid and wanted distance between him and the water!

Aunt Kristi, Wes and his Sting-ray from the Aquarium

Watching the sharks with Grandpa at the Aquarium in Maui...he is very interested in marine life, especially sharks.

Loving a ride in the hammock!

Watching fishies with daddy!

Family Shots from Maui

Visiting Family in Virginia Beach

Over the weekend, I drove the kiddos down to meet John in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area, where he's spent some time taking a class. My cousin Zach and his wife, Sara, and their daughter, Izzy live in Virginia Beach and we spent the weekend with them. My Uncle Greg and Aunt Beth were also in town!! We had lots of fun and great laughs while visiting with them. Sara is a wonderful cook and took such good care of us! The weekend was very relaxing and well worth the wait! We have been looking forward to this for the past year and a half...since getting our orders for Virginia! Can't wait to see them again!

Our Sweet Little Cousin, Izzy!!

Wes loved putting on Sara's boots! Walking proved to be a challenge!

Hailey up on all 4!! She is crawling and almost able to get into a sitting position on her own!

The Virginia Aquarium was lots of fun!!

Yikes! Big Sharks!!

We had barely left the parking lot when Wesley fell asleep!

Ticonderoga Farm

Last weekend we headed to Chantilly, VA in search of our Christmas tree for our new home. After scoping out the field for a few minutes, we found a beautiful blue spruce for John to cut down. Wes enjoyed yelling "timberrrrr" with me. It was a gorgeous day and we enjoyed a hayride, watching Wes and Daddy slide, the petting zoo and play area, and roasting marshmallows! Stay tuned for pics of our decorated tree!

Wes was quite reluctant to see Santa, until the child in front of him received a candy cane from Santa!