Boo I'll put you in jail!

A last-minute costume change from an elephant to a member of the local SWAT team, Miles had the whole neighborhood on guard. He was delighted to be a police man to fight the "bad guys." He also has been having (too much) fun putting us all in jail - over and over again.

Melodie was not into the costume idea but still enjoyed tagging along for trick-or-treating. The team included a witch, cat, and spider.

Meldodie was into pumpkin carving though. Getting messy is always welcome.

park love

Hanging out at the Waterfront Park is a favorite. There is the park, the fountain, the dock, swings, the view, and another fountain....I know we will spend a lot of time here. Especially now that the weather is getting more user-friendly.

9 months!

- 9 months old

- owner of one tooth! and more about to come

- living in Charleston

-seeing my mama all day every day

-seeing my brother all day every day

-seeing my grant parents all the time

- hanging out on the beach all the time

-being happy all the time

Just found out we got the house!

Hi House! I like you.

Isn't it cool that it is blue!

Feeling so overwhelmed with everything that I have to do. Haven't been getting enough sleep which doesn't help. So let's add pictures to the blog! yes, anything but actually doing what I should be doing right now.

Our days are crazed. Working, packing, painting, little sleep, trip to the ER, sick children, dying grandma, home in Charleston not confirmed, packing, working, more packing, 105 degree days. But, the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter every day.

In between the mayhem, we had a nice couple of hours hanging out with friends on July 4th. Melodie is SEVEN months and just figure out how to sit up on her own. It's going fast.

Dancing with grand-papa

And listening to Melody Gardod.

Spending my birthday with Melodie. Enjoying a quiet house and contemplating our soon to be new life in Charleston. Still having a hard time believing that we are actually doing this.

We (mostly Frank) are preparing our home for the new residents that will soon live here: painting rooms we were hoping to get to months ago, covering the yard with new mulch, and tending to things that need fixing. I can only hope that the renters will appreciate this house and care for it (please!).

"aaaaaaabbbbbbbbbabababbbbbbbbbbbbbbaaaaaaaabbbbbaba," says Melodie.

We have been out and about on the weekends enjoying the nice weather, visiting friends, and consciously living the last 40 some days in Richmond.

Miles got new sunglasses and decided that the red bag would work well with the red glasses.

Melodie smiles all day and is approaching 6.5 months of age. How did that happen?

Life as we have know it for the last 5 or really 10 years is coming to an end. It's 10 years ago that we decided to move away from Charleston to Washington, DC, to pursue our careers and desire for big city living. Looking back, I couldn't be happier and more grateful with the last 10 years of my life. We both earned advanced degrees, climbed the career ladder, got married, purchased our first house, made good and life long friends, and had two children!

Now, our journey is bringing us back to Charleston again, and we couldn't be happier.

Today was a day that I wasn't proud of my parenting style. Not enough patience and too much "no!". I was on my own for the day and Miles was being bad for the first half of the day. Didn't listen to anything, and being just plain annoying. Part of the problem was me too. I didn't have any patience for his behavior and now regret some of my responses. Thankfully after his nap he was a complete angel.

Right now, at 9pm, is the most quiet and peaceful time of the day. Tired from a long day of care taking. The best part - no one wants anything from me.

Melodie started eating solids this weekend. Banana and rice cereal. Can't believe she is six months. Here is Miles at six months.

I could take pictures of the two of them all day long. I just can't get enough. The three of us just spent 30 minutes giggling in bed together before bed time. We all kept each other laughing. It was just great. Life is good these days. Melodie has been sleeping through the night for a few weeks now which has changed everything. I am glad those sleepless nights are over, at least for the most part.

Miles turns 3!

A few weeks ago we had a little party for Miles' third birthday. Life was nuts around that time - work was intense, Melodie wasn't sleeping, I wasn't sleeping, and it broke my heart that I didn't have much energy to devote to his birthday. But the party was fun anyways and Miles was as happy as he could be. And that is all that really matters.

His friends Evie and Kendall helped him with his presents.

Evie gave him an awesome new game!

Three seems like a big deal. He is nearly potty trained, he can wash his own hair, he says things like: "Bless you!" and"Mama, I like your dress!" His favorite thing to do is play in the back yard with the hose and dirt and dig for worms. He also likes to "run as fast as the wind!"

And he is as sweet as he could be with Melodie. First thing he said when he woke up today from his nap was "Mama, I like Melodie!" We are lucky to have a son like Miles.

Her hair has a life of it's own

Bringing out the soft washed-1000-times osh-kosh overalls is always a joyous occasion

The joy and happiness this girl radiates is intoxicating.