Such a Happy Girl!

Bailey loves going to the two churches we serve. The smaller church has a great nursery and the larger church has both a great nursery and day school. Bailey participates in the life of both churches and gets to experience all of the activities that are available to our children. She was at one of the nurseries recently on a night where we had meetings and a class and was having an absolute blast.

The pictures to the left show how much she loves hanging out at our churches. I hope that that enthusiasm stays with her for years and years to come!

Halloween Fun!

I spent the afternoon preparing and then participating in the Trunk or Treat event at the United Methodist Temple. Erica and Bailey were there too (along with hundreds of others!).

Here is a picture of Bailey and momma, all decked out for Halloween:





For a complete run of pictures from the event, check out Encounters' Facebook page at www.facebook.com/encounters

Bailey and Veggies

When we got to Logan's Roadhouse Diner on Friday, we ordered for Bailey off of the kids menu...but as with any two year old, there is nothing sacred and they want what they want when they want it.

I had ordered the BBQ chicken, a loaded baked potato and a side of broccoli for my dinner. As soon as I took a bite of the broccoli, Bailey started asking for some. I thought that it may be a little spicy for her, but she proceeded to hoover her first piece without giving it a second thought. She had a fist full of trees and she was going to eat every last bite.

While I am sorry that I missed the shot of her trying to stuff a half a head of broccoli in her mouth (she had started off taking bites), I wanted to share these two pictures of her showing us how much she loved the broccoli by proceeding to spit shine the plate:





While there were french fry and hamburger left overs, I can assure you that not a single piece of broccoli survived the onslaught of my beautiful daughter!

Waiting in Line for the Ferry

Yesterday afternoon, Erica, Bailey and I went to Galveston to hang out with some old friends, eat, and play on the beach. The trip was supposed to take about 2 hours and 17 minutes using the Bolivar ferry. However, the trip there took the better part of 4, yes 4, hours. During our wait for the ferry across, we horsed around with Bailey while she was in her car seat (she was an exceptional traveler!).

Here are a few of the pictures from that wait:











These are definitely the good ole days!

Fun and Games

Bailey's imagination is one of her most captivating characteristics. She loves to pretend and to play games. A recent favorite is a game I call "nap time". Bailey demands that one of us (usually mom) lay down (usually on the floor or on a towel or blanket, but today it was the couch). Then she wants to snuggle up with whoever is "it". She directs us to close our eyes and is adamant about patting our back; all the while telling us to close those eyes or go to sleep. It is really cute.

Here are some photos of momma and Bailey playing nap time this evening:

From Photo Blog 2009

From Photo Blog 2009

From Photo Blog 2009

The whole face crunching, eyebrow raising, funny face making tricks are new. Instead of smiling when we ask her to, we just never know what expression she is going to come up with.

Hat Happy

Bailey went through a phase where she didn't want to have anything to do with wearing hats...I mean NOTHING! As with most things, it was only a phase. Now she loves wearing hats (usually ours) and often asks for them. Here is a picture from earlier in the week showing off not only her hat wearing acumen, but also one of her favorite new toys---a light up wand that doesn't light anymore:

From Photo Blog 2009

First Sushi Experience

I can remember the day that Erica took me to have sushi for the very first time. I was addicted from the word go. Erica and I absolutely love sushi. Well, our daughter loves everything (or so it seems)...while she may want something one day and not the next, she will usually return to a food in a couple of days. She has never been a picky eater...she just knows what she wants when she wants it...and she almost always wants what mommy and daddy are having.

A couple of days ago, we were at some friends house and Bailey got to eat her first crawfish...she loved it. Yesterday, I took the girls out to dinner at a buffet that happens to serve sushi in town. Like most evenings, she wanted what we had. She specifically asked for (pointed to) the philly roll and the tuna. Both of which she scarfed!

So I give you Bailey's first sushi experience:

From Photo Blog 2009

From Photo Blog 2009

From Photo Blog 2009

From Photo Blog 2009

Thank you Bailey for being such a great eater!

Captain Bailey

Today we spent the day with Grandpa Joe (my dad) in Crystal Beach near Bolivar. We rode around in the boat, did some fishing, and just generally hung out. While Bailey didn't make the entire 6 hour boat ride (her and momma went to shore to try to get a nap...a fruitless endeavor, unfortunately), she seemed to have fun while she was on the water.

We didn't have a regular camera with us. But there was a point where Grandpa and Bailey were driving together that warranted breaking out the Blackberry to capture the moment. Here it is:

From Photo Blog 2009

That's my girl!

Early 80's Flashback

My friend Jenni discovered an old picture from the early 80's of our Spanish class with Senorita Lemm.

Since I have been in a humorous mood this evening, I thought I would share a personal funny with you in the form of a picture (I am the goof on the far right with the glasses):



I owe Jenni big now!

A Little Petting Zoo

Today the family went to a grand opening of a drug store that had a petting zoo, free hot dogs and drinks, and a clown that made balloon animals. While we missed the clown (must have been on lunch break) Bailey had a great time with the animals and the hot dogs!

Here are some pictures from today's outing:

Petting a baby goat:

From Photo Blog 2009

Petting a calf:

From Photo Blog 2009

If you look close you can see this little goat standing on a huge turtle (and you can almost hear the turtle scream "I get no respect, no respect I tell ya":

From Photo Blog 2009

Momma watching us from the outside (and the other side of a camel):

From Photo Blog 2009

Bailey wondering what to pet next:

From Photo Blog 2009

We didn't stay for a long time because of the heat, but Bailey seemed to enjoy herself tremendously!

Our Resident Climber

Yesterday was my day off and Erica, Bailey and I spent some time at the local mall where we did some shopping and some playing.

Here are some shots of our baby girl doing one of her favorite activities - climbing:

From Photo Blog 2009

From Photo Blog 2009

Children's Fishing Tournament

One of the last things we got to do in Edom was to hang with some of our favorite peeps at a birthday party for their son. The great thing about this party was that it was at a little lake on the family's property. There was great food to eat and good times to be had as we watched the kids catch fish for tournament trophies.

Here are some of the shots from my Blackberry that day:

From Photo Blog 2009

The winner of the first fish caught:

From Photo Blog 2009

From Photo Blog 2009

From Photo Blog 2009

From Photo Blog 2009

From Photo Blog 2009

The winner for largest fish:

From Photo Blog 2009

It was a great day with many prizes awarded for first fish, smallest fish, most fish, largest fish and so on. We are appreciative to the families that hosted us at this get together!

Family

During our time in Edom, one of our neighbors took us in, adopted us and called us their own. Simply put, we are family. We have shared meals together, made trips to the hospital together, prayed together, played together, and so on. Our family was theirs and their family was ours. This photoblog is a salute to Mr. and Mrs. M:

Mr. M. holding Bailey

From Photo Blog 2009

And Mrs. M. and Bailey cutting up as usual

From Photo Blog 2009

We love you both!

True Friends

We have been blessed with a number of very good friends. There is simply nothing better than hanging out with good peeps. The following two folks have been a part of our lives for the last few years. They have brought great joy and laughter to our lives!

This is D-Man

From Photo Blog 2009

And this is Jen

From Photo Blog 2009

We love you both!

Fire Department Farewell

It is no great secret that one of my favorite activities while serving United Methodist churches in the greater Edom area was going on fire calls. I loved my work with the Edom Volunteer Fire Department. Over the course of almost 2 years, I went on hundreds of calls (medical, vehicle accidents, structure fires, grass/pasture/forest fires, etc) and completed my training and certification for being an Emergency Care Respondent (ECA/First Responder).

On our last Monday in Edom, the fire department through me a huge farewell party. Here are some photos from that last night on the department:

This is me in partial bunker gear on Engine 1 at station 1

From Photo Blog 2009

This is me in full bunker gear (minus SCBA equipment)

From Photo Blog 2009

Me in full gear in front of the station (it was hot...that's why I am not fully zipped!)

From Photo Blog 2009

Me and Bailey horsing around with my helmet

From Photo Blog 2009

The fire chief giving me my lieutenant's helmet as a gift for my service with the department

From Photo Blog 2009

A good chunk of the department together in front of the station

From Photo Blog 2009

Me and the fire chief (and my buddy)

From Photo Blog 2009

I am forever indebted to this group of men and women for allowing me the privilege to work with them. I will never forget the time I spent with them on the department!

Congrats and Going Away

This past Friday, Erica and Bailey took me next door to the church for date night. There we found free hamburgers and about 70 people to congratulate me on graduation and commissioning; thank us for our service in Edom, Sexton, and Mt. Sylvan UMCs; and to wish us well in our future endeavors. Here are some photos that my friend Karen took of the occasion:

From Photo Blog 2009

From Photo Blog 2009

From Photo Blog 2009

From Photo Blog 2009

From Photo Blog 2009

From Photo Blog 2009

Complete with food, fellowship, and singing it was a great night and a real blessing to Erica and I.