North American Snowman in the Outback!

We had a really nice Christmas holiday in Richmond. Over our time there we got to visit with many family and friends.

For the first time in most of our memories, it snowed on Christmas day! This lead to lots of fun in the days to follow. Clara really wanted to build a snowman, but amazingly enough it was too cold, and the snow just wasn't packing. Finally several days later Daddy and Uncle Jack took on the project and gave the snowman a real life story.

What a find - a one-eyed North American snowman in its natural habitat. Listen on to hear what the experts have to say...


Uh-oh, the explorers are getting a little too daring.


The specimen


Profile shot


A little too close for comfort


Posing with their discovery.

Trenton Bound

We're back!

Before we embark on Christmas catch-up, I wanted to report on our recent sojourn to NJ to visit Great-grandmother Margaret. Also there were Uncle Denny and Aunt Jan. The kids got lots of quality time with extended Carrig family. Here are a few pics of our time at Grandmother's...


The obligatory "Pop-pop lying across everyone" picture


Four generations of Carrigs!


Jack and Pop-pop


Clara and Jack hangin' with Aunt Jan and Pop-pop

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

Today we celebrated a Richmond tradition by visiting the legendary Santa. Amazingly enough there were no tears. I thought Clara would do OK but wasn't sure, and I really thought Jack was going to scream. He was clearly trying to scramble out of Santa's lap, but he didn't cry! Clara asked Santa for a doll and some surprises (after telling me all day yesterday that she wanted a robot). And she told Santa that Jack wanted bowling pins. :)

Happy Christmas Adam!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year we hosted Nay-nay, Pop-pop, and Lucy for Thanksgiving at our house. Despite Nay-nay's misgivings that I was sitting around too much Thanksgiving morning, everything went off without a hitch and our meal was delicious.

During the Macy's parade Nay-nay noticed that the black and blue outfits were much more slimming on the marching band members than those that wore white uniforms. So Pop-pop immediately quipped that they were "very slenderizing". Clara had a lot of fun with it.

"Black & blue and very slenderizing"


Meanwhile Nay-nay was teaching Jack about his face.


Later in the day lounging with Luc, eating bolts and nuts!


Lunch in front of the tv.

November Trip to Richmond

Woohoo, now we're only 1 month behind! November...

The week before Thanksgiving we traveled to Richmond to meet our new cousin from the Pacific Northwest - Annabeth! She, accompanied by Auntie Jo and Uncle Ed , embarked on her maiden voyage across the US and stayed for 10 days with the thrilled Su-su & Gramby.

Clara greets Annabeth for the first time with Gramby.


Brec holds his niece.


Annabeth checks out her relatives while the rest of us pose for a picture.


All the cousins in one picture... and what a great one it is ;)


Auntie Em, Jo, & Annabeth


Jo & Annabeth


Beaming grandmother.


The Hedval(l?)s back East.


Family picture.


Also during our time in Richmond we got to spend lots of time with Luke. He and Clara had their first sleepover together at Nay-nay's house! They had lots of fun playing in the leaf pile a la Lucy & Pop-pop.


Skeeker Jeeks joins in the mix.


Luke & Jack


All three kiddos


Riding together in the double stroller on the way to the playground.


Jack hit a milestone in learning how to jump! He's too busy moving to learn how to talk. :)

Rest of October

Here are some other random moments from October...

Hanging out dressed to dance


Taking a rest from tea pot spinning


Toy pick-up gone awry




Jack going down the slide is about to give Gramby a heart attack.


V. proud of his efforts


Taking a quick morning nap in the middle of the floor


He was curled up on the couch pillows reading, but of course he'd moved by the time I got the camera.


Cuddling in the chair together.


Showing off his new found skill of eating an apple off the core.


Clara, Molly, and Carmen at their preschool fall picnic.


And now to November! :)

Boston Visitors

We will be caught by the end of the year!

Early October, we had some excitement - visitors from the North. The Barnes family came down to NC for a week and visited us on their way to Emerald Isle. It had been about a year since the last time the kids were together, and it was great to see them interact, especially now that the "babies" aren't so little anymore. The Friday morning they came over to play was gorgeous. We played outside on the swingset and had lunch on the patio.

Lunch!


The "babies" - Adelina (20 mo) & Jack (17 mo)


Swinging on the swingset




Jack's unique flirting methods with Adelina (when he wasn't batting her pigtails, that is).


Clara showing Caleb her room.


Hugs goodbye.


The deal sweetens. :)