Thanksgiving

This year's Thanksgiving dinner was similar to previous years, although somehow it all seemed better. The turkey was especially delicious -- Richmond had brined it. Everyone seemed very well, and was relaxed, and there was good conversation. Although Little Sue was somewhat bored, she dealt.



Brendan was relaxed.



The pumpkin pie was especially lovely.



So much to be thankful for!

Anouk's First Birthday Party

Our niece and Sue's first cousin Anouk, adopted from China this past summer, was feted at her parents' house this weekend. Anouk has learned to walk since we last saw her. She is the most unflappable baby I've ever met, and cute as a button. The birthday party theme was "fairies", a huge hit with the girls, although the few boys present were no so thrilled.

Sue Tries Out The Camera

Sue has started using the digital camera in the last few months, and while the first several (many) pictures were frequently of the floor, or completely out of focus, or half of someone's head, they have been improving markedly of late. Witness:

Halloween 2008

This year Grandpa Jim and Grandma Gail came to visit the weekend before Halloween. The Peabody Museum was having their Halloween special, and since the weather was not great, we decided to have pizza in New Haven (always the best), followed by a visit to the Peabody.

There were bean-bag tosses, make-a-black-cat-witches-hat, win-a-spider game, and the spooky witches corner at the Peabody. But our favorite part was the "bird lady", who comes every year and brings her rescued owls and hawks.



We spent Halloween evening with the Dattilos, trick-or-treating around their neighorhood after a delightful spaghetti-and-meatballs dinner. It was a late night, but totally worth staying up for!

Natalie was Hanna Montana, and Sue was a black cat.



A sparkly black cat.



The candy haul around Natalie's was much bigger than Sue usually gets around Johnson's Point.