Christmas travels

Just a few pictures from our travels to the Bells and the Maples over Christmas.  Santa came to visit the Bells and the kids loved it, although I think the adults were just as excited!  We enjoyed our time w/both, and hope you enjoy the pictures!

Hat/scarf gift from Grandma & Grandpa.

Family portrait.

New hats from Matt & Connie, Yan & Sam!

At the Opryland Hotel.

Hunter learning how to wink!

Siblings

Announcement

This post pretty much speaks for itself, so for those that didn't already know....now you do!

Family time in Tenn

Just a few pics from our family Christmas party 2011 (yes I know we had it on the 12th of Nov!).  It was a long drive down & back, but so very worth it!  We had a great time w/the whole clan, and Maddie & Hunter got a night of camping w/Bruce & Mary which they loved.  It's so nice to be just a day's drive away from home, so we're taking advantage every chance we get.  Not sure what Christmas holds in store yet, but hopefully more time w/family.  Until then, enjoy!

Maddie loves to read w/Uncle Sammy!

A loving papa.

And loving aunt/uncle too!  :)

You can't build gingerbread houses without tasting the goods!

And so did Hunter.

A throw-in from Halloween night.

Marine Corps Marathon is done!

The marathon is behind us, and with a finishing time of 3:43:28!  Thanks to all for the support, and especially my wife who is caught red-handed below!

Thanks for the motivation Coach!  ;)

Getting some nutrients at mile 20, just before the 14th St bridge.

Just havin' fun

Just a few pics of recent playing, decorating and enjoying donuts!  Enjoy!

Candy corn dress made for Maddie by Grammy.  Can you tell she's been eating chocolate?

Just hanging out.

Enjoying the local park.

Decorating mini pumpkins.

Krispy Kremes decorated for Halloween!

Our beloved dane.

Follow Bill along the Marine Corps Marathon!

You can sign up at the following website to receive emails, texts, tweets or Facebook messages of all the splits as Bill runs the marathon this Sun. Start time is 0800 EST, and he's hoping to finish in under 4 hours.  Results will be delivered instantaneously.  Sign up and cheer him on!

Follow Bill here!

Fall camping

So we took off from the big city last week for some fall camping in the Shenandoah mtns and it was awesome!  We found corn mazes, pumpkin patches, caverns and a southern kitchen serving great food!  It was our longest venture in the camper thus far, and we continue to learn tricks of the trade to make each trip a little better.  The leaves were starting to change and it was beautiful.  We landed in New Market, VA in the heart of Civil War history, but admittedly didn't take much of that history in this time around.   It was a wonderful trip....enjoy the pics.

In the corn maze!

Funny lookin' haybale.

Sporting some new boots.

Inside Luray caverns.

Supporting the Vols, even though they were playing #1 LSU!

Bill got in on the fun @ the corn maze farm!

Happy Birthday Maddie!

So our 'little' girl just turned 4 years old!  Grammy & Pop Pop were able to come up for the week, and everyone had great fun.  Bill had to fly to AZ for a couple days, and ran a Marine Corps trail race through Prince William Forest, so having them around to help w/the kids and the house was wonderful.    Shannon may have had a b'day too, but unfortunately we didn't capture any photos of that.  Her big gift was tickets to see Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center, and that's where we're headed today!  Woohoo!  Grandma/Grandpa were up just a couple weeks before, and so we were prompted to keep unpacking and getting the house in order.  Thanks to both g'parents, as they both helped so much around here!  Enjoy the pics...

Surprise!  Her new Dora tent.

Maddie loves her new Dora tent from G'ma/G'pa!

Can you say 'all boy'?

Grammy & Pop came for a week....Charlie wanted in the picture too!

Maddie in her new tutu on her big girl bed!

Maples Family photos

This post is for all those who haven't seen the pics from our Maples' outing to Cannonsburg (in Murfreesboro) this May.  It was in the midst of the cicada season, so Maddie was petrified for most of the outing.  Hunter on the other hand was fascinated, but he also showed his true colors with an occasional fit.  Nonetheless, it was a good day and we have wonderful memories to share.  Enjoy!

Swimming & Camping

This post is mostly pics from recent swimming occasions, but also a couple from camping and around the house. We enjoyed a visit from Grandma & Grandpa while Bill was on travel to Vegas. The visit helped expedite furnishing our guest suite downstairs, so this is an open invitation to come visit! After their visit, we hooked up the camper and spent a long weekend at Lunga Park again. It was a nice break and we enjoyed catching up w/friends as well. Still getting the house arranged and furnished, but trying to mix in some camping and site-seeing along the way. Enjoy the pics and come visit!

This used to be daddy's fun cape!

Keep that look Maddie....for the next 20yrs! :)

Maxin' & relaxin' in the camper.

These guys came right up to our camper. And they hiss!

Enjoying the kiddie pool.

Maddie's swim lessons.

Maddie's new haircut & her yearbook from Montessori.

Grandma & Grandpa doing the spoiling thing! DONUTS!!

Been awhile....

So I realize it's been a LONG time since we last posted, but we've had just a few changes. In no particular order we: shipped our kids to TN for a month, moved 3000+ miles, saw lots of good friends/family along the way, packed & unpacked our entire house, bought an RV, started a new job in the Pentagon, and a few other things. It has been a whirlwind of a couple of months, and we're finally settled in Alexandria, VA...very close to Mt Vernon. We're renting a house here in a very friendly neighborhood, and we're just 2 miles from the Mt Vernon bike trail that snakes along the Potomac River all the way into Wash DC! Bill has already ridden his bicycle to work and is running a lot (maybe in prep for another marathon?). Shannon is getting the house organized and has enrolled Maddie in swim lessons and preschool. The kids have adjusted and play so well together every day. The house is much larger than any other we've lived in before....translation: come visit!

The new Maples rig! Fun times ahead!

Heading home to TN! Thanks to both sets of gparents for sharing the load!

Bill's last flight @ China Lake. Preparing to get soaked!

Thought this was a pretty cool sign, esp considering it's in Las Vegas.

Did not expect a snowstorm as we passed through CO in late May! Not fun.

We drove through the same storm that leveled Joplin, MO. Not fun either!

Enjoying the botanical gardens in Huntsville w/the Hulls!

The kids enjoyed it too.

Nothing like popsicles on a warm summer day.