Our 5th Thanksgiving

This year was our fifth Thanksgiving and will be our fifth Christmas together. Sticking with our tradition, we spent Thanksgiving day decorating for Christmas. This year is a little extra fun because it is our first Christmas.

Of course, as the tree goes up, the cameras and cat come out to play. :)

Zoe can't jump... goofy cat.

Waiting for some Fuji 3000b instant film to develop!

Instant photo and coffee... good morning!

Some of our ornaments...

This is where Zoe will be residing for the next month.

Stuffed from our Thanksgiving dinner, time for PJ's and sitting back to enjoy. :)

With wine.

Expect lots more Christmasy photos in the future... I can't seem to keep my cameras away from the sparkly lights. ;-)

Homework

My girl is so ready to be done with school. She loves it, but it makes for a very full and, at times, very stressful schedule. I am ready to have my wife back from the world of textbooks and clinicals and late nights at class. But first, she has finals. So, she studies. And studies and studies.

I've never met someone so committed to their school work. She is the definition of focused and organized at times. She deservedly has the grades to back up that effort. 

It is quickly coming to an end, though. She had her last clinical shift this past weekend. A test, a practical, an interview, and another big test are all that stand between her and her license. 

Graduation is almost here! 

I know I say it a lot, but really, I don't think I could be more proud.

Okay, sometimes she daydreams and isn't so focused... ;-)

A sunset walk at the park...

A sunset walk at the park...

She steals my camera sometimes... 

Fall Fun!

I had the privilege of going to the park to play in the leaves with some super cute little people today! You can't go wrong with the carpet of leaves that covers the ground in St. Louis this time of year. Add cute kids (and some adults) and you have instant fun!

Foggy Morning

We woke up on Halloween morning to a heavy (creepy) fog that was actually quite gorgeous. 

My car windows are fun in fog and rain, too. :)

Autumn Colors

I took some time to get out of the house and enjoy this nice fall weather that moved in this weekend. The trees are all suddenly bursting with color. I took a film camera out with me yesterday, so those photos will be here a bit later. Today, I also took out the digital camera for some instant gratification. 

This time of year is one of my favorites, right next to snowy days. The cool breezes and colorful trees are such a nice change after summer. It's hard to imagine life without this colorful season.

Apple Pickin'

Part of the fun of pumpkin picking in Illinois is that you always get pick apples first. Or have a snack on the way to the pumpkins. :)

Kim's Birthday Cake

Zoe does not like fire.

Twenty seven... so, two single candles representing "10" each, plus a big "7". 27. :)

So, we discovered that Zoe loooooves cake. She licked a bunch of icing off of my cake back at my birthday. She wasn't sure of the sprinkles on Kim's cake, though. Goofy cat.

My birthday girl. :)