Christmas in Blacksburg

We celebrated Pa's birthday and a snow-covered Christmas in Blacksburg this year. Thank you for these photos, Pa!

Lydia to Russell in Dec: You're not being nice. You need to stop that or I'm going to call Santa... and I can call him because I know his 800 number.

Baby Ayla is a treat to snuggle and hold!

Winter 2009-2010

Russell said: "Dominic calls me Russell. But I call myself (whispers) SPIDERMAN!"

To Dad by Russell: "Yours hairs is going to come off."

Russell started singing spontaneously at the table:
"Bring me out to the baseball game
Buy me some peanut butter crackers"

Russell asked:
Can I earn my Superman cup (potty training reward) when I turn 16?

Russell's first little girl friend is Ashley at the Spears YMCA. He says her name so carefully. It sounds like "Asha-lee". One day, he commented that she is always telling him that she loves him. I asked, "What do you do then?" He quickly replied, "I walk away."

Russell sang this to the tune of the Hokie Pokie "Austin gets to come to my house. That's what it's all about!"

Russell: Why do we have to keep going to the Honda place?
Mom: To get the oil changed in the car
Russell: Oh. Do they have to do my car seat?
Mom: What?
Russell: Do they have to put oil in it too?

Russell is rather strong-willed. He can easily fuss and cry for 20 minutes. We've had to take him home from restaurants because he didn't get to sit alone with his cousin (no one else in the booth, he insisted). Also, it's not unusual for us to ask him to do something and then he'll try this reply: "Well... it's possible."

During the half-time show at the Superbowl, Russell disappeared and quickly reappeared with his organ. He performed for us right along with The Rolling Stones. Russell, will you grow up and be a performer?

My 40th Birthday

My cake was amaretto-flavored, from Maxie B's in Greensboro.

J.T. and I realized that we met 20 years ago this month. It's half-time and I feel so fortunate to have him!

In our living room with sweet friends Marcello and Ellen

Jen and Julie pulled things together. Thank you!

Preschool Christmas Show

Russell was front and center in his first performance ever.

Having Mom on hand for the preschool show and lunch made things extra-special!

Holiday Prep

We watched "Elf" for the first time

We love having Austin over on Tuesdays- which he calls "Russell Day". It usually falls on their "Garbage Day" and both events are thrilling for the boys!

Russell's best little 3-year-old buddies are Dominic McKinley and Austin Joyce. Austin is already 4 but it looks like they'll be in the same entering grade at the local elementary school in 2 years. Fun! Austin's Dad, Glenn, is one of JT's co-workers. Russell is all about friends (like Lydia, especially). When I asked if he wanted to begin his school career, he said "Yes." I asked him "why?". He thought for a moment and then said, "because there are more friends over there than there are here" (we were at home alone).

When Austin was over for a play date this week, Russell heard that I had offered to give Austin a clean shirt (he had dripped some chocolate milk on his). Russell really wanted for Austin to change his shirt so he said in his most parental voice, "Austin Thomas... you need a clean shirt!" Apparently, "Thomas" is a universal word that means BUSINESS! A few days later, he tried to get my attention by stating emphatically: "Mommy McCain Thomas!" He has also been known to gain my attention by tapping my arm, saying "Hello... is there anyone in there?" and turning around my swivel desk chair.

Tatum was a nice last-minute addition to our tree-shopping crew!

Thanksgiving 2009

Lydia's 2nd grade class (she's in pink)

Russell and Daddy pose in the teepee.

Great friends, family and food!

Fall Leaves and Fun 2009

Pretty leaves near our local elementary school

We had hail damage to our roof and this photo shows our happy replacement day.

Our good friends from school at our church

Ross and Lydia's new piano teacher :)

We are Buddy Walk regulars (go Adam!) and this year we got to sit in a fun sports car, too!

Fall 2009

I made new friends at a beach scrapbooking weekend

Ross and Lydia took piano for one year in Colfax then we took a year off. We're so glad to have Mrs. Kemerer as our new piano teacher for Ross and Lydia!

This scene with Russell is all too common.

Halloween at home.



Throwing in a vintage photo here of my older two kids with their Bishop cousins in 2005.

Jen Chauncey had knee surgery followed by several sleep-overs in our guest room. She couldn't go home because her family was fighting the swine flu so we got to keep her for ourselves!

Russell: Quotes and BooBoo

Lydia to Megan, our babysitter, as I was warning her that Russell was in a grouchy mood. "Yeah, he's like a popsickle that you leave outside too long. He melts down."

We need our kids in order to keep us on the straight and narrow, don't we? When I was rinsing fresh produce, Russell warned me, "Mom... You're going to run out the battery if you keep using the water like that!"

Russell got stuck on this phrase then found a way out:
"Mom, can I wear this Bob the Builder shirt to BF.. to BF (He means BSF or Bible Study Fellowship)... to the place tomorrow?"

While I was typing on the computer: "Mom, I want to go to Curious George.com or Bob The Builder.com"

We recently went to a fun movie. Russell refers to it as "Sunny With a Chance of Meatballs."

Talking to his buddy Austin, Russell said poetically, "It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is getting wet."

Russell fell at preschool on October 9th and had his first trip to Urgent Care- glue, not stitches on his upper forehead. He was a trouper!

Jen's MOPs Convention

Last year, MOPs International (Mothers of Preschoolers) invited Gary Chapman to again make a presentation at their annual convention. This time, he declined but kindly suggested that they invite me. I agreed, made my plans to travel to Nashville, lined up the Thomases to hold down the fort (thank you Gamma Beth and Pa!), and made the trip. I enjoyed participating in their conference at Opryland. I gave two talks about The Five Languages of Apology . It was a great experience for me and a nice little breather from changing diapers and wiping up things at home.

Russell From His Ultrasound Pics to Preschool

Russell was my first baby to get the fancy new 3D Ultrasounds (in April 2006). It really looked like him!

And now he's a big Preschooler!

JT's Birthday

The Bishops celebrated with us at the bowling alley off of Wendover Ave.
JT got his favorite kind of cake: German Chocolate (from Maxie B's)

Above: Lydia made a fancy picture frame for JT
Below: Ross made a list of completed marathons for his Dad