November 30, 2010

Day 334 - Playing!


Day 334 - Playing!
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
Blake is visiting & playing with Grandma's toys! He is definitely aware of what toys he wants and is able to hold on to them now for quite awhile. He is such a happy baby and loves laying on the floor, looking around, playing, laughing, and kicking.

November 29, 2010

Day 333 - Tired dog


Day 333 - Tired dog
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
Here Lucy is waiting for me to come up to bed. She is such a creature of habit. Her bed is in our bedroom, but she won't go to bed until we are both in the bedroom. Poor tired dog!

November 28, 2010

Day 332 - Tangled


Day 332 - Tangled
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
Scott is outside, putting up our new LED Christmas lights. I'm inside, removing the roof clips from the old strings. I wonder why they are such a tangled mess. Why did he put them away last year this way instead of coiling them up neatly? I love you, Dear!

November 27, 2010

Day 331 - New lights


Day 331 -
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
November 27, 2010 - We headed out to Home Depot today to pick up some new Christmas lights for outside. Lots of bulbs on our old strings are burned out and would be costly to replace, so we decided to make the switch to LED lights this year. There was a good sale on lights at Home Depot. I hope we bought the right amount!

November 26, 2010

Day 330 - Swimming!


Day 330 - Swimming!
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
I didn't take this photo, Cheryl took it and sent it with her cell phone. Cheryl, Seth, and Blake are in Iowa for Thanksgiving. This is Blake's first time in a swimming pool. He loved the water! I love how this photo shows his Dad's love for him.

November 25, 2010

Day 329 - Thanksgiving!


Day 329 - Thanksgiving!
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
YUM, pumpkin pie! If it were up to me, I would start my Thanksgiving meal with dessert!
We were a small group at Thanksgiving this year. Kristin spent the holiday in San Francisco. Cheryl, Seth, and Blake traveled to Iowa to celebrate with Seth's family. Scott & I spent the day with his parents, Aunt Mimi, and my brother, Ted, at Uncle Bruce's house. We have a lot to be thankful for this year!

November 24, 2010

Day 328 - Long car ride


Day 328 - Long car ride
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
Cheryl sent this photo via cell phone. They are on their way to Iowa for Thanksgiving. This is Blake's first really long car ride. He is being a great passenger!

November 23, 2010

Day 327- Blake!


Day 328 - Blake!
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
Cheryl, Seth, and Blake will be leaving for Iowa tomorrow. We will miss having them with us on Thanksgiving. But, we enjoyed a nice visit at their house today! At 3.5 months old, he is really beginning to interact with toys & people. Here he is sitting in his chair at the kitchen table, hanging onto his keys.

He also likes books and loves to be read to already. Here Grandma reads him a story before he goes down for his nap. I look forward to doing LOTS of reading with him in the months and years to come.

November 22, 2010

Day 326 - Turkey


Day 326 - Turkey
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
We always decorate the house a little bit for Thanksgiving, even though we aren't entertaining family here on Thanksgiving Day. I love this colorful turkey windsock that hangs outside our front door.

November 21, 2010

Day 325 - College Buds


Day 325 - College Buds
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
We've recently reconnected with some college friends. Tonight we enjoyed a fabulous dinner with Steve, Mo, Hawk, and their wives at Mo & Debbie's lovely home. Steve & his wife were visiting from CA. Scott actually knew Steve before college since they went to elementary school together. Friendships that span 35-50 years are amazing!

November 20, 2010

Day 324 - Dining Room Table


Day 324 - Dining Room Table
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
We have a monthly supper club with two other couples. Tonight is at our house. The table is set, most of the cooking is done, and now it is time to enjoy time with friends!

November 19, 2010

Day 323 - Scary!


Day 323 - Scary!
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
Hmmm, I was nervous going in to my appointment with the neurologist today. I was scheduled for a test to diagnose numbness I've been feeling in my feet. When I saw this equipment in the exam room, it did NOT ease my mind! I think my doctor needs a new cart for this set up so that she doesn't have a mish mash of wires held with scotch tape!

November 18, 2010

Day 322 - Playing with Grandma

Our daughter, Cheryl, went back to work this week after being on maternity leave since Blake was born. She is lucky to have been offered a part time job in her district, so she will only be working 2-3 days a week. I'm even luckier, as I will be babysitting for my adorable grandson every Thursday! I am so blessed!

November 17, 2010

Day 321 - Break time!


Day 321 - Break time!
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
These are break time choices that the children in a special education class have. Before beginning work time, they choose what they want to do when they are finished with the work session. Kids with autism are often very motivated to work when they are allowed to take sensory breaks.

November 16, 2010

Day 320 - Sleeping dog


Day 320 - Sleeping dog
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
This is Lucy, curled up and sound asleep on OUR bed this morning. It looks like we'll be encouraging her to stay in her bed!

November 15, 2010

Day 319 - New bed


Day 319 - New bed
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
Lucy's new bed arrived today. I had to order her a new bed because she chewed up her old one when she was staying at The Doggie Playhouse while we were on vacation. I ordered this bed online from Fetch Dog. I think she likes it!

November 14, 2010

Day 318 - Happy Birthday!


Day 318 - Happy Birthday!
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
We celebrated my father-in-law's 80th birthday today! His family knows him well, as everyone gave him very funny cards that brought out oodles of belly laughs. Two things I love most about him are his great sense of humor and his strong love for family. Happy birthday, Bob!

November 13, 2010

Day 317 - Expressions!


Day 317 - Expressions!
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
One of my friends has a daughter who is a senior at BGHS and a member of The Expressions Show Choir. Each year, they have a fund raiser dinner, silent auction, and show to raise money for their competition trips. They are sounding great this year!

November 12, 2010

Day 316 - Sunset


Day 316 - Sunset
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
Living in a densely populated suburban area near Chicago, we don't often get a good view of a great sunset. So, when we do get a glimpse of one, I can't resist snapping a photo!

November 11, 2010

Day 315 - Traveling!


Day 315 - Traveling!
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
Cheryl and Blake are going to Denver today to visit Auntie Kristin. It will be Blake's first trip on an airplane. I'm really proud of Cheryl for traveling alone with Blake. I know they are going to have a fabulous time!

November 9, 2010

Day 313 - Sleeping baby


Day 313 - Sleeping baby
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
Our grandson, Blake, is 3 months old today. He is growing so fast! We know that we won't have too many more months when he is small enough to cuddle and fall asleep on a shoulder, so we are taking advantage of all the snuggle time we can get. What a wonderful way for Scott and I to spend an afternoon!

November 8, 2010

Day 312 - Celebrating Life!


Day 312 - Celebrating Life!
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
My dear friend and colleague, Ann, died from breast cancer several years ago. Each year, near her birthday, many of us gather for a dinner to celebrate her life. We had 20 friends around the table tonight at one of our favorite restaurants. Several friends always help brighten the table with decorations, flowers, and candy, all in pink to honor Ann's heroic fight. This year, we were able to celebrate a new joy. Ann's husband remarried this year and her 3 young children are now blessed with a new mom who loves them very much.

November 7, 2010

Day 311 - Good-bye Halloween

Now that we are home from vacation, it is time to put away the Halloween decorations! This pumpkin always makes me smile. My mom made by needlepointing on pieces of plastic canvas.

November 6, 2010

Day 310 - Wedding vows


Day 310 - Wedding vows
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
We've watched our neighbor, Caroline, grow up. She is a beautiful young woman. It was so delightful to share her joy on her wedding day and to celebrate with our dear friends from the neighborhood where we have lived for 28 years.

November 5, 2010

Day 309 - Long trip!


Day 309 - Long trip!
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
We are finally home after a very long day of driving. We decided to make the return trip all in one day so that we could attend a wedding tomorrow. We made it safely after driving 987 miles from Hilton Head, SC to Arlington Heights, IL.

November 4, 2010

Day 308 - Berries


Day 308 - Berries
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
Our plan for today was to hike in the wildlife refuge near Hilton Head. We were able to get about an hour of hiking in before it started to rain. It is a lovely place to enjoy the South Carolina flora and fauna!

November 3, 2010

Day 307 - Bike ride


Day 307 - Bike ride
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
We took a long bike ride today. The sand is hard enough here that it is easy to ride on the beach near the water. We enjoyed the views and seeing the wildlife.

November 2, 2010

Day 306 - The Wilkes


Day 306 - The Wilkes
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
Today we made the drive from Hilton Head to see the sights in Savannah, GA. Scott's brother had recommended that we visit The Wilkes restaurant for lunch. I'm so glad we did! There was an incredible amount of delicious, Southern food, served family style at tables of ten. This restaurant has been in business and run by the Wilkes family for 40 years.

November 1, 2010

Day 305 - Ocean!


Day 305 - Ocean!
Originally uploaded by Karin Beil
We spent today at the beach. It was a beautiful, sunny, warm day! The ocean was very calm and pretty. In this photo, Scott is standing in the water, enjoying the view.