An Extraordinary, Ordinary Saturday Morning

With two girls, two dogs, and two full-time jobs that can have unusual hours, we are learning that nothing can be taken for granted, particularly a lazy Saturday morning spent together as a family.

We started out the morning with a little breakfast (which after the week of stomach bugs we've had, this in itself is quite an accomplishment). Caroline had some oatmeal, and gradually became more efficient at getting it from the bowl to her mouth.



Lily took a perch on the table to watch the show....and listen to the Fresh Beats on Mama's phone. Which reminds me, I asked my Micro class on Friday if they have heard of The Fresh Beat Band. The response..."No, is that, like, some group from the 80's?"


Thatcher, ever the dignified one, couldn't bare to watch the spectacle.






But Gator kept opportunistically close in the event a little something dropped his way.


When the vacuum came out after the family walk this morning, some eager to lend a hand, while others attempted block out the noise by any means possible.

Caroline at the Beach

As part of the pictures for Papa series, here are some beach pictures of Caroline from Christmas time. We'll work on taking some more recent ones and getting those posted in the next few days.

TJO

I am comforted by how many times a day I think of my father.
I realize now that his voice will never leave me and that is a
treasure I rely on.

WarDog

The Boys have been feeling a little neglected over the past years and wanted some more pictures of them being posted to the web. Since they both seem to have overcome their fear of the new camera, taking and posting some pictures of them is a bit easier. The Boys were hanging out with us one night while we were reading and studying after the girls had gone to bed.

As an aside, Thatcher has always had a proper English name....Thatcher Fitzwilliam Campbell. However, Gator has never had a middle name. After reading War Horse....I've decided that the perfect middle name for him is WarDog.

The Emerging Personality of CJ

The emerging master of facial expressions.



CJ even found a way to add her emerging personality to her sleeping.



This evening we were playing a combination game of telephone and hide and seek....who could those two little feet behind the curtain belong to?

Its CJ!

The Harkey Clan

Christmas in Hilton Head, 2011

A Fine Fellow

Congratulations Emily on matching to the Wake Forest Fellowship in Sports Medicine for the 2012-13 academic year. The Demon Deacons will be in good hands.....even this guy!

Christmas Day - family and fun!

After the excitement of Santa's visit and all the presents wore off we went over to Uncle Kevin and Aunt Carrie's unit for a big family brunch.







Trying out the new pink Radio Flyer Santa brought Lily for Christmas




Having fun on the new princess off-roading quad!



Uh-oh....the blondie has gained control of the rocket launcher!


Clowning around with Uncle Jonathan

Christmas Morning - Did Santa come?

Of course he did! And he brought some exciting presents this year, including a new pink bike and "the Ariel movie." Here are some of the sights from Christmas morning this year :)

Peeking around the corner...its all anticipation!


Apparently Santa and his reindeer were very hungry last night....though you don't need to be too hungry to find Gran's cookies delicious!



Checking out stockings so full Santa could not hang them back up!





Unwrapping "the Ariel movie"!!!





Poor Caroline was pulling double duty Christmas morning, opening presents and taking pictures of herself doing it!





Nana and Papa's princess quad looked like so much fun to ride that....


Caroline spent a lot of time riding on the box instead!


Somehow, when the monkey bread came out, Daddy picked up a "lil' snuggie"...