Catching Up...

We are playing catch up for sure! These are AJ's six month portraits...by the way, past these portraits, this posting is in reverse chronological order...ooopps!

I couldn't help but to admire the fall colors...this is the view from my craft room, talk about inspiration!

Arian and I celebrated 6 years of marriage by taking our first family trip to Galena, IL which is in the NW corner of the state. The drive up and back was lovely, autumn added to the entire ambiance of the trip. AJ was fantastic the entire drive up (6 hours) playing and mostly sleeping.

Sr. and Jr. posing in front of the fireplace in our room

Pics from our balcony

The view from our room was awesome!

All bundled up!

...heading into town, to Galena's Main St....


What I tried to capture here was how hilly the landscape is, we learned that it was because the glaciers did not pass through this area eons ago...

It was chilly, but pleasant...we were so grateful that it did not rain as forecasted while we were there, so we were able to enjoy the town...beginning with a trolly ride with a tourguide who shared the highlights of this historic town (est. ~1836, birthplace of President Ulysses S. Grant, etc.)


one of the town's historic mansions, turned museum...
Galena has a gazillion overlooks, this was a view from the trolly looking down on the town

Galena's Main St. is filled with quaint shops, classic storefronts, and sections of original cobbled stone sidewalks...the architecture is stunning!

The lobby area of the resort...

We drove down from Galena to visit Rayshawn and Sabrina in Chicago...we always have a great time!...

...and then we stayed in Lombard, IL...our old stomping grounds...where we were able to fellowship with our former church family the next day...
We came back home just in time to celebrate with our cousin Kayla...she turned 13 on Oct. 17th...an "official" teenager WOW...so this began to make Arian and I feel a little old only because we remember Aunt Janice was pregnant with Kayla when Arian and I started dating!

Paw Paw Everett over for a visit & getting in a few stories before bedtime

Our cousin Charla and her daughter Samara were visiting from California and we're so glad that we had a chance to spend time with them! It's amazing, it seems like yesterday that we were just playing together as children and here we are with our own :)

In this pic AJ is 7 months, Samara is 5 months

Charla and her baby girl

Some pics you just can't resist...I don't know what it was about seeing him in this cute little fleece, but I just had to take it!

...giving greenbeans and bananas try..."two thumbs up!"

...Sweet Dreams...

Sometimes you play yourself right into Snoozeville

Cheering Malik (newphew) on at one of his football games

transitioning to a sippy cup like a champ!

"...actually, Mom's water is even better!"

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Mmmm...baby Mum Mum's (rice biscuits)

Our family from Mississippi that came up to help celebrate Mom Everett's homegoing

Jermaine, April and their son Jermarius stayed with us

a glimpse of AJ's first two teeth coming through...

okay, so you can't see his teeth in this photo, but he's just having so much fun!

Theo, Maurice and their children Joe and Venus (aunt, uncle and cousins) watched AJ for us...

Theo and AJ

Joe off to school

Gary, Arian's childhood friend, visiting from Atlanta. This was his first time meeting AJ.

"hmmm...and then if I spin it around like this it will stay on...fascinating!"

Our dear friend, Jonathan, came to visit from California...this was his first time meeting AJ

...this is one way you know your child has out grown a toy, when he's had so much fun he's pulled it down...don't worry folks, no one was harmed-it's all cloth and foam... :)

At daycare this day, we all celebrated Aubrenae's (our niece) 1st birthday

Daycare children

My Mom holding the Birthday Girl! Everyone gathered to sing...

Aubrenae with here mommy (Brittany)

Proud Grama: AJ and Aubrenae
Sr. and Jr. with Grandma Harris

AJ's first time with being spoon fed cereal

WHEW! All caught up...for now!

HAPPY 6 MONTHS AJ!!!

Yes, it's true! AJ is now six months and making new discoveries everyday of the world around him. We celebrated his six months by taking a trip to our neighborhood library...also, here are some pics from the last couple of weeks...enjoy!

...on our way to enjoy the fish in the children's play area...





...and of course, we travel with Mr. Nebraska bear...

It was soooo great to see my friend Sydney (and she brought along two of her adorable nieces)! Sydney and I met in college and shared a love for theatre becoming fast friends. She also directed me in a few plays on campus. Now she travels extensively, has her very own Theatre Conservatory (http://thetofuchitlincircuit.wordpress.com/) where she shares her passion for directing...

...check out Jayla's B-boy stanz (some things just come naturally!)

Gabby (cousin) playing with AJ

Fallon stopped by for a visit...AJ enjoyed Auntie Fal's company!

I just love watching my baby sleep!

Jeff dropped Will off...Robin was officially in labor!

We loved having Will over...he's such a funny little guy. He is a great helper and enjoyed playing with AJ.

We read plenty of books (any guesses as to how many times I read Thomas the Engine...anyone? anyone?)

...and we even made homemade pizzas...yum!

Introducing....baby Robert...welcome to the world!!! Mom (Robin) and baby are doing just fine!

So, Ayanna, one of our dearest friends in the whole-wide-world just joined the 30's club. We also celebrated her moving into her very own home...it's beautiful...congrats Yanna...we love you!

Tammy, another friend from college, joined in on the celebration as well...she and her husband just celebrated their first year of marriage...yaay!

Tosha, her daughter Kyneddi and AJ

We must have stayed up 'til 3am or so catching up and laughing about our college days...what great memories!

Mommy stopped by for a visit

To New Beginnings...

I'll first proclaim that God is truly a keeper! This is never more striking of a realization than in the midst of a struggle. The title of this blog posting will make much more sense when we can share our testimonies to new career beginnings...stay tuned! Food for thought: What can you thank God for keeping you from today?!


This has been a great week because I've had the opportunity to see my niece Kiara and cousin Timia off the school bus during their first week of school...they are both in the 2nd grade and attend the same school. I couldn't help but to be just as giddy as they were when they came running off the bus so excited to share all the details of their first day...and there Deanna and I were ready to greet them with big hugs...PRICELESS!


The girls would have their snack, we'd talk and because their was no homework this week we even had time to do a little crafting :) They love reading to AJ so we did that as well. This was my cousin Kayla's first week of school too...she's an eager-to-learn Junior-High student...ya' gotta love it when young people are thrilled to learn at every opportunity!


So here are some pics highlighting this week...enjoy!