Children's Christmas Party at VT-4 Squadron

This past Saturday Jeff, Elise and I went to the squadron (aka Jeff's work) Children's Christmas Party. Santa arrived in a T-6 full of presents which eventually were handed out to the kids. I don't think Elise really knew what was going on, she seemed to like walking around and finding other kids her age so she could share her pacifier with them! Elise got some new Cars from Santa.

Santa's Grand Entrance!!!

Elise fearing Santa Claus.

Finally, she accepts her gift and of course is more interested in the bow!

Elise about to crash after her big party.

Green Thumb Elise

Lately, Elise has been busy playing with all her new toys (birthday toys) and has been walking everywhere! Elise is saying Dada, but no Mama-yet. Below is a picture of Elise modeling in her beige puffy vest that Auntie Hartley just had to get her! It's fits wonderfully and is too cute.

Elise sacked out after a stroller ride. She likes to lounge!

Where is that shoe???

Elise discovered she has a green thumb while planting flowers with Grandma Brown.


She just has to help!

By the way, Thank you to everyone that donated to Scottish Rite we have approximately $1800! Thank you all! I think the next time we will donate will be for her 5th birthday.

Elise's 1st Birthday!!!

Elise turned one yesterday!!! We can't believe she is a year old. We didn't have a big party for her, but Grandma and Grandpa Brown came down for a birthday celebration and to spend Thanksgiving with us. Gifts that Elise received include the Little People Garage, Little People Airplane, cars and some touch and feel books. We also will be making a donation to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, thanks to the generosity of our family! We asked family to send donations instead of gifts and we are up to $1450.00!! We are so blessed! Thank you to all!

Below are pictures of Elise with her cake that Aunt Janet made especially for Elise. It was excellent!

Elise is attempting to blow her candle out .

Elise enjoying her cake that Aunt Janet made.

Here Elise is playing with her Little People Garage.

Elise and her touch and feel books.

Elise loved playing with the card that Aunt Andrea made for her.

Elise cheesing it!

Over the hill to Grandma's house

This past weekend we went down to see Grandma Diane and Grandpa Mike in Lake Alfred, Florida. That meant a seven hour car ride with an eleven month old. Rough. We were also able to hang out with "Steely" Dan Heely, and go to the Pasco County Bug Jam. We had a great time and met some of Mom and Mike's friends from Lake Alfred and went for a swamp buggy ride into some of the local orange groves.

Here's Grandma and Elise hanging around outside the house.

Here I am at the Bug Jam. Unbelievably, I got to meet the Higgins family. They make repair videos for VW's. Chad on my right does most of the welding, and his dad Rick performs most of the repairs. Rick has 50+ years working on VW's.


Grandma Diane and Grandpa Mike getting Elise ready for her warm-up birthday party


(Warm-up) Birthday girl enjoying her cake.


Mom, Elise, and Dad getting ready to blow out the candle.

House and Halloween Pictures

These are some long over due pictures of the outside of our home in Pensacola. I'll take some interior pictures once I have cleaned. :)

Mom planted some mums and pansies for me. The mums aren't doing too well. The pansies are in the flower box under the front window, they seem to be doing well.




Elise loves playing with Tinker!



Elise was a rabbit for Halloween. Her costume was thrown together at the last minute and just consisted of some rabbit ears and a white long sleeve onsie. To our surprise she kept her bunny ears on all evening. I think she is having fun posing in this and the next photo. Elise just happened to be playing in the bathroom at the time of the photo.

Back Home in Indiana

Elise and I went home to Indiana for a week. We flew, so that made for an interesting trip especially since the morning of our flight up to Indiana Elise threw up all over me. She flew pretty well except for the episodes of vomiting and dry heaving. Elise is now feeling better however she still is having some diarrhea.

While we were home we visited family and went to the Annual Cox Family Weiner roast. Elise fed Uncle Brians' cows some apples, visited her new second cousin Caroline Cox and recovered from her illness. Below is a picture of Elise and her Uncle Brian.

Caroline Cox born on 10/14/2007

Elise and Aunt Janet at the weiner roast.

Elise and Grandpa Brown up at Uncle Brians farm.

Fun at the Beach!

Today, we went to Barrancas Beach which is located on base here at NAS Pensacola. It is a nice beach and not crowded at all! We only stayed for about 30minutes, enough time for Elise to get a diaper full of sand!

Playing in the sand.

She loves the sand!

Mom and Elise

Dad and Elise

Elise and Grandma Brown

Elise with Grandma Brown who came down to visit last week. Grandma watched Elise for three days while I started a new job.

Elise helping Grandma to empty the dishwasher. Hopefully, she will keep this quality of cleanliness.



Such a good girl!

Elise loves to climb into anything these days. She especially loves this cabinet!

11th Annual Rare Air Emerald Coast VW Show

Here we are at the local VW car show. I dropped Courtney's mom off at the airport, got me some coffee and headed over to the show and arrived at 0530. Campers started moving around about 0600, and the gates opened to the public at 0700. They didn't announce class winners till after 1500, so it was a long day. Had a great time and talked with many people about VW's.
I took this photo.

I took this one also, but as you can see in the background, Courtney and Elise are done "playing around." After being at the show for roughly 23 minutes they felt it was time to go back home so they left me all by myself. I'm glad the Bug has been something that the whole family enjoys.

Here is my triumphant arrival back home. 1st place winner in the "in progress" category. I know some of you might think that there was probably only one car in that category, but I'll have you know that there were four. One of the judges also told me that I came real close to winning best paint. That really makes me appreciate the hard work that everyone did at the body shop where I had my car painted.

Elise was very proud of daddy. Seeing the other cars really motivated me to get to work on mine. I'd like to drive my car to the show next year.

Dinner Time

Lately Elise demands to feed herself. Messy

Disaster

After dinner we went to the park where Elise enjoyed her very first ride on the swing.

Elise and daddy at the park