Playing and laughing

Why is Caleigh eating Zach's foot? Seems funny to all.

Hi Grandma Gwen and Grandpa Will! Thanks for letting us stay with you so long. We enjoyed hanging out and showing off for you.

Caleigh smiled too, but I loved this shot of her looking like a sad little turtle. Zach is happy about anywhere you set him.

While in Dayton (waaaay back before Thanksgiving)

We visited the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery one afternoon. The kids loved it and we had a good time too. It was a mix of science (like the science museum in Roanoke), play (like the please touch in Philly), museum (they had a mummy and artifacts), and an inside zoo. Pretty cool. There was water to float a boat, a big slide, sticky fish to touch in the pond, a tree house, river otters swimming (we hit feeding time!) and a place to dig for artifacts (actually fake attached-to-the-pit bones ;-)

Zach only picked up asparagus when we put him in the food bins in the little grocery store. I guess he was practicing sorting. He played in the little kid area, climbing over the rows of 'dirt' (little mounds) and sitting on an eggplant that was also a rocking chair. [I must say this was kind of a strange place, but fun.] Caleigh enjoyed working the microscope, but really laughed spending lots of time with Daddy over at the water sailing ships. We closed the place down and were sad that they'd closed the archaeological dig down early to clean up as Caleigh wanted to go back. All this 1/2 off with our Philly zoo membership. Crazy good time!

Our wee walker

Happy birthday to Zachary!! One year old on Sunday, December 7th, he's made great strides recently. ;-)

He took a couple of shuffles on his birthday, stepping with one foot and then back down to crawling. But on December 8th he took multiple steps at a time throughout the day (2-4). He saved his best walking effort for Daddy to see in the evening. He's already taken his first tumble from such a high position, too. But all is well here and we look forward to new adventures as he makes his way.

Good times

Yes, they had a good time together. And mostly enjoyed the photo shoot. Is that Zach eating the table?

The cousins hanging out

Can't tell you how much fun it is to try and take a picture of a group of kids. ;-) Each picture has it's own "charm" shall we say.

In the third picture we were able to capture Caleigh leaping with much joy while Eli takes the table apart (just kidding...no idea what he's doing under there).

There's Zach "pointing" out another valid argument to why he is the only one around here who can't walk. He is very clear about what he wants and doesn't want with that pointer finger and shaking his head no or vigorously shaking his head yes while flailing his arms and legs.

He liked being with the guys.

Ready for church

I can't claim even considering it, but Ohio State football fans at church really liked Zach's sweater. ;-) Even with the snowflake, I guess they were happy to see a little guy showing support for the team.

Caleigh was happy to show off her penguin shirt and dress. Gwen and Will even got her a stuffed animal to match it. Thanks!!

Here the kids are playing with another room of furniture for Caleigh's big doll house. She loves it!

We all enjoyed a lovely and yummy meal at Mimi's Cafe after church before eventually going our separate ways. We were sad to say goodbye to those going back to IN.

Some flattering pics

;-)

Caleigh deep in thought, trying to get the Balancing Cactus to stay balanced. Isaac with his Helmet Hero hat on (I also have a picture of his Dad with the hat on but I'll save it for later...HA!), with Grandma Gwen enjoying her new book.

Early Christmas!

We decided to just have the Nov/Dec holidays early and enjoy them together. Read -- we ate a lot and the kids exchanged gifts. ;-) Jeri liked dressing the doll with the magnetic clothes (she with two boys...). Eli read a lot from Caleigh's Bible book, which was very nice of him. We really should see each other more, but there's that 1/2 country to traverse.

Thanksgiving celebration (early in OH)

The Indy Schantzes (Matt, Jeri, Eli and Isaac) came over from Indianapolis area to Dayton for a weekend of fun. Isaac and Caleigh liked pushing keys and buttons on the piano. Eli took charge of the 'kids' table for meals and was helpful in getting the young uns to eat and stay seated.

The kids had a grand time playing and being together. It was good for the cousins to have time to interact and get to know each other again. They hadn't even met Zach! We were last together in Indiana the August before Zachary was born.

We think Zach looks stout in plaid. ;-) We were so busy enjoying ourselves (and wrangling kids) we didn't pose the kids with Gwen and Will. Stink! But we'll remember all being together.

Ice skating!

Before we left on our epic journey '08 Caleigh saw ice skating on the television. She hopped and spun around the room, asking if she could go ice skating!? So we investigated options and found a rink in Dayton. She was able to stand and move ever so slightly. She fell a couple times, but wasn't fazed by that. We were almost by ourselves mid-day, but there was one lady practicing a routine. So Caleigh wanted to lift her leg too...it was a fun time. Zach clapped for us but didn't want to join us on the ice. Thankfully, Mama didn't take any tumbles.

The best part, we think, was taking Caleigh out for a big cup of hot cocoa after ice skating. We got her the special 'whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles on top' one. As you can see, she enjoyed it very much! She even had her own kid table in front of the fire with books to enjoy. A good day!

Caleigh at Grandma Gwen and Papa Will's

We had a great time in Ohio with Grandma Gwen and Papa Will. Lots of reading, playing, hugging, eating (!), chatting and relaxing (esp. after the kids went to bed). Zachary followed in big sister's footsteps, learning to go up & down (repeat) the 1/2 step from the DR to the LR. He was very proud of himself, clapping and smiling and laughing at his big