Where did the last 25 days go?

Okay, so I have been blog absent lately. Sorry. We've been busy. Doing what? Well, over the last 45 days we've had company for 27 of them (and more coming on the 19th). Then, in between Eleanore has been sick (last week she had a temp of 102 for three days straight), and of course work, church and getting ready for Christmas has filled in the gaps. We've loved, loved seeing our family, but just haven't had time to keep up on the blog. So, sorry.

First, my sister Miriam and her husband Ryan and their little one Milly arrived from Colorado in the middle of October. The very next day my sister Melisa and her family (husband Blake and kids Grace, Cache, Jonah and Mason) arrived from Washington state. We had an awesome visit hanging out at the beach (Venice beach looking for shark's teeth and basking the the powder sugar sand at Siesta), swimming in the pool and spent a day at the Magic Kingdom. Our visit was interrupted when we went to Utah for Bryan's Grandpa's funeral -- but we still seemed to have plenty of time to really enjoy each other's company and make some fun memories (including Ryan sporting a vacay mullet for 90% of the trip, the babies learning to play together, a girl's night of pedicures, an authentic Florida fish fry, making hair bows and staying up late chatting. Nothing beats spending time with your sisters! I love them so much and am so grateful they took the time and spent the money to come visit us!!!

Bry and I at the Ringling Mansion in Sarasota. This is the view at sunset from the patio. BEAUTIFUL!!!


How the babies spent their time at the beach.

The whole gang at Snook Haven (a little lunch pit on the Myakka River just across the street from our house.)

Milly and Eleanore meet Goofy!

Love this pic because Miriam and I have one just like it from when we were little! Both girls loved bathtime.

After company left I had a lot of laundry to do. It seemed to take over our living room. I worked on folding for several hours, when in to the bathroom and came out to find this:

My helper had crawled into the middle and messed up my piles along the way! Oh well...I guess it was fun for her (and she probably felt neglected from the day of cleaning that preceded this event!).

Our next round of company was my mom and sister, Kim. It was so, so nice to just hand out with them. It was a relaxing trip. We spent three days at the beach, one day at Magic Kingdom and a couple of days at Shay's house in Orlando for Thanksgiving. They even helped me with mutual one night and taught my girls to make pie -- it was a hit! Kim was dubbed Aunt Mimi (Eleanore has two Aunt Kims so this will work well) and was super auntie...soooo nice to Eleanore!

Eleanore with Uncle Rick (my Dad's brother) on Thanksgiving.

Mom took over the kitchen and made a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner!

Eleanore's first Thanksgiving.

Two trips to Disney World in one month -- I think this little gal is pretty lucky! Too bad she isn't old enough to really appreciate it. Actually, though she did have a good time. She loved "It's a Small World" the whole time she would point at the "children" and say "dah-dah" (that's "doll-doll"). I would've just gone on that ride over and over to watch her happy little face, it was so cute!

Mom, Bryan and Eleanore on the Carousel.

On the tea cups.

The whole gang after a fun day at the park. (It was cold that night -- like 35 degrees...burrr!)