To a Special Red-Headed Uncle

Happy Birthday Uncle Chris, from the Simper Quartet.



We were thinking of you today. For Amelia, it was any excuse to make a cake! So we had a birthday party for you! We would have invited you, but the commute is a killer..... so from a distance, a very happy birthday to you! We love you.

Travels in Virginia

During our whirlwind trip to Virginia last month, we spent at night with Brian and Heather and the kids. (Alas, we were all so busy playing Sunday night that I forgot to take any pictures. I wish I had some of Zachary rolling around on his ball.) Bright and early the next morning — and I do mean bright — Michael and Nathaniel peddled off to school:



While Hayleigh and Zachary peddled around indoors:



In Virginia, we also visited Paul (who's teaching in Charlottesville) and Kate. We're going to England for their wedding a few days after Christmas. Here's Regina with Paul and Kate on the University of Virginia campus:



Since this will be my first trip to England — and our last big trip for a while! ;) — let me know if there are things you think should be on our itinerary.

Ah, back in warm October!

I keep meaning to post some photos from Regina and my adventures back in balmy October. After only eleven years in Massachusetts, we finally rented a canoe and paddled up the Concord River to the historic Old North Bridge where the Concord Minutemen chased off the British troops in that famous April battle that kicked off the American Revolution. (Okay: enough history!) Here's Regina in the lead, with the bridge in the background:



And here I am:



And here's where we got out of the river to stroll around:

Fall at the Woods

Life continues to be busy in Illinois for us, but we have managed to have some good times. We went to a "trunk or treat" at the church the Saturday before Halloween. Jeremy dressed up as a farmer with bad teeth and bushy eyebrows. I was a witch with purple embellishments and long black hair. Jeremy had a good time decorating the trunk like a haunted cemetery!

I tried to leave work at a decent time a few weeks ago but traffic was so bad that I stopped at the craft store. Two hours later I left the store with some silk flowers, a piece of green foam, and a ceramic planter. I ended up getting home later than usual and with a little less money! But this is what our kitchen table looks like now. I also bought some fabric to make a table runner and a christmas tree skirt, which I still need to make. (Moral of the story is don't try to drive home in all the traffic!)

And last, but not least, this is our pet: Fish. Yes, his name is Fish. Sometimes we call him "Fishy" for short. He's a crazy one, and I'll explain why. He is very picky about his food and will not eat soggy fish flakes, so we have to point to the fresh flakes until he eats them. He also get's very active in the bowl if he is hungry. He swims back and forth and if we put our finger at the surface of the water, he will jump up and nibble the tip of our fingers! The last thing is that when he is sleeping he doesn't move at all, but sometimes we think he has a bad dream, wakes up swimming rapidly around the bowl, and then just stops and sinks back to the bottom. Who said a fish couldn't be an exciting pet?!