Pre-Christmas Getaway

Toby and I took a pre-Christmas getaway last weekend to a fabulous place called Evins Mill. Evins Mill is located in middle Tennessee, and has a few guesthouses overlooking a creek and an old mill. It also has a few miles of hiking trails, a gorgeous waterfall and excellent food! The hike to the waterfall isn't very long, but it is a bit strenous at the end. Anyway, we had a blast and recharged our batteries, which was very nice indeed. Here are a few shots - I'm saving my favorite picture for its very own post.

The hike to the top of the waterfall was short and the weather was perfect for a little walk in the woods.

Sorry, ladies - this gorgeous man is already taken! Toby obviously had to take a dip in the FREEZING water. I have no idea about the exact water temperture, but the air was only in the 40s.

Here is a great shot, courtesy of Tobias Photography.

Check out Evins Mill at www.evinsmill.com

Doctors without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres

It looks like Toby's dad will soon be headed off on another trip with MSF (the agency we Americans know as Doctors without Borders). Zimbabwe has been experiencing a severe cholera outbreak, and Garrod has volunteered to help with the recovery effort. Read the link below for more information on the situation in Zimbabwe.

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=3223

Garrod has been on several trips with MSF, and has helped thousands of people affected by medical disasters and epidemics all over the world. Here is an article I found online describing his efforts back in 2002.

http://archive.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/2002/1/10/199502.html

Please keep Garrod, Sally, and the rest of the family in your thoughts. Garrod is one of those special heros most folks only hope of becoming.

New Feature - Tobias Photography

Toby is such a great photographer, so I've decided to start showing off some of his best work. Here is a photo he took from our backyard recently. That star in the distance is actually a planet. (I'm embarrassed to say that I don't remember which one...)

Christmas Tree fun!

Toby and I are reveling in our first Christmas as a married couple. Cuteness runeth over in the Cooper living room, with matching embroidered stockings and a tree skirt that says "The Coopers." I've never, as an adult, had a Christmas tree, and I've never ever had a fresh tree, so we had a great time picking one out over the weekend and decorating it. Here are some pictures of the process...I'm going to save the pictures of the decorated tree for another post.

Toby did an excellent job of keeping the tree attached to the car on the way home. I would have added about 10 more strands of rope, but Toby is obviously the family expert when it comes to knots and physics.

This is when I learned that one shouldn't even offer to help a man carry a reasonably-sized Christmas tree.

Above-referenced adorable tree skirt - courtesy of Grannie.

Happy Holidays!

Welcome, Baby Will!

Val and Ben welcomed little Will on November 15. Toby and I think this must be the very best day to be born, since both my mother and Toby's best friend were born on that day. Will is absolutely adorable and let me hold him for an entire hour without fussing (or even waking up, really). Tobias Photography was on hand, as usual, and got some great shots. Here are a few of my favorite photos:

Buster!

Michelle and Richard Barnett have a new family member! Michelle claims to be slowly warming up to Buster, but I think she's already in love! Congrats, Barnetts!

Jib Jab fun

Shannon found the most hi-larious Jib Jab program ever. That's right, ever. Follow this link to see the video she created for our group of work friends, then make your own!

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/zkdkQR8ZzlChKyNB75VO