The zoo!

Toby and I took Annie to the zoo today.  Toby had taken her there before, but this was the first time the three of us had been to any kind of "amusement park" before.  Toby carried her in a front pack since she only walks about 10 steps at a time.  Takeaways: (1) 90 minutes is a good length of time for a baby, so the zoo membership makes sense. (2) Annie really likes flamingos, and sort of likes giraffes.  (3) She won't look at anything in trees, only things on the ground.  (4) Her favorite part was when we were on a big open path with nobody around, and daddy started to run and make funny noises.  (Bonus - we can do that almost anywhere.)

Update on the kitchen renovation - the cabinets are in, and they look great.  I'm guessing it will be two more weeks before it is done.  The toe-kick drawers are really cool.  I highly recommend them for small kitchens.

11 months!

Annie turned 11 months earlier this week.  We tried to take a few photos, but she was not particularly in the mood.  We did get this funny one with a flower clipped into her hair.  The flower was in her hair for - I kid you not - less than one second before she wrenched it off.  She does not tolerate bows, flowers, hats, or really anything at all on her head.  I think this picture should be called, "You Have GOT to be Kidding Me." Or pehaps, "Who the Heck do you Think You're Messing With?" 

Annie is taking lots of steps now - she just did four or so in a row standing all by herself and moving towards a toy.  Until now she was walking only between people. She gets so proud, it is very cute.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Annie celebrated by taking two steps on her very own! 

Kudos to Toby!

Not to brag on my husband, but he just had his work evaluation, and the written evaluation says, among other good things, "Toby is the top performer."  

Okay, I am bragging, and unapologetically at that.  Way to go, Toby! 

Toby's upcoming adventure

Toby was chosen to participate in Franklin's Citizens Fire Academy.  I was 100% on board until I learned that it will involve actually going into a house that is on fire.  I am now 85% on board.  On May 19 I may need to borrow some anxiety medication.  Until then, feel free to send stern emails to Toby reminding him of the danger of fires.

The website is below - have a look.

http://www.franklin-gov.com/index.aspx?page=330

Beth and James' wedding

I'm embarrassed by how long it has taken me to get this post together.  Work is insane, Annie is a handful, and sleep is lacking.  But today the temperature hit nearly 60 degrees and it was gorgeously sunny, so all is well with the world.

Now, on to more important things - Beth and James' wedding! Beth and James were married December 28th in the coolest place in the Yorkshire Dales - The Angel Inn.  The ceremony was in the wine cave - an intimate little cellar, all lit with candles, and the reception was in the pub.  The ceremony was beautiful, and the reception was great fun!  The food was absolutely marvelous...I hear the Angel Inn was one of the first pubs to start the "gastro-pub" movement. 

Beth was, as always, completely gorgeous, calm and composed.  James was, as always, the life of the party...though he managed to keep his face out of the cake, unlike at our wedding. :)

Here is the happy couple, late in the evening. 

Cake cutting! 

I love this photo, such a sweet moment!

Grannie (now Great-Grannie to Millie and Annie), partied late into the evening.  I think I was ready for bed before she was!

Showing proper British composure, this was the pose struck when I requested the Coopers give us a smooch for the camera.   Having already lost my composure by coming completely unglued while giving a reading during the ceremony, I apparently thought nothing of requesting my in-laws "give us a smooch." 

And finally, coming soon to a dance floor near you, "The Crawl."  Toby claims this was some sort of baby-protection move, but I was there, it was most assuredly an attempt at a new dance move. 

A fabulous time was had by all! 

10 months!

I can't believe that Annie is going to be a year old soon!  Toby and I took a couple of snaps today, but had a hard time getting into the spirit after a very fun night out last night.  Grandma and Grandpa kept Annie overnight while we went to a very fun wedding, followed by an attempt to re-live the old days with a night out on the town.  We felt very old and sober compared to the masses down at the honkey tonks...though I can promise that by the way we feel today, we were probably only older than everybody else.  We had a wonderful time with Toby's uncle's brother-in-law, Tim, who joined us in the fun.   He has the coolest job ever - he's a hotel reviewer who is forced to dine and take spa treatments at five star hotels and then rate the service.  I'm sure there are also less awesome parts of his job, but I'm still pretty sure it is the coolest job ever.

Anyway, here a couple snaps of Annie today - just before, and at the end, of bath time. 

As you can see, Annie was not amused by Toby's styling of her hair. 

Happy MLK Day tomorrow!