Our Sweet Pea

For an 8-month-old, Halloween is about allowing your mom to snap some photos of you in a Geddes-inspired legume and answering the door for trick-or-treaters with a smile. Lauren managed to stay happy in her sweet pea costume for about 3 minutes when she realized the peas restricted her rolling over. Mom was still happy she got the coveted cute photo. Thanks to Becca/Zachary for the outfit. If you're reading Anne, call us.

Trying to sit as a pea...

Not succeeding...

Lying in defeat

Daddy might like this vegetable!

Einstein Heather

For my work Halloween party I dressed up like the life-sized pop-up Albert Einstein in my boss' office. I won the costume contest and got $25! It's not the Nobel Prize, but it will do.

Halloween is also my anniversary at Intrepid. It's been a great year and I look forward to more fun with this great group.

Lauren's Two Front Teeth

Early last week Lauren woke up with teeth. Almost as soon as we noticed the first one, the one next to it started creeping up. They are still working on breaking the surface, but if you look closely, you'll see the two little white nubs on her bottom gum. She is proud to show them off with her biggest smile! (You may have to zoom in on the photo)

Grandpa's Funeral

This weekend we had the privilege of celebrating Grandpa Gollaher's life. I'm grateful he had the chance to meet Lauren first. At the funeral, Aunt Shaunie shared a list of things he had written that he was grateful for in his life. They included his family and their service to the church, his grandchildren and their service to the church, grandma's cooking (of course), his parents for teaching him how to work and the priveledge of being born in this country. The sisters were able to sing together, "Precious Lord, Take My Hand," at the funeral, which was an honor. Dad shared how he was a transitional figure for his family in both receiving an education (two master's degrees) and being sealed in the temple and staying faithful in the church.

The Navy honor guard paid salute at the gravesite and was amazing. I know Grandpa was so proud of his country and service in the war and we're proud of him. I'm glad he can be with his siblings and parents again. I will miss his hugs and sense of humor. When I would hug him and rub his back he would always say he would give me 20 minutes to stop that. It was great to have the whole family there together and spend time - especially Joe home from Iraq (LUM).

Our last photo visiting Grandpa

The fam together again

Has any baby ever been so loved??!!

Our "First Family" Trip

Click on this to view - Really cool art wall at the National Art Museum

Our family took a trip to Washington D.C. last week to visit our good friends, Chris and Becky Wickstrom, and also see the sites. Neither of us had been to the capital since we were young - me 6, Jay 8. We saw all the monuments, Smithsonian, Art Museum (which Jay could have done without, but like the Louvre, I had to see it all), Library of Congress, Temple, National Archives, National Zoo and Gettysburg.We had a fabulous multi-course meal every night ala Bec and for the first time since having Lauren, I gained weight on the trip. Transportation was a cinch with the Metro. Some things we learned:

• Everything is free in D.C.!
• When you bring a stroller to the National Archives, they let you jump the line for the Declaration of Independence/Constitution through the handicap entrance.
• Bec is a great cook, but not as good as Jay at Mario Cart.
• The Metro's rule of no eating apparently doesn't apply to boogers.
• Lauren could stare at fishes and fountains all day.
• Jay is an expert on Gettysburg after doing a report on it in 8th grade and is a great tour guide.
• You can see all the monuments in an hour if you have Chris driving you to the curb and swinging around to get you after five minutes.
• Now when Lauren asks to go to D.C., we can tell her she's been there.

And just because Lauren is cuter than the sites, she will be featured in most of the photos below:

At the National Art Museum (about the only moment of happiness there)

King of the monuments

At the FDR Memorial

At Bob Evans in small town Maryland on the way home from Gettysburg

At the WWII Memorial where an Asian tourist wanted to take Lauren's photo

Surprisingly the only photo of Becky at Gettysburg (fab shades)

The ratio of Lauren vs. Elephant at the Natural History Museum

(For Bec) At the Library of Congress

Loving the fountain at the Sculpture Garden

As close to the White House as we got

I know it's a longer than usual post, but I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks to Becky and Chris! - hgb

Welcome!

I finally caved. Welcome to our blog. Please visit often to see the latest photos of Lauren.