'Tis better to give than to receive...

Last time we were at Kroger Madeline gave the Salvation Army lady a dollar and the lady gave her a sucker. Today as we passed Madeline asked if she could put money in a new lady's bucket. I gave her a coin and she ran and dropped it in. She waited expectantly, and the lady didn't know what she wanted, so she gave her the bell so she could give it a ring. Madeline's eyes lit up and she ran (still carrying the bell)back to me, grinning. I think she was much more impressed with this gift! The Salvation Army lady chased her saying, "wait, I need that!" and Madeline reluctantly returned the bell. So, now unfortunately she thinks that you're supposed to get things from the bell ringers. I'll bet the Salvation Army lady is more careful about who she lends her bell to!

CONGRATULATIONS TO RAYMEY!!!!!!

At 7am this morning we found out that RAYMEY PASSED THE OHIO BAR!!!!!! I knew he would, but you can't help but have the tiny gnawing doubt at the back of your mind, "what if....?" At the firm where he works there was a starting associate last year who didn't pass the bar, and had to retake it in the winter. We were just hoping that would not happen to us! He should be sworn in as an attorney sometime in the next couple of weeks. Please tell Raymey how wonderful he is! He's earned it:)
Other recent news: We closed on our house last Friday. We moved in on Saturday and have spent most waking hours scrubbing, wiping, steaming carpets, and unpacking. It is a lovely house, and really comfortable! On the way home from chuch last Sunday we had to drop by our old apartment for a couple of odds and ends. Madeline recognized where we were headed, and started to say, "NO! Not the tiny house, let's go to the new house!!!" It really upset her when we went there anyway, and for a while she refused to come in. Now it has become a good threat. "We have to take care of our house and keep it clean or else we have to move back to the tiny house..." Ahhh, it is great to be a parent and finally get to torture my own kid:)
Also, we found out a couple of weeks ago that we are having a BOY! I need to be a better blogger and post these things when they happen, but things have been a little crazy. We need to upload ultrasound pics, take house pics, and a halloween pic, but we just haven't gotten there. My "free" time is going to unpacking right now. OK, well I have done my blogging duty! Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Patch

Our internet connection is so bad that I can't get videos longer than 10 seconds to upload directly to our blog. I had to do the smilebox thing again. It is so much easier that way, but the pics and video are lower quality. Oh well, you get the idea! (The last 3 are videos and take a bit to load, but they're of Madeline singing and telling about ABC sounds!)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Spelling

Silly Girl

As I sat here talking to myself trying to update our background Madeline just announced, "OUR BLOG IS NOW A BLOG!!!" and she was really happy. Neither of us have any idea what that means, but it is truly exciting.

What's up?

Well, I haven't summarized our trip, but it was all I could do to pull together a few pictures (and we've been home for a month). We have been busy searching for a house. It was a difficult search! We looked at 25 different houses and on the 25th house we found exactly what we were looking for. It is a 4 bed 2.5 bath. We love this house! The owners just updated the kitchen and the bathrooms are great. It has an unfinished basement so if we happen to be here a long time we will have the option to finish it. We have an inspection this Saturday morning (don't worry, we'll be home for conference). I think we'll have to do a little painting inside, but that is by choice and will be a little bit fun!
Also, we will be finding out if we are having a boy or a girl on October 13th. I am 23 weeks now and we could technically have found out by now, but the way the appointments were scheduled it is a little late. Madeline can only think of the baby being a girl (all of her dolls are girls I guess) so if I suggest that "maybe it is a boy," she replies, "it's NOT a boy, maybe it's a girl." So, either she's a good guesser, or she's in for a big surprise!
Life is going well here, but just as we begin to get used to one area of Cincinnati we go and buy a house 25 min away (with a better commute for Raymey) and we have to start all over! I think that if we have to start over sometime, this is the time to do it. This should be the last move for a while!!!!

For Raymey

There you go. Now put a different picture on your work computer!!!