Lisa n Tom (n James n Joseph)

Lisa writes: We hosted Thanksgiving this year, with 13 total. Joseph mistook Aunt Betsy for a teenaged babysitter and cried when he saw her. She was flattered. The turkey turned out perfect. I burned the rolls, but salvaged them by trimming off the bottoms. I burned the broccoli and just served it anyway. Joseph LOVED the stuffing and James LOVED the cranberry sauce. Johanna lost a tooth (and then actually lost it, and then Tom found it). A very rowdy game of Canfield was played. Everybody helped clean and divvy up the leftovers. Another one for the books.

Lisa writes: In between runs, the boys fooled around on the carpeted slope and Joseph tried on some ski boots (at his enthusiastic request).

Lisa writes: Cousin Hannah came down from New Jersey for the weekend. James LOOOOOVES her. He asked if she would stay "a hundred days."

Lisa writes: It was the birthday party for a one-year old named Magnus, but I'm pretty sure James is going to marry the little blonde on the left (Kiera) so I'm gathering content for the wedding reception video now.

Lisa writes: Here's the backstory: Our neighbor texted me on Monday that he had a photographer scheduled for Friday, but his family had a schedule conflict and couldn't do it, so would we like to that their slot? We'd been thinking we needed new pictures, so I said yes. What I didn't factor in was that we (a) had Grandma and Grandpa visiting and (b) had a ski lesson for James in the morning and (c) had a swimming lesson in the afternoon and (d) would have 5 minutes to actually get dressed and ready for these pictures and (e) it would be almost dark by the time of the appointment and (f) it was raining so we couldn't go anywhere outside except the carport. So now that you are properly prepared, here are some family pictures. P.S. And (g) James ate a bag of Doritos in the car coming home from swimming lessons and cheese-blasted his white shirt. P.P.S. I secured James's cooperation in this endeavor by promising him he could eat as much of his Halloween cand...

Lisa write: We had a friend's photographer come over to try and take pictures. It was dark. It was raining. We didn't spend much time getting ready. Here are the pics that my mom took as she followed the photographer around. I'm interested in seeing what sort of magic a professional camera and a lot of Photoshop can do. Extra bonus: James long ago figured out how to work the camera and video on both of our cell phones. We have dozens of hours of ... basically this.

Lisa writes: Grandma and Grandpa came with us to swimming lessons. James is in Level III which means ... actually, I have no idea what it means, but he likes it and seems to be learning to swim.