morning time

This is one of my favorite times to be with Huntleigh: right after she has woken up and had her bottle. She is really, a very happy little girl. I love this little impish smile of hers with her uneven baby teeth.

Effie and the Hunts

Huntleigh was in a very affectionate mood on Thanksgiving...after the meal, that is. Here she is hugging Effie, Josh's cousin...so that would make her Huntleigh's second cousin? Anyway, later that afternoon, she went right up to Abby and hugged her leg with great affection. So sweet.

dogs

We have noticed recently that Huntleigh is becoming more and more fascinated with dogs. She gets very excited around them and wants to touch them: with apprehension and joy. Uncle Scott took her out to the kennels and here she is petting Fergie, Warren's dog.

a family for which to give thanks.

Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays in the Hager household. Josh loves it because of duck hunting, turkey and stuffing. I love it because it marks the beginning of a season full of parties and giving presents. We always do double duty on Thanksgiving, with a big to-do at Raccoon Ranch with the Hagers and then a very small and intimate gathering at our house with my parents and Scott and Abby. I love cooking the meal for the second dinner--and I try to make sure the stuffing is better at our house than it is at the farm. I haven't gotten it right, just yet, but next year I think I am just going to use a box of Stovetop. No more of that fancy stuff.

cherub cheeks

got our ducks in a row.

this is what i have done in some of my free time this fall. the boys and i go duck hunting together at the farm. i thought this might be a point of interest for those of you readers out there who know i hunt, but always wondered what i look like. i am so gorgeous in my waders. it's just irresistable.

food coma

same, same...but different.

some more vintage photos. it looks as though huntleigh and i are about the same age when these photos were taken in 2006 and 1978. more of these to come.

1975

i recently found a bunch of pictures that were hiding on my dad's kodak slide projector reel. This is my hot mom from 32 years ago. In light of Thanksgiving, I can think of numerous ways in which I am thankful for my mom. When I reflect upon what it takes to sacrifice daily for Huntleigh, I am so grateful for the years of sacrifice my mom out-poured for me and Scott. Mom, thank you so much. I love you.

um...for those of you who are faithful viewers of my blog, I'm so sorry for my extended absence. Thank you for checking regularly to see if I've posted. Hopefully, as you read this, you will find it surprising that there are new things up here. Just a quick update as to what we have been doing since September:

We've been to Colorado, Cabo, China, and Chattanooga. We're tired of living out of suitcases.

We've caught lots of things: trout, elk, mule deer, antelope, mahi mahi, colds, sinus infections, flu, doves, and now ducks.

Some of us started walking and got a first pair of real shoes. Very exciting.

We watched the Cards win the World Series! Josh commuted from Hong Kong to be at game #5 with Zach.

Someone turned ONE. I relived much of my labor that day. What a very weird experience, indeed.

Someone gave someone else a brand new MacBook and she is not going to become a snob. She promises.

Scroll down to see my pics from this past month. The organizer in me has to post them on the date when they happened.

Bennett and Huntleigh

our good friend Drew with the babies.

Kabin Kids

What a great memory! Huntleigh is totally outnumbered by the boys on the couch. But she's got a great group from which to choose! Bode is holding Bennett, Myers is holding Lyndon, and Davis is solo. You gotta love those Tucker boys...and that little Cook cutie.

super family

We took a trip to Chattanooga the day after Huntleigh turned one. We stopped at a BP in Metropolis for gas and after seeing the Superman and Wonder Woman cut-outs, I couldn't resist the picture opportunity. We were about as successful with Huntleigh's picture as we could be with our sweet, ancy child wiggling in Josh's arms, but you get the idea.

sugar buzz

"Really, mom?! This whole thing is mine?" She had no idea what to do with the cake.

happy birthday!

oh my! the presents!

ONE!

Huntleigh turns ONE!

This is my one-year old daughter. We had an amazing birthday day. She was a super star and I could not have been more proud of her. There were 21 people at her party and she was the perfect performer for everyone. And for all the stimulation and sugar, I was surprised that at no time, did she fall apart. She was perfect and I was so proud of her. I was prepared for her to be a basket case and was very pleasantly surprised at her behavior. She knew that it was her day and she was the center of everyone's attention. I mean, seriously. The child does not get enough attention. She got some amazing gifts, but the best had to be all the handmade ones from her aunts. Beka made a beautiful piece of art, Hannah needle-pointed a belt, and Abby painted a step stool for her. Just incredible. So much love.