If you are not a Gator...

.

then you are Gator bait!!!!






Florida Gators 2008 National Champions!!!!!!

...and the lady at the Alligator Farm said a 'Florida Gator' did not exist...boy, was she wrong.

Wow! He is flexible...

...and smiley

...and a spitter-upper

...and squirmy - that kid can squirm out of ANYTHING whether he is wrapped or not (no picture to add here, because we rush to rescue too quickly.).

No, don't make her!

I remember saying this to my mom when I was younger when I did not want my sister(s) to have to do certain things. Kylie now says this to me when Ashlyn has to go down for a nap. She will even "hide" Ashlyn. When we were on vacation and Ashlyn was in her pack-n-play she would even get in with her to sleep (but, mostly, to play).

She sure does love her sister and, most of the time, Ashlyn loves her.

Congratulations John and Courtney!

I don't think Courtney quite knew what she was getting into marrying a 'Gordon', but we are glad she did.

The Party.

The birthday girl.




The ribs.



The potatoes.

The fabulous salad (insert picture)



The dessert (homemade ice cream cake).



The cousins.

The adults (minus David and Jared) who created all this.

The aftermath.

Oh, how we love this girl! She is so much fun! Her laugh is contagious. She is so very entertaining. We could watch her all day long. Her dark, brown eyes are beautiful. Under her arm is the best place to bite. She loves to be outside. She is unpredictable. She loves her family. She loves to play and read books. I am amazed at how well she plays independantly. We are so grateful to have her as our very own.
Happy Birthday, Ashlyn!

Let the festivities begin!

READY,

STRETCH,

GO!!!

It's a "wear-whatever-you-want" night while the mood is set with fun carols we can dance to. Our humble Christmas tree is decorated and set in to place. We have begun a few traditions this year that will keep us in the right Christmas spirit (reading verses about Christ's birth each night from various books in the Bible) and are counting down with our advent calendar - the one thing the kids won't let us forget each night. (Ashlyn wants her "ta-kit").

The weather is cooperating this year and really making it feel a lot like Christmas (at least in Florida!).