Catalina Nan Billings

Catalina Nan Billings was born December 16, at 8:56, weighed 7lbs. 13ozs. and was 19 7/8 inches long. She is a beautiful baby and has a great temperament so far. She is so sweet.




Here is a cute face for you all to see.


This was our first look at Catalina in the operating room.


Here is Griffin Meeting Catalina for the first time.


and the first time Olive June got to hold her. Both kids were so sweet with Catalina and so excited to meet her.


Mama with baby.


Here you can see them both.



Here is Grandma Cyndi with baby Catalina.


Griffin, Mama, and Catalina Snuggling together.



One last picture of Catalina for all of you to see before I finish this post.

End of November and Cure Christmas

Here is Griffin with his most desired Birthday gift. He had, and still has a lot of fun with his microscope.


He also got a number of Super Hero costumes that he has been enjoying. Here is the Incredible Hulk.


Olive June had some thoughts about Griffin's gifts too.


Griffin wanted a "Mohawk" haircut and he got one.


After Thanksgiving was over we got our Christmas stuff out. Here are all five of our stockings hung by the fireplace with care.



Olive June in a Santa hat.


And sitting by the tree.


Here is Griffin with his next to the tree pose.


Recently we were invited to, and attended, a Cure (Cure Childhood Cancer) Christmas Party. They had crafts for the kids, entertainment, and food. We all had a great time. Griffin is making a craft in the picture above.


Olive also enjoyed crafting.


Olive June saw somebody dressed up as a polar bear and was super excited to say "hi."


Here is the bear hug.


We tried to get the kids to sit down with Santa but they were both too nervous. This is Griffin just before being put on the spot with Santa.


They got to work on an awesome Gingerbread house.


Olive June just wanted to eat all of the candy.


Finally a nice family shot.

Griffin Actual Birthday

He got what he wanted, a microscope.


He also really enjoyed a book of Galapagos pictures Grampy (Dave) and Grandma Kathy sent. Griffin's dream is to go to the Galapagos Islands so he was very excited. He also got a tube of Galapagos Islands animals from Olive June.


He is showing us a lizard of some kind.


He did not want a cake or cupcakes. No, he wanted a donut with sprinkles.


...and he enjoyed it.


He was a little silly before bedtime.


Olive June also enjoyed her birthday donut too.

Fall Walk in the Park

The other day I took the kids to a hiking park while Mama rested. We walked around and had some adventures in the beautiful fall colors and weather.

There was also some running involved.

Brother and sister.

Pointing at something in the river water.

Climbing on rocks on the river bank.

OJ is not as sure of herself around the water.

Under a bench.

On top of the bench.

Climbing and laughing.

Going down some rocks.

After climbing a cliff using tree roots as hand-holds.

Our own neighborhoods fall colors.

Griffin's B-day Party

Kids running around before the party started.

















Kids looking at animals at the small zoo in Bear Hollow.

















The Party Room in Bear Hollow.


























When the party facilitator came out the kids really payed attention. The facilitator taught about animals, mostly reptiles, and showed the kids some animals too.

















Petting a Blue-Tongued Skink.

Petting an Alligator.

OJ was brave enough to pet the alligator too.

















Opening Presents.

















An Alligator Cake.

















Eating the Alligator Cake.

We all had a really great time.