Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We had a great day, sans the Aggie shellacking. Our friends Michelle and Kyle had dinner with us, and we had quite the spread. We supplied the Turkey and dressing, Michelle made her famous mashed potatoes, and Kyle brought four pies. That's not a typo. Kyle baked the night away and brought us pecan, pumpkin, apple, and buttermilk pies. Ashleigh also made her world famous apple pie. So, if anyone is doing the math out there, you might have noticed we had five pies and four people. That's a ratio I can handle!

There was one minor incident on Thanksgiving that we'll report. As little Grayson continues to grow, Ash has had some tremendous pain in her ribcage. It has been so bad, that the chiropractor said he thought Ash had a "slipped rib," which occurs when the muscles and soft tissue between the ribs stretches too fast and a rib pops out of place. Well, on Thursday night, the pain was beginning to get extremely intense, so we decided to go to the emergency room just to make sure everything was ok.

Being Thanksgiving, we thought that the ER might look like a scene from "Appalachian Emergency Room," because we suspected rednecks across the county were burning their homes down with turkey fryers. (Full disclosure: I have had deep fried turkey, and it is dang good). Anyway, there was a suprising lack of culture that we expected in the ER, but we did have the pleasure of being assigned a doctor with one of the worst beside manners we have ever seen. After the x-ray revealed everything was ok, he said, "well, I don't know what is wrong. I guess you will just have to deal with the pain for the next 13 weeks." He was not very encouraging.

Also, quick note to all of you pregnant women out there considering going in to an ER any time soon for a non-pregnancy issue. They will do everything in their power to convince you that you are in labor. While you will assuredly reply to them that you are not, they will continually ask if you are having contractions, tightness in your abdomen, or a baby coming out of you at this very moment. Even if you walk in to the ER with a broken limb, they will spend an hour playing mind tricks on you to make you think that birth is eminent.

We are so thankful for all you out there, and we pray that you have a great holiday season. Hopefully we will get to see many of you during our travels this month.

Joe's contribution

Kyle's FOUR pies

+Ashleigh's one pie

Hank got a hold of a different kind of "stuffed" turkey- he's had his eye on on it for years.

Christmastime!

Michelle doing her part for the Dickerson Christmas

Ta Da!!

Baby Menke, Joe B., and Swimming

We had a very exciting weekend with new babies and dear friends.

Of the 4 couples that started our small group with us in DC, 3 of us are pregnant. Make that 2, because Susie and Grant had a sweet baby boy early Friday morning, Jefferson John or JJ.

JJ was quite happy in his momma's tummy- he was over a week late at induction and then it took another 18 hours to get him out. Susie was quite the trooper.

Susie, Grant, Joe D. and Joe B. with JJ

Am I ready for THIS??
(Joe B. ,Betsy's husband, has a baby girl coming in less than two weeks)

Joe B. is also back from Africa for about a month because Betsy is giving birth any day now. We got to spend some time with him laughing and eating ice cream this weekend before he continued on to Atlanta. Hank was so excited to see him that while I was hugging Joe B. hello, he jumped up inbetween us all the way to Joe's neck to kiss him!

Hope, Billy, Ash, Joe D., Joe B.

Joe B.'s belated birthday dinner at Lima, a latin fusion place, in DC. SO YUMMY!

And finally, Joe (Dickerson) and I went swimming at the community center this weekend. At about 6 months, I have reached a whole new level of uncomfortable (and, yes, I know it will get much worse). So even though this is the same pool that all of my current and former students swim in (swim team is VERY popular here), I was desperate enough to parade around in a swimming suit and shorts. It was INCREDIBLE! My body has not felt that great in so long. The water holding my extra weight felt wonderful and the indoor pool was semi-heated. Now, don't get any ideas about me doing a hard core workout. No, I stuck mainly to walking/running through the pool while Joe swam laps around me. I just know the lifeguard was thinking, "Wow! She is really moving now!" So we will continue to brave the freezing weather and self-conscience feelings for the end result- relief.

Hope you are all having a wonderful week!

Double the Fun!

The other night, Joe and I baby-sat our friends' sweet twins: Abby and Carter. We wanted to give Heather and Dan a night out and we thought it would be good experience for our own upcoming adventure.

To distract them while their parents left we got out the two strollers we currently own and bundled them up...

They looked less than thrilled with us at this point. And I know that Abby is thinking, "Why did I get the shaft with the stroller? Carter's is all big and nice and has shocks and stuff for comfort." Well, I think Carter just happened to be within arm's reach at the time.

We've noticed recently that they think it is hilarious just walking around aimlessly outside, since it's a relatively new skill. So we walked to the town green to just let them walk/run around and climb the steps. That's when we officially became a hit.

Hank and Michelle were waiting for us when we got home. Abby and Carter are pretty much at a height right now where they are looking Hank in the eye...we weren't sure how this would go, but they all got along great! While I was preparing dinner, the kids were just hanging out, graciously pointing out all the ways our house needs to be childproofed (we're pretty clueless). Also, Carter was eating a snack and subsequently dropping every other piece on the floor, which endeared him even more to Hank.

(And you can see how I am rounding out in these pictures)

Dan and Heather came back shortly after dinner to two sleepy kiddos. We had a great time playing with Abby and Carter while still wondering how their parents keep up with them. We learned quite quickly that with TWO, one of them is always wandering off towards the street, reaching for something sharp, etc. while you are tending to the other. So, hats off to Dan and Heather for making it look easy, and bring those cuties back soon!

This is SERIOUS

Five minutes after walking in the house this evening, Michelle set up her election return headquarters. She had planned on being in DC, but decided to hang with the fam in the 'burbs after considering the possibility of riots in the city tonight. (Seriously)

There are a few things you need to notice in this picture:

1. 3 different maps, one is already color-coded

2. Her Mac that she drove across town to pick up from the repair shop at the last minute today

3. The notepad

4. The cell phone

5. The blackberry

8. The "W" hat

9. Hank's "43" hat

10. The color of her shirt- she informed us she only wears RED on election day- even casual wear

On our part, Joe and I have ordered a bunch of "tailgating" type food and we have some champagne. Yes, we know things probably aren't going to go our way, but the 3 of us plan to party anyway.

From the President

Obviously, President and Mrs. Bush heard of our impending arrival, because look what showed up at our house this past week! In the midst of the election turmoil, it is so thoughtful of them to take time out of their busy schedule to pick something out for Grayson.

Coincidentally, Michelle was doing some work at the White House the same day these arrived, but I don't think there is any connection.