Putting Up the Christmas Tree

After Alex's birthday, we put up the Christmas tree. It is always so much fun to hang the ornaments from years gone by and reminisce about the past.



How adorable.



Yep, she is part princess.



What would Christmas be without a ham?



Great photo.

Zoo Lights - DC Style

On the 1st of December (Alex's real birthday), we hit the Washington DC Zoo to check out the Zoo lights. Sean, Miki, and Erin joined us for the fun.



Alex touches an armadillo shell.



Erin arrives in style.



Alex & Erin together.



Alex with her new friends, acting silly, waiting for the puppet show to begin.



Alex is rather shy, can't you tell.



Erin & Miki.



Alex provides her commentary to the show (for ALL to hear I might add).



Alex meets the big, but not-so-bad, wolf in the snow globe.



Who wouldn't want to hug a bear statue?

Alexandria's Birthday - Pump It Up

We held the party for Alex's birthday at a place called Pump It Up. You have an hour to jump on massive indoor bounce houses of various kinds followed by cake & presents. Perhaps the best part is that the adults are allowed on the bounce houses (or maybe it is how tired the kids get after jumping around for an hour).


Princess Alex gets ready for her friends to arrive.



Getting warmed up for all those pictures.



Ainsley and Alex.



What a face.



Weeeeee!



The race is on.



Chris tries to beat Alex in the obstacle course bounce house.



Jeremy goes head first through the obstacle.



Dave & Audrey are all smiles.



Emily masters the slide.



Ellie on the move.



Calli's turn.



Pandemonium at the base of the slide with Jeremy and Laura.



Chris won't be left out of the fun.



A Hughes action shot - Emily in the foreground and Jeremy.



Dave & Joe duke it out with the pugil sticks.



The ladies pose for a group shot.



Sarah takes a breather.



Cake fit for a princess.



I think she likes it.

Fall Fun in the Park

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, Dave & Joe took Justin, Ryan, & Alex to a great park, commonly called the "Dinosaur Park". As luck would have it, there were a plethora of leaves for the piling - so we had an impromptu leaf-pile jumping extravaganza. It was one of those moments you couldn't plan any better.



Alex and Ry-Ry on the dinosaur thingee.



"Emergency, emergency, emergency!"



The leaf fun begins.



Banzai!



Alex action shot.



The blue fuzzy thing is a Ryan jump.



What a face.



Leaf-monster.



Look out below.



Where is Alex?



Justin gets into the fray.



Duo-jump.



Guess Ryan didn't see Alex in all those leaves.



Now how much fun is that kid having?



Bed of leaves.



Cannon-Ball!



Sweet.



Race to the pile.

Live-action shot.

Charge!