Toads-in-the-Hole

This weekend Marmee, Big D, Erna, K&C, even Shelby, made the trip to South Dakota. We circled our wagons in the autumnal chill and warm ourselves by the fire of family in our cozy flat.

On Friday during school, one of Joel's classmates inquired, "So, what are you gonna do with your family this weekend?" Joel replied, "Oh, well, we'll probably just sit around and watch the baby." Truer words were ne'er spoken ... Adelaide, in all her attitudes and guises, was laughed at (and with), snuggled, passed, kissed, hugged, flattered, and complimented.

As with many family gatherings, we enjoyed one another's company mostly over Stroganov and wine, football and Leinie's, but we did manage to get out of the house for a little bit of exercise, and stumbled upon a rare find: a new, paved hiking trail in Vermillion!

Our time together, so fleeting, was relaxing and comforting ... Indeed, our togetherness makes us closer, and as we parted ways on Sunday, we found ourselves looking forward to the future gatherings, when the new baby, looks, walks, and talks like this baby: