Thanksgiving 2009

We had a great Thanksgiving at our house this year. The kids had a blast with lots of family around them to play with them. There were a few overly long games of hide and seek, but other than that I had a great time too.
Harper got a new blanket from Aunt Shandra.


Will is getting better about not interupting. I caught him mid-sentence here.

Abby was very serious about her art.

Everyone's favorite person is uncle Thomas. I think Will took this picture.

Here is a daddy pile-on. You can see that Matt has his arm up to protect baby Harper from Will and Abby.

The most wonderful time of the year

Yes, it is that time of year again. Time for a Christmas card photo. Now we are trying to get three smiles instead of two. No worries, I am ready to tackle this head on.
Sunday morning before church seems like the perfect time to try to get a good picture. It makes sense right? Everyone is clean. Everyone is dressed. Nana has just sent cute Christmas clothes. It is go time.
After 20 minutes of saying "just one more picture," I got a few shots that will work. Here are the good, the bad and the really bad.

Matt got into this picture. Harper looks a bit terrified.






Harper's clothes are basically coming off. Good smiles Abby!
This was a fun idea and the pose kept their hair out of their faces.



Harper is offically over it...
...because you can see I am standing over her as I got my feet in this shot.

A week with only one

Will and Abby helped me ease back into work by going and spending a week with Shay-Shay and Papa Tim in Wilmington. As much as I missed them, getting out the door with just one was very easy. I didn't have to raise my voice to tell baby Harper to put on her shoes so we could get to school on time. Even though somethings were easier, I was shocked at the quiet evenings....and my boredom. I missed those little buggers a lot!

Matt and I did use the time wisely. We went out to dinner twice. We re-lived our younger days and ate only chips for dinner. We watched movies....without animated action heros in them.
This week we are all here together and I survived. We actually thrived. Three is just like two only louder.

My Ode to Maternity Leave

On my last day of maternity leave, I felt like going out--with a poem.

Good-bye shower free days and easy hours reading a mystery,
These care-free eight weeks are now maternity leave history.
I enjoyed my time, cooking dinner every night
Even though the big kids never tried even one bite.
We lived through a round of the chicken pox and swine flu,
I am still hoping that Harper won’t get sick too.

Early on Monday morning the rush will start again,
With shoes, car seats and a long lost computer log-in.
I am looking forward to getting back to my seat,
Which will cut down on the left over halloween candy that I eat.
While I have loved every minute of maternity leave,
I am full of excitement on this return-to- work- eve.

Halloween...Perryman Style

Halloween was ON at the Perryman house. This year, we had a very cute cheerleader, a cool Star Wars clone trooper, and the biggest Tigger in the neighborhood. I had a lady-bug costume for Harper but it was too hot for fleecy bunting. There was a neighborhood parade before we went out for some hard core trick-or-treating.


Will loves to do this pose. He's part storm trooper all cool guy.

She is the cutiest cheerleader I know. The bangs are banging.

Yes, that is a beer in my hand.

Abby was most excited about the candy. Matt made me wear that hat.