Uncle Sean shares some giggles with Libby:

I have many, many things to be thankful for: my wife, our daughter, our families, good health, and good fortune. I have what I need, often in abundance. I live a good life (even by American standards) and for this I am exceptionally grateful.

We spent Thanksgiving day at my parent’s house - everything was great. I just wish Thanksgiving was everyday!

I want to wish my mother a very happy birthday!

The older I get, the more I appreciate what an amazing person my mother is. She is kind and patient, intelligent and forgiving. I love her very much, and am glad that she is my parent and Libby’s grandparent.

Taken this past Saturday before heading off to church.

As Libby begins to grow older and her facial features develop it’s exciting to see who she will look like. When I look at her I don’t really see either of us, though side-by-side I can pick out a few features. Here are pictures of the three of us when we were all around 6 months (from left to right it’s Shannon, Libby, me):


It’s not a perfect comparison - my facial expression is a bit more subdued and Shannon isn’t facing the camera - but I think Libby has (at least) Shannon’s mouth and the shape of my head (round like sputnik).

This past weekend we all went to the Fall Festival in downtown Zionsville to enjoy the beautiful day, eat some shaved ice, check out some farm animals, and watch people:

There were lots of inflatables for the kids:

Honestly, the designer must have had something else on his mind when he made the entrance to this bouncy “thing”:

This pony’s name was Sapphire and it is a 20 year old purebred Shetland pony:

Today Shannon, Libby, and I trekked out to a small town in east Indiana to visit with Great-Grandma Bobbie, Great Great-Aunt Betty, and Great Great-Aunt Joyce. We spent some time visiting and enjoyed a nice lunch at Red Lobster (seafood was adequate, table rolls were exquisite).

Just sitting and talking with all of Libby’s “greats” was wonderful: she was able to meet some very special people, and in turn they delighted at her laughter and smiles.

Shannon’s aunt Debbie and uncle Peter (and their offspring Kyle and Garrett) are an exceptional group of people. They are quick to laugh and tremendously kind. When I first met them while dating Shannon I felt instantly at ease, falling into the familiar banter usually reserved for long time friends and family. They remind me very strongly of my own family - perhaps it’s the fact that both of my parents also grew up on the east coast, so they have similar upbringings.

There are two things that I know will be in abundance when visiting their house: belly aching laughs and really tasty food. This past visit did not disappoint.

One of the highlights was rummaging through old photos that Debbie had. We found a picture of Kyle when he was very young being disciplined by standing in a corner. He’s got his back to the camera and his little hand is on his hip, showing a little bit of an attitude. It is hysterical! This post’s picture shows the ladies and Garrett going through an old box of pictures and just laughing, laughing, laughing…

While in Maine we also did a little bit of hiking (mostly short walks on the “beach” and gravel roads around the house). Libby was able to try out a backpack carrier for the first time and she seemed to like the view:

One of my favorite memories from summers in Maine, both recent and from my childhood, is the rocky coastline that our cottage rests next to. At high tide there are lobster boats fetching their traps in the harbor. At low tide there are a thousand small tidal pools, each teaming with marine life and just begging to be explored.

I remember cool foggy mornings when we hunted for mussels among the damp seaweed piles. Afternoon hours were spent building forts with the warmed rocks of the shoreline, erecting crude flags to mark out our newly claimed territory. At night a cool breeze came in as the harbor bell rang it’s mournful tune. It was, and is, simply wonderful.

During recent years, as the family has grown up, kayaking has become our “new” pastime. Tim, my brother-in-law, is quite good and is able to take Sam or Emma with him as he paddles around the harbor. Here is Julie helping to send Tim and Emma off on one of their paddling journeys.