Christmas in Hawaii...

I wish! Man that would be the bomb! Right now it's 10:30 in NYC and I'm experiencing my first "Noreaster." Whitney has been saying "Noreaster" just to sound cool for the last week. For all of you midwesterners out there, a Noreaster is what they call blizzards in the Northeast. I think they perhaps hype it up a little bit too much, but I'm still not leaving the house. It's pretty crazy out there.

Well anyway, I'm sure the real reason that you're checking the blog is to see some sweet footage of the best baby in the world--Eleanor Rose. I left off on the blog back in July, and I've got a lot of catching up to do. Here is our Rex Lee Run adventure and coming soon- our summer trip to Hawaii.

We don't exactly have a jogging stroller...but that's not a big deal right?...wrong. So wrong. You're stroller will get caught on the uneven sidewalk and send you up over the top if you're not careful.
Before you run a race you've got to get in the right mind set. I like to ponder on the meaning of life before I go out to kick some tail in a 5K.
This was Whitney's first ever race of any variety. When Whitney was in elementary school PE she would fake a sprained ankle to avoid running...our kids are doomed.
In the end, its really just about having fun though. We had a great day--later we got a pretty heavy snowfall, but the run was perfect.


Coming soon...Paradise.

Eleanor's First Solid Foods

A familiar picture- Joe doing stuff on the computer, Eleanor patiently waiting for some Daddy-daughter time.
Honestly I was working on a take home test- Not World of Warcraft!


Eleanor is great for weightlifting. She's a little light....

But after a few 1000 curls she gets pretty heavy.




Are you sure you can handle rice cereal Ellie?
"Can I handle rice cereal? Wise guy!"
That is actually quite different than milk...speachless.

Great Food and Beautiful Babies

Here are a few more great shots of your favorite little girl.
Some people shun velour running suits, but Ellie loves hers. She's going to be an athlete!


Ellie looks a little like a hunch back here- kind of funny.




They Rays claim that they are Ellie's Aunt and Uncle- we couldn't agree more.
Good 'ol Joe Ray! I love that guy!


Whit made this shrimp meal one night with a special salad. It was quite tasty!



Whitney had been saving orange juice lids for about a year to make a memory game for our neighbor Shey. It turned out pretty cool and Shey was very impressed!

Polish Reunions and Polish Weddings

I thought that I should host a mission reunion this year since I won't see most of these guys again after I graduate. Here we've got Gardner and Harvey up front and Whitney and Joe Ray in the back ground. Joe Ray did not technically serve in Poland but when you're at a mission reunion you just kind of assume you know everyone (even the people you don't recognize) so no one questions you.


Risley and Bitter
Whitney- keenly aware of the fact that Bitter NEVER wears deodorant.
Cragun is famous for never taking a serious picture in his life...seriously. You should see my wedding pictures.
Bitter defied all predictions and prophecy and actually got married! We couldn't believe it. And what's more- Miley 's actually not mentally impaired or blind- she's a great girl. Way to go Bitter!

This is the only picture I could find of Cragun and Ellie where Ellie isn't crying.
There's just not enough pictures of your wife breast feeding you know?


Eleanor loves plastic spoons and spatula's. They're better than toys and usually safer anyway.

This was taken at about 4 1/2 months. We can't leave Eleanor on the bed by herself anymore. She is scooting and rolling all over the place!