One of Shannon's new hobbies is sitting on her airplane and reading a book. Thanks again Grandpa Penney for the great plane!

I know little girls are supposed to be something cute for Halloween, but since Tom is off on guard duty right now, I thought maybe dressing up like Daddy would be fun. This is Shannon's Halloween costume, (sewed by Nana). I don't think her hair is in regs though. Surprise, Daddy!

Ahhh, there's nothing better than a nice soft dog to cuddle up with at bedtime. Eli didn't even try to get away from her.

It's so much fun to get into the pots and pans and tupperware. Unfortuanately Shannon hasn't quite grasped the concept of moving her fingers out of the way before closing to doors. I think we are going to have to have Tom put latches on these doors too when he gets back.

Here she is helping me make some bread.

I thought Shannon would want to help me scoop out the pumpkin guts, but she really didn't get into it much. I guess at least she wasn't too messy when we were done!

Shannon has learned how to pull on a dog toy with my mom's dogs. She thinks it is so funny!

Hi Daddy! We miss you and hope you aren't having too much fun without us!

Shannon loves her swimming lessons! And before you ask, no she isn't wearing a top. I left her good swimsuit at class the previous week and the instructor was kind enough to take it home and wash it but she left it at her house. That morning we went for the emergency back up suit and of course couldn't find the top anywhere. I am sure she didn't notice.

Look who can climb stairs now. Time for another baby gate, I guess!

Playing with my bibs is just so much fun! Besides, I love watching Mom and Dad pick them up again.

What do you suppose these two are up to?

Bathtime is never boring with Daddy around. Tonight, it is bathtime on the high seas (or at least high ducks)!

Little Miss Helpful, sorting the socks (and pulling all her bibs out of her highchair).

We where luck with this one. One stormy night our neighbor’s tree fell in to our yard, it missed the house by fifteen feet or so.

Shannon and her friend Megan went to an apple orchard. They rode on a tractor, walked through a corn maze, looked at some farm animals, and watched their parents eat caramel apples. We think they had a great time!

The baby book says that by now I should be getting Shannon used to eating off of a plate or bowl. Normally we just put food directly on the tray of her high chair because it doesn't really take much foresight to realize that a bowl or plate will just turn into a gravity testing device with extra ammunition. Still, I don't want her to be the only one in pre-school who still eats directly off the table, so against my better judgement I bought one of those bowls with a suction cup that will stick to her high chair. As you can see, the suction lasted approximately 30 seconds.

After some experimentation she discovered that the suction bottom actually comes off the bowl, providing a back-up gravity testing device.

Soon thereafter came the classic "what happens when I upend this over my head" manuever, which fortuanately resulted only in one small piece of chicken in her hair, since the mashed potatoes kept the remainder of the chicken and the broccoli safely inside the bowl. Needless to say, I don't think we will be repeating this experiment any time soon.

The National Museum of the Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH is second only to the Smithsonian for its display of aircraft from the Wright brothers through modern experimental aircraft. Shannon thought that the F-15 cockpit was the most fun. Tom like the XB-70, the precursor to the B-1 (the aircraft he worked on when he was active duty), and I liked the SR-71 Blackbird. The first picture is of Tacit Blue, an early stealth lifting body aircraft. The museum guide even opened up the entry and let us look inside at the cockpit.

Leaving the Cinncinati Zoo. Rhinoceros ride, anyone?

Shannon's first train ride at the Cinncinati Zoo. I don't think she was very impressed but it was a nice ride.

Feeding the lories at the Cinncinati Zoo.

The Cinncinati Zoo. We had a great visit but it poured buckets for the first 15 minutes!

This turtle was around when I was little and I used to love playing on it. Of course, it was avocado green then.... I like his new shell!

some of Shannon's many cousins

Shannon's big day

Are we there yet....

Shannon's baptismal gown.

She is so cute when she sleeps. We're not sure how she does it but lately she has been turning completely around in her crib so her head is where we think her feet are. I'm sure she wonders why we keep trying to put her pacifier in her feet at 2 in the morning when we stagger in to see what is wrong.

Wow, there are bookshelves in my room! Who knew?

She was trying hard to open the cupboard doors. Somehow, she just knows that is where Mom keeps the pots and pans!