Preparing for the Holidays

Hi everyone,

Cameron is now officially 18 months old and Valerie will be 4 in February. They both just started Rollie Polly gymnastics classes on Saturday mornings. Cameron can repeat most common words back to you. His best words are "Bailey" (our dog) and "goodbye." He is starting to like to help around the house and likes hanging out with his doll "Baby Jake." In daycare he is just starting to learn to paint and continues to love music. His favorite videos are Barney and Dora. Valerie likes to wear dresses, count M&M candies (and then eat them) and cut pictures out of magazines. She already knows what she wants to wear for Christmas and can't wait until it comes. Her favorite videos are Dora, Backyardigans, and Fifi and the Flower Tots.

We posted some Halloween photos. Valerie and Cameron went to a pumpkin farm with our 2 year old neighbor, Katie, and her mom, Kim. Katie is the one with the Superstar sunglasses. Katie and her parents also joined us for dinner and trick or treating Halloween night. Another new University at Buffalo faculty member came over with her new baby Amina and husband Willie. They just moved here from the Detroit, Michigan area, too. Valerie was Snow White, Cameron was Blues Clues dog, and Katie was a pink unicorn. Valerie loved her princess dress and fancy shoes. Cameron wanted nothing to do with his dog mask. When we trick or treated, Cameron would exchange a piece of candy from his bag with the person who was offering a new treat. I guess he thought that this was a swapping event. He also tried to go into people's houses to play when they opened their doors with treats. It was pretty cool to see the holiday through the eyes of a one year old. Valerie really "got" Halloween this year and made it around several blocks. Way to go Val!

The Fall Semester is flying by. Nate has made several academic trips for work and I am going to a conference this coming weekend on Alcohol and Violence Prevention on Campus in St. Paul, MN. Nate is finishing writing his syllabi for his new Spring and Summer session classes. I am preparing to teach a Wellness 101 class for a co-worker who will be on maternity leave 2nd semester. I am working on a campaign to help college students quit smoking, which is very rewarding--in addition to the alcohol education programs that I do.

We are hosting Thanksgiving at our house this year for the Buffalo clan and will be travelling to Michigan and then Wisconsin to celebrate the Christmas holiday. I am going to my first Buffalo Bills game on November 30th. Best wishes to all for a safe and snuggley Holiday Season!

Love,
Sharlynn