Christmas Morning!

Before...


After...


Danny totally owns His new wagon.


Tommy is now chief of the fire station.


Tommy "helped" mom make Jesus' birthday cake.

Gingerbread Grammy

This Wednesday Mom (Grammy) came to visit our home. We had a nice dinner which Patty prepared. Tommy and Danny got to help Grammy decorate the gingerbread house.


Tommy wanted to lick the house but all he was allowed was a bit of frosting.


Danny had a little frosting as well. He needed a bath after his treat.


When it was all said and done we have a lovely new home complete with gingerbread cookie reflecting pool. Thanks for visiting Grammy and Merry Christmas.

Pistol Packin' Patty

Patty and I had a day off together and it has been wonderful. We started out slowly this morning and took the boys out to breakfast at the cracker barrel. We Then dropped them off at school. Patty and I strolled around the mall and mingled with the Christmas shoppers. We decided to have lunch at the Cheese Cake Factory. It was a very pleasant morning. About a week ago Patty purchased a pistol. The Ruger LCP

After lunch we went to the local range to test the new gun. Patty's first expirence with the light compact pistol was nothing to sneeze at, have a look at her first few shots...

I suddenly have the urge to vacuum the living room and take out the trash…

Tommy and Randolph

Tommy is excited about the prospect of getting his stocking filled with all sorts of treats from Santa. His school is also preparing the children with songs and stories. However in true Tommy style he came home singing... "Randolph" the red-nose reindeer. We have yet to convince the lad that the red-nosed reindeer is named Rudolph. Until convinced otherwise we are stuck with "Randolph" on our front lawn.

Thanksgiving at Home

Preparing the bird for its time in the oven.



Tommy finds a bigger turkey.



Tommy decided that he did not want the turkey leg.



Danny had too much turkey, oh my he needs a nap!

November Photos

Here are pictures of Tommy who turned 4 on the 20th and Danny who turned 9 months on the 10th. I am not sure where the time went.

Tommy,Trucks and Jesus

This morning Tommy was on our bed watching a DVD about trucks. He was enjoying his lollipop , yes at 7 am, when he began to tell me about the trucks. He told me about the fire pumper and the hook and ladder truck. He stop abruptly and said, "Daddy, I love Jesus." Then he turned back to the tv and continued with his lecture about trucks. I was truly amazed that this came out of his mouth unprompted. I could not help but to be reminded of the words of Jesus when he said, "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein."


Fr. John

Apple pickin' time!

This past Saturday Patty and Tommy braved the chilly autumn air to get the first swipe at some local produce. Tommy was excited to report that apples really came from a tree.





Thank goodness he did not see The Wizard of Oz before going!





Anyway they were able to take a hayride and enjoy some fresh apple cider and warm apple doughnuts before returning home.





Danny had a bit of a cold so we stayed inside and enjoyed playing with the toys on the living room floor. He was treated to his first chocolate chip cookie, here is the before and after shot.





And after...





Danny said, " I want to be home. I don't want no wormy apple!"

All American Boy

Tommy shared with Patty, Danny and I what he had been learning in his daycare. Needless to say we are very proud of this boy! He starts off with the Plege of Alegance and ends with "God Bless America"

6 months old

Here are a collection of pictures of Danny at six months...

Trip to Maggie Valley, NC

The Sunday of our arrival Patty and Tommy took a ride on the real Thomas. Danny and I stood by and watched as it was loud and frightened the lad.






The weather was splendid. Highs averaged in the low 80's and the lowest temperatures we had were in the 50's that's not to shabby for the hottest week of the year. Here is a photo from the front porch of the cabin.



We had a friendly visitor while we were in the cabin. An elk with a 14 point rack sauntered up to say hello. The boys got a real kick out of the wild beast coming so close.







As boys will do they(Tommy and Will) took great pleasure in the privacy of the mountains.



This photo was just Tommy on a rock but look how the clouds have settled in the mountains in the back ground.



Of course Danny had a great time except for the noises which made him cry a bit.



Overall our family had lots of fun. It was nice to have the cousins together with the grandmothers and aunts and uncles.

Good Fellows

Just funny pictures..

Trinity Church Beaverdam

I have been licensed by the Archbishop of the United Episcopal Church to serve as a priest in Trinity Church Beaverdam, Virginia. The building was erected in 1830 and has been well maintained. The Church community is a gathering of traditional worshipers who have kind hearts. Patty and I are blessed to have been led to this parish. Please pray that we may serve this parish by meeting the needs of the congregation. Our family is excited about doing God's work in the Church and looking forward to what is in store for us here. The Church is 23 miles from our home which is much closer than the 100 miles we traveled to St. John’s In Maryland. We will miss our Church family at St. John's but are glad to be starting a new ministry.

for everything, a first...

Today is the first day of July and the first time Danny has tried, “real” food. The selection for this evening was the pureed green beans. Much to our amazement he gobbled the mush down as if it was chocolate pudding.
Later this evening after supper Tommy decided to show us a “magic trick” and made Danny disappear.
Strangely enough Patty presented me with this photo of Tommy from his first bean tasting. There is no better lad than an Ayres, and we have two of the best.