Tanner Tribute

I just wanted to take a minute a write a quick tribute to my little bro Tanner. Monday morning, while I was at work, he surprised me with a call from my mom's cell phone. My mom said he had been saying all morning: "I need to call Ivy." So, she told him to eat his applesauce and finish getting ready for school and then he could call me.

After telling me, "This is Tanner, Ivy," he told me that I needed to come to "the new house" (the house my parents had built last year is still "the new house" to Tanner.) And when I told him that for Christmas I was going to Shane's house (his parents') this year instead, he said that he wanted to come too. ;)

Goodness, I miss that little guy. But it's so great to have the technology we do to be able to communicate no matter how far we are from our loved ones.

(These cute pics were snapped by our sister, Megan, during the Thanksgiving break. My parents' neighbors run a small Christmas tree farm on their property.)

New Nephew: Jackson McKean Gilbert

In the past few weeks as I've slacked on blogging (among other things), my sister, Chelsea, delivered an 8 lbs. 5 oz., 21.5 in. long healthy baby boy on Nov. 14.

Jackson McKean Gilbert, five days old

my parents, first-time grandparents

For more pics of Jackson and his excited new uncles and aunts, check out the Gilbert family blog.

White House Garden Tour

Meant to post these sooner since they were taken back in October when my mother was still in town. We were lucky enough to get into a White House Garden Tour Sunday after church.

back of the White House (the more picturesque side, printed on the back of the $20)

Part of the Jackie Kennedy (Onassis), or First Ladies, Garden

shadowy shot of Shane and I to prove he was there as well (he's always got the camera in his hands)

more of the backside of the WH -- the second floor is where the First Family lives

my mother and I in front of the Rose Garden (where press conferences are often held and important announcements made by the president)

the Oval Office, which opens into the Rose Garden