Remembering Pop Pop

August 3, 1946 - May 18, 2011

Grandparents work hard

Caleb's paternal grandparents were here again a few weeks ago.

While here, they took out 6 bushes
and scraped and painted one porch.

Oh, and lest I forget, they also made dinner every night.

And reorganized the kitchen cabinets.

Stuff I have no time for anymore.

I'm really liking these visits. :)

Where did he learn to wave like the Queen?

Two weekends ago...

The grandparents were here...

We had a wonderful visit.

Not everything was immortalized on film, however.

Pop Pop playing horsey with Caleb...

or Grandmom being called to sit and play before bedtime...

the cooking and cleaning that lightened our load...

or even Ariana's best smiles...

never made it.

But we have really good memories.

Grandmom, Pop Pop - come again, soon!

Happy Grandparents Day!

To all our wonderful grandparents out there...

We wish you a Happy Grandparents' Day!

Love, Caleb and Ariana

Family Celebration

The family came together for a few days to celebrate Ariana's birth.

It was pretty neat, for the last time we were all together

was 12 years ago when we were married.

I hope it doesn't take that long to bring both sets of grandparents together the next time.

We enjoyed each other's company and lots of great food

served on tables set both inside and out.

We enjoyed the littlest member of the family.

And as you would expect, we took a few pictures.

Parents arrive ahead of baby

So my parents and sister arrived this week (before baby, yeah!) and I haven't had a chance yet to post any pictures. They arrived on Monday and I worked through the day and through half the night on Tuesday and Wednesday, finishing several large deadlines.

Today we went to see the caverns at Natural Bridge... because Caleb asked me to. We've been wanting to take him, but seemed to be running out of time with only days before the birth. This morning, I was reading to him the 'Good Night, Virginia' book and he pointed at a picture of caverns and said "Caleb go here." He kept repeating it, very insistent that he wanted to go see those caverns and I thought, well here's a sign that we should just go. So we did. And it was really, really fun - though I think the people there thought we were crazy to make a 2.5 year old toddler and a 9 month pregnant woman hike the caves. Caleb walked the whole 45-minute tour on the slick surfaces and steep stairs on his own, holding on to Barbara's and Mama's hand, just as he had been instructed to do. (I walked it on my own too, holding on to the railing.)

In the afternoon, after we had returned from our trip, he opened up his book again and on the opposite page from the caverns, there was a picture of Virginia lighthouses. He said, "Caleb go here, see this. Let's get shoe, turn off TV."

Umm, this wish will not be so easy (and quick) to fulfill...

We are having a wonderful time with the family, Caleb is obviously enjoying all of the extra attention and playmates (especially Barbara), and getting exhausted every day from all the socialization.

And now, some pictures from our days. They are from everyone's camera, because well, I'm just not being a very diligent photographer these days.