Visit with Dappah and Mamie

These two LOVE each other so much.

Aunt Lauren sent a candy necklace to Emerie...she knew what to do with it in no time flat!

DC is a beautiful place. Where else in the US do you see Roman and Greek influence everywhere you look? From the Jefferson Memorial which is designed Pantheon in Rome to the Lincoln Memorial designed after temples in Greece. To the sculptures on the Memorial Bridge and so many other places. Honestly, it was the first time I ever looked at it from this perspective, and really, it is remarkable. And we get to live only a few miles away. I am a convert, I really LOVE this side of the river.

So here are 3 of our kids with their amazing grandparents who trek all the way from CO to hang out with us!

We celebrated everyone's birthday one night with a delicious carrot cake and lots of gifts...such fun!
Look at the dimples in these guys...do you see a bit of a resemblance?
Another night we roasted marshmellows at our kitchen table.

Bon Air Memorial Gardens

Arlington has parks on every corner. Beautiful parks at that!

Emerie's first encounter with a rose. She was quite mesmorized.

Maybe I should taste it...
Daisy and the Mama
Our big kids. McCarthy has this I am too cool for my britches face sometimes. I didn't think it would happen this early. Too bad he has parents who tease him for this...he doesn't have a chance at taking himself too seriously.
Got him!!
My little sweet girl. This girl melts my heart almost every day. Don't hurry to become a woman yet.

Post for McCarthy's buddies at CLS

Here he is at his new school...he really likes it.

A Getaway

Eric's dear Aunt Caren has an amazing little house in Western MD that she so kindly shares with us. It is a small and oh so cozy house up on a bluff. Acres and acres of corn fields surround it, as does beauty. Beauty of the rippling pond. Beauty of the cows in the distant hills, reminding me of the psalm...the cattle on a thousand hills are HIS. Beauty in the sound of the wind. Beauty in the quiet that truly is quiet and still. I love the stillness that God gives us in creation that models the stillness we can have before Him.

And the air smells so sweet and clean.

We also have lots of time to do a lot of "nothing" and everything together...reading, wearing pjs all day(with knee high black rubber boots), swinging, snuggling, fishing, playing capture the flag, corn field walks, drawing, talking, singing...

We are so thankful for this little getaway.

March Happenings

Spring is here so one must wear flowers!

We miss the Campbells so much!! They came for an afternoon, and we had so much fun. Sure makes me miss the Cambridge Ct. days. We love you all!!

McCarthy and Evan
Rylie, Daisy, Shelby and Sadie...with McCarthy being a goof in the background.

Rylie decided she must ride her bike with training wheels off. It took her all of 5 minutes. She then went and taught 3 other kids in the neighborhood.

Ems

There was a little girl with a little curl...who liked to sneak chocolate from her mama's purse and wear her sister's bathing suit over her dress.

Photos

Rylie loves babies. So, so precious! Here she is holding Whit Deckard. Notice Emerie looking on. Is that a bit of jealousy on her face?
McCarthy loves babies too. I am so happy we have lots of friends having babies, so there is no pressure on me.
Em and Sky with Nana Farr. Emerie LOVES her Nana. If the phone rings, she says, "Nana?"
Too cute for words.
Simmons kids driving to Nana and Pops house Christmas morning.