Easter and afterwards with Grandma Johnson

Easter was the day after Lydia's shower and Mom and Grandma Johnson got to come back with us for a couple of days. We celebrated Christ's Resurrection together and enjoyed several meals with Caleb. Tuesday Abigail and I rode in "GramMee's new red car with Great-grandma Johnson" to Knoxville and spent a couple of days with the Mees. Abigail loved seeing her aunt and uncles there and both places Abigail and Grandma Johnson enjoyed reading lots of books. The night before the generations were to head our separate ways, Dad Mee took some pictures of the four of us (yep, we looked tired =). It was special to have been able to spend four days together! Thursday we took Grandma to the airport for her flight back to VA and then Mom took us part way home and Nathan and Caleb met us. One little girl was overjoyed to be reunited with her daddy (her mommy was pretty happy too =).

Lydia's "babies shower"

The day before Easter we had a baby shower for Lydia and Tom in expectation of their daughters' arrival. Local friends (including Army friends, police friends, and neighbors) and family (from VA, TN, and SC) came and others sent gifts. Tom and Lydia were very happy to receive a double stroller, car seats, highchairs, a bathtub, clothes, baby equipment, and lots more - nearly ready for Isabella and Lydia's arrival! The shower was for guys and girls - a first for most of the guys present. We had lots of fun.

Spring! Early march snapshots

Warm days are so exciting this year. We enjoyed a trip to the local zoo with several friends the beginning of the month and for days afterwards Abigail talked much about the noisy monkeys and the snakes. Abigail's friend Emmalein has a new baby sister and it's been fun to spend time together again (splashing at the sink with Emmalein or holding Celia). Picnicking is another joy of spring -- we ate lunch by the river with long-time friend Ree and her son Desmirion.

February highlights

We started on the month with a big day trip to Virginia for Julia's cousin Scott's wedding. It was great to see all the cousins, aunts and uncles on Dad's side. Abigail survived 12 hours in the car that day and enjoyed the festivities of her first wedding (infant cousin Amaya and the cake were her favorite parts - oh, and the guitar music). A couple of weeks later, friends visited from Virginia and Alabama. Abigail quickly fell in love with "Miss Emily" who stayed for three days. Then we enjoyed a brief visit with Amy, Anna, and Barbie. Nathan took a quick trip to San Antonio a couple of days later and got to do a bit of site-seeing in addition to attending a work-related class. Julia joined her Mom (a.k.a. GramMee) for a ladies' retreat at the Wilds Christian Camp at the end of the month and Abigail and Daddy spent their first daddy/daughter overnight (without Mommy). For weeks afterwards Abigail talked about riding in Daddy's truck (since she was in the "front" she thought she was driving) to attend a friend Sean's first birthday party.