Heads up - blog change coming

First of all, a picture of Abigail and Hannah that isn't months old! Abigail is four (and four months) and Hannah is fifteen months old - and they are the sweetest of sisters (except when one wants what the other has, of course).

And, our blog will be "relocating" soon - new address to be announced. Once it's set up, I'll post the new address here for awhile and then close down this blog (we do plan to make a blog book though!). If you'll send me your address, I'll be sure to send you an invitation - juliapgarner AT gmail DOT com. Thanks!

Baby Skylar (and cousins) - 12/29/09

Bing and Andy's daughter Skylar was born while we were on our way home from Pennsylvania (with Lai, Bing's sister!). A week later, the girls and I got to visit the happy family along with Lai and family (from California). What a fun visit! Thanks, Bing for putting up with five extra little girls in your house. Isn't she beautiful?

Buddies Rose Marie and Abigail were delighted to see each other again!
Rose Marie with her tiny new cousin
Of course Abigail loved holding Skylar - and Autumn waited patiently for her turn.Our SIX precious little girls
Mommies too!

Late December - unpacking and settling in to the "new" house

Water jug squats: At nearly eleven months, Hannah was pulling up on everything and "cruising," but not walking independently yet. She would use anything in reach. =)
Christmas (or after Christmas) baking. The girls loved helping!
Pretty as a picture? Some frames from Grandma J (made by Granddad) provided comic relief from endless unpacking.

Christmas in Georgia - now that it's April!

Abigail was awfully happy to see Granddaddy when we arrived Christmas Eve!
And Hannah enjoyed Uncle Stephen, his keys, and her cousins.
Great Grandmother G and Patrick
Christmas morning: All the kids helped Grandmama make breakfast!
Sisters in front of the tree - Hannah's first Christmas!
Gavin, Lane, Patrick, and Laoise - Nathan's sister Talitha's four
Christmas afternoon we drove across the border to Grandmother L's for dinner with that side of the family. (Great) Grandmother and Hannah have always been close - we spent the second week of Hannah's life in Grandmother's home waiting interstate clearance to come home. Grandmother and her daughters - Mona, Kelly, and Donna
Talitha, Stephen and children
Trying to get a sisters Christmas picture!
Nobody was still, but there was lots of laughing. Merry Christmas!

Visiting Lydia and family

On the road again December 24th! On our way to Nathan's family in Georgia, we stopped by Tom and Lydia's for a quick Christmas Eve visit. Little girl cousins enjoyed playing together (ours didn't want to leave!).

Aunt Julia and Lydee
Tom's game with Bella
Hannah thought her cousins' zebra was amazing
Cozy Christmas Eve morning

New baby Andre

December 21 two dear friends had their babies: Bing's (Lai's sister) daughter Skylar was born and Ree's son Andre was born! On the 23rd, the girls and I got to visit Ree and Andre in the hospital - what a handsome little guy!
Abigail took this picture of Ree and me with our babies.

Finally south - at Grandma's (12/20-21)

God granted us safe travel down to Grandma's and we arrived in time for supper Sunday evening. So glad to see her, though our visit would be short due to snow delays.
Uncle Tom, Aunt Janet and Landry squeezed in a quick visit after their church service that night
Abigail loves her Great Uncle Tom like I always did - he hasn't changed!
Grandma welcomed Lai (no strangers ever, least of all our good friend!) and had to show Lai her treasured picture albums. Lai was an interested audience, but sweet Havilah couldn't wait any longer to sleep!
Aunt Lucinda came by before work the next morning and brought gifts for the girls - to their great delight.
After many phone calls, Nathan was able to get a confirmed seat out for Lai and Havilah - back to the rest of their family. Though the plans were not ours, it was great for Grandma and Lai (and Havilah) to become friends.
Before we left for the airport and home, Lai and I managed to get a picture together - normally at least one of us is behind the camera. =)
What a trip - so many pictures and so many memories!

Snowed in - our lovely hotel abode in Philly

We did enjoy our little "forced vacation" at the Residence Inn. Lai and I took the girls for a swim in the indoor pool (after Abigail and I returned from play in the snow - what contrast!) Hannah and Abigail discovered this great hiding place in our suite - cute little prisoners, aren't they?
Finally, three clean tired girls in pajamas! Just wish we had Havilah's sister's Rose and Autumn (and daddy!) with us too!
Auntie Lai Lai and Hannah - see the snow drift against the window?
Our three little girls in front of the hotel Christmas tree. Who said anything about looking at the camera?
18 month old Havilah
Finally ready to brave the roads - though no flights yet, so we took Lai south with us to try another airport!

Abigail enjoying Philly Blizzard 12/09

We'd planned to leave Philadelphia the following day (Saturday, December 19th) after taking Lai and Havilah to meet their flight. However, during the night, Philly received 20 inches of snow. All flights were canceled and the roads impassable (since snow was still falling heavily). Thankfully, Nathan had won out over his frugal wife and chosen a very nice hotel suite for the six of us - we had two little bedrooms and a kitchen! We were grateful for our cozy little home (especially as we watched news reports of many people stranded in their cars). Of course, I had to take my little southern girl out to play in some real snow! Strange stuff - so cold and dry, we couldn't make a snowman or even snowballs. But lots of fun anyway!
And great for snow angels! Abigail had read about snow angels in a Little House book and was eager to try one. Of course, Mommy had to demonstrate first (oh, why didn't we bring snow clothes. . . surely we could've found room in the car) and the snow up my back and ankles was COLD. Abigail never noticed. =)

Does she look like she's having fun? Poor girl, I had to drag her in eventually. Thank you Lord, for the unplanned blessings of snow!

Cherith's wedding!

We left Aunt B.A.'s after breakfast December 18 and headed towards Pennsylvannia - for Cherith's wedding that evening! Outside D.C., we stopped at IKEA (just the parking garage!) to meet my dear friend Lai (from California, but visiting another friend in Virginia) and her youngest daughter Havilah. After Nathan repacked the van (six people and three car seats plus lots of baby gear, snacks, coats, etc.!), we set off again. The trip got merrier - Nathan was patient with five chatty females as passengers!
Despite a time crunch and an unexpected detour, we arrived before the wedding began and were delighted to see Cherith briefly. What a story of God's gracious leading this beautiful bride has! She spent the previous year doing language work in Papua New Guinea and met her now husband providentially just before she left for PNG!
Precious friends - Lai, Cherith and I (Nathan too!) became close friends during college days. We loved, served and learned together through a neighborhood Bible club and small church and have rejoiced to witness each others marriages.
Newlyweds Cherith and Jason! They plan to return to PNG after Jason completes Bible translator school.
Little girls in plaid - Havilah (18 months) and Abigial (four) playing during pictures
So tired Havilah relaxing with Uncle Nathan.
Our girls were troopers through the evening wedding (even after a LONG day of travel) and the lovely reception. We were among the first to leave around ten. (A most delightful day for my 30th! Couldn't have planned a better party. =)