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. =)

Heading north - family in Virginia

December 17th we packed up and set off for a long weekend "northern" road trip including family visits in Virginia and the wedding of dear friend in Pennsylvania. That evening, Aunt Faye prepared a delicious meal and we enjoyed dinner with her and Uncle Chuck and Aunt Beverley Ann, Uncle David, and Emmalee too! The girls enjoyed lots of spoiling and gifts. What a special Christmas visit with my Dad's family! That night we stayed with Aunt B.A. and the next morning she surprised me with candles in a pecan ring - a fun start to a memorable 30th birthday!

Aunt Faye, Emmy & Aunt B.A. serving up pumpkin dump cake!
Abigail and Emmy
Hannah was captivated by those Christmas light earrings!
Getting reacquainted with "Unka Chuk"
Present from Aunt B.A.
In case you noticed the butterfly bandage and are wondering. . . A couple of nights before we left, Nathan and I heard a bang from Abigail's room just before midnight. She'd fallen out of bed (onto our lovely "new" hardwood floors) and split her chin. Ouch!

Abigail's fourth birthday!

This birthday was much anticipated and much enjoyed! GramMee came on Abigail's birthday and took her out for lunch at Chick-Fil-A (Mommy was babysitting and so stayed home with the two littler girls). Can lunch get yummier than chocolate milk, french fries and chicken nuggets. . . oh, and chocolate milk?!?
GramMee also got her eldest granddaughter a fun pink ICE CREAM cake!
For the last year or so, Abigail has loved "dressing up," using anything she could find. Most of the time, she was a princess (surprise, surprise) or a bride (result of watching her grandparents' wedding video so many times!). So we decided to give her some "real" dress up clothes. Her wardrobe now includes a (generic) princess dress, a fireman's coat and hat (variety, please!), pink nurses scrubs and GramMee made a size four "wedding" dress. Daddy was the bride-doctor's first patient.
Ever seen a firefighter with ringlets?
Favorite picture of the evening. . . photography lessons with Uncle Caleb!
Hannah played peek-a-boo with Uncle Caleb. We love how she "covers" her eyes!
Babies at the party - love those cousins!
Abigail had long wanted her own umbrella and Aunt Lydia and Uncle Tom gave her a fun one! Think she looks pleased?

Happy birthday, our sweet, exuberant Abigail! How we thank God for blessing us with you four years ago! May you grow to love Him more and more!

Early December glimpses

Breakfast in bed? For several weeks, Abigail enjoyed going into Hannah's room before me when Hannah woke up and climbing into her crib. One morning the happy noises were due in part to the cereal Abigail sneaked in. December 2nd, we had our first big rain and decided that "drainage" should be added to our house-to-do-list. While I was out taking pictures to send Nathan at work, someone else was spying on me!Nothing like jumping in with both feet! We had our first overnight guests the second week of December. Seven of the eight H's stayed with us at some point during the week and Grace stayed the whole week to help me with moving in projects. She was almost 16 and Abigail loved having a teenage friend! (Interestingly, Grace is a triplet and I helped her mom when she had four very small children some 15 years ago.)

Hannah ten months old - late November

Just back from Thanksgiving and enjoying life amidst the boxes - been in our new home less than a week!
Ladies from the Nazarene church (which hosts Special Link - our original adoption agency) knitted caps for the "Special Link babies" born in 2009. Hannah loves hers and enjoyed our little photo shoot. She pulled the hat off and kept trying to put in back on herself.
Our new backyard looks like fun - just need some warmer weather and less rain so Mommy will take me out!
"Hey, Mommy - I'm just getting a little snack!"
These girls do love each other! Hannah can clap by herself, but it's more fun with Sissy's hands too!"
Quick Hannah update: She loves to clap and to play peek-a-boo (actually gets at least one of her hands over her eyes fairly often now - too cute!). She pulls up on everything (the computer desk right now - trying to reach the keyboard to help me type =) and just learned to walk behind the push walker. She enjoys dropping things so she can say "uh-oh" and recently learned to say "Mama" (after two months saying Da-da).

Family pictures - by Caleb

We also wanted a family picture for Christmas letters and "Uncle Caleb" took lots for us in the Mee's backyard! Thanks, Caleb!
Our pick:
Grown up Abigail - Three, almost four:
Hannah loving life - almost ten months: Abigail and Daddy (The blue eyes):
Hannah and Mommy (The brown eyes):

Thanksgiving & Hannah's first tub bath

A few days after the move, we packed up and left the mess to spend Thanksgiving in Tennessee with the Mees. The three days we enjoyed together were lots of fun - most of our combined family was there and we did the annual photo shoot. One highlight for Hannah (other than all the attention of grandparents and aunts and uncles!) was taking her first "big tub" bath. She squealed and splashed and splashed and shrieked. Every now and then she paused to consider the water running down her face, but soon returned to splashing.

Our new home

Hmmm. A little while later. Can I just say the last two months have been full with the move, Thanksgiving, overnight guests, Abigail's birthday celebrations, a wedding in Pennsylvania combined with family visits in Virginia, Christmas and more travels, more guests, babysitting, teaching Sunday school. . . oh, and unpacking and the more urgent home renovations (all with the help of our busy little daughters!)?
School (the last semester before graduation!) has begun again for Nathan and we're starting to settle into a routine. . . and the new house. Still plenty of boxes and organization to go. Then down with the wallpaper and up with new paint. And pictures. Eventually, we'll have to replace the moss in the front yard with grass, but in the meantime, it's sort of green and holds the mud down. And we love our yard and the neighborhood and all the space in our "new old house." Do come visit. And excuse the mess. =)