Huntley Meadows and Shoebox Shopping

This Friday we explored Huntley Meadows Park on a lovely fall day with the P Family.  We walked and walked and took lots of snack breaks.  The girls had fun spotting turtles, geese, and a big praying mantis on the boardwalk.  The baby boys strolled and snoozed, while we mamas chatted.  After 4 hours, we finally loaded up the car to leave.  

Then my clan set off to the Dollar Tree, where Eleanor picked out all the gifts for her Operation Christmas Child shoebox.  From crayons and books to bouncy balls and dolls, she generously piled it all into our cart.  Two weeks later, we organized all of the goodies into their boxes, and Eleanor came with me and Caleb to drop off our completed boxes before we left to go out of town.

So Great

For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endues forever.

Psalm 117:2

Our Caleb is just one piece of evidence supporting His truth.

Announcing...

Here's Eleanor's birth announcement in the alumni section of our high school's quarterly magazine.

Thanks and New Friends

Beth (Eloise's Mommy from E's playgroup)

Caleb was a busy man the first several weeks and months of life.  God blessed us with many visits from family and friends.  In fact, we had over 20 meals graciously given to us (and that's not including the numerous ones prepared by Grammy and Gaga).  We certainly felt surrounded by love and especially supported after Caleb's birth.  We praise God for this amazing community we have through work, church, and various friends in Alexandria.  Here are some pictures from Caleb's earliest visitors that we call his "new friends."

Eliza (Bailey's sister from E's playgroup)

Katy (friend from college)

Lowry (Katy's precious daughter)

Bartley (Katy's husband)

Jenna and Matt (Alexis's parents from E's playgroup)

E and Alexis Playing During Their Visit

Katy and Emilio (from church)

Tiffany (Xavier's mommy from E's playgroup)

Cousin Ashley

Val Meets Caleb

Auntie Val came up to welcome her nephew to the world!  Caleb's already the newest member of the Auntie Val fan club, and I'd say Val's feelings are mutual.

Ways of the Farm

Our whole family, along with Grammy, headed out to Oxon Hill Farm for a close encounter with lots of animals.  We even got to take a tractor ride (and see a fawn), milk a cow, feed goats, get up close and personal with the hog, and feel the chicken eggs.  All our farm activities definitely made for great memories!

Video coming.

Video coming.