NOTICE: record long post

This post is long overdue! My mom, brother Jon and sister Emily came to visit us the last weekend of October. They stayed at Erica & Steven's in Ashburn, VA for a couple days before coming down and spending a couple days with us. I drove up to Erica's with Emma & Elliot so everyone could be together. It was a lot of fun and can I just say- it was NOISY and plenty of high energy going on with the 5 cousins together! Here are some of the pictures from the visit. I actually have more, but I'll post them another time.

The picture of Elliot in his carseat was taken in "honor" of my dad. He likes to wear his hats like so and Elliot obviously does too!

We went to a park in Suffolk one night. We all had fun as you can see from the pictures.

Don't let the tennis picture fool you. I haven't touched a raquet for, um, well I'm ashamed to say how long it has been. I managed to lob a few over the net. Mom, Em and Jon are really good players. Emma gave tennis a shot too. That went over like a lead balloon. Our poor child has no coordination skills when it comes to sports so far.

< JonEeEsH!

Elliot ^

What a funny slide! (it wasn't a comfortable journey down, says Emily)

Jon shows off his moves. pretty sweet.

< Elliot and GrammyDee. ^ I haven't met a kid who doesn't like to climb up a slide!

Uncle Jon swingin' with Elliot

< Notice the expression on Elliot's face! I can think of a few great captions for this shot.

< a very high slide. and yes, that is Emma and my sister Emily heading back down. Emma decided it was too big for her liking (but she has done this one before?!)

< I love these two. They are my favorite boys!

While I was at my sister's house near D.C., we went to this amazing kid's park- Clemyjontri Park. Pictures don't do it justice! It was huge and they had everything you could think of including a race track, carousel, maze, and "bike" access to most all the jungle gym area (see the picture of Carter riding his truck down the ramp, below).

Uncle Jon giving Regan a push on the tire swingCarter loved riding up and down the ramps.

Erica, Carson, Mom, ElliotElliot & Grammy DeeWhat a sweet boy!

Carter 2 years & 4 months old

Emma loved this park- can you tell?! We had a few issues when I told her it was time to go.

Driving the school bus just like GrammyDee.

And this is we keep GrammyDee looking so young!

A rare RARE moment of quiet stillness. They were watching Frosty the Snowman and were quite intrigued. It was so much fun to watch all the kids interact with each other! Carter and Regan are taking violin lessons now. We got to hear them play---it was precious (but not so pleasing to the ears). Now Emma wants a violin like Carter's. She didn't want to put it down! (aunt chelle, would you like to move up here and teach her?!?)

This was Erica's idea. Elliot and Carson were ready for their naps so Erica said to put them both in the same crib and that Carson would fall right asleep (must be a third child thing). Well, I went to check on them a while later and this is what I interrupted. Two WIDE awake little guys jabbering and smiling at each other. They were having a good ol' time, but not sleeping :)

By the way, you probably notice the PINK bedding. When Erica had her ultrasound while she was pregnant, she was told that she was having a girl. 100% sure. So they prepared for a little girl. You can imagine the surprise they received when Erica opened the blanket after being handed her baby for the first time! So they just kept the crib stuff the same...

Carter and Emma playing on the deck

(they are 3 weeks apart in age)

my and jonny. he's in hawaii now with another one of my brothers, Tim. Aloha bros, if you are reading this!

my beautiful "little" sister. I can't believe she is going to be 17 next month! She is a sweet girl and full of spunk. love you em!

A visit would not be complete without a trip to Chuck E Cheese.

Erica and Carson. All of Erica and Steven's kids have the most beautiful piercing blue eyes!

Thanks for coming Mom, Jon & Em!

We Love You.