Doug

We were down in Virginia this year for Thanksgiving. It was a big crew, as usual. Doug, Vickie, Quinn, Carley, Nana, our friends Carl, Amanda, Gianna, and Ella from North Carolina, and Aleen and Yvonne were all there.

We deep fried the turkey again this year. It think it might be the 5th or 6th year we’ve done that. It’s always delicious. Doug was the turkey master again. I think he waits all year for this. He was out there for hours getting the oil and the turkey just right. But time worth spent because it was super tasty.

Doug lowering the turkey

The weather was amazing and we got to spend a lot of time outside. We took a few hikes and just enjoyed my parent’s amazing property. It was also an opportunity to try and get a cousin picture. Alas, more failed attempts… Why they can’t all smile and look at the camera at once is beyond me.

Ariana is highly skeptical of her cousins. 
Lauren has clearly had enough. 

Read more

We spent Easter down in Virginia again this year. On Saturday we had a BBQ with a bunch of Becky and my friends and their kids. It was madness, but a lot of fun, including a piñata that Becky and Jack made.

Sophie and Lexi
On Saturday night Ariana was baptized at an Easter service. It was a really pretty service, with the whole congregation holding candles during the beginning part of the service. Doug and Vicki are the god parents and presented Ariana at the front of the church. 

And Sunday morning there was of course an egg hunt! Here are Quinn, Carley and Sophie with their winnings… 

The three cousins! 

Read more

We headed down to Virginia again this year for Thanksgiving. We had a big crew at my parent’s house. Dave cooked the entire dinner for 15 (well… I made a cake and Doug was the one who actually did the turkey frying). It was a great few days, filled with leaf luging, hiking, visits with friends and of course lots and lots of eating.

Our friends Carl, Amanda and their daughter Gianna came up from North Carolina. Sophie was in heaven hanging out with Gianna. Here they are getting ready to luge down the hill in front of the house. Who needs snow when you have leaves!

Doug brought the deep fryer and did the turkey in the driveway. It was cooked to perfection, of course. 

The men and the grill. 

 The whole crew (almost) at the Thanksgiving table. It was a feast! 

Read more

This past week my family did their annual week in Ocean City, NJ. Soph was there for most of the week, and I visited a few times throughout. 
Sophie with her second cousin Cameron, visited from Colorado

The bathing beauty

Sophie with her Pappap, doing some digging

With her GG. 

Doug giving lessons in drip castle making. He’s the drip castle master. 

Enjoying some birthday cake with Nana. 

Read more

We spent part of last week in Newboro, Canada. Brad & Joan have a house there, on a little island. There’s not much to do but fish, read and relax… it’s always the best vacation. Doug, Vick, Quinn, Carley, Julia, Nana, Mom and Dad were all there too (and Finn – Julia’s dog).
Dave, Sophie & I slept out in the little cabin, which is separate from the main house. Here’s she’s enjoying my bed.

Sophie loved hanging out with her second cousins (At least I think that’s what they are to her…). She just can’t get enough of Carley in this picture.

Here’s a shot of the whole group (including Julia who is behind the plant)

Nana brought back this outfit for Sophie from Paris. It’s been too hot in Philly to wear – but it was much cooler in Canada and she was able to sport it before she got too big. Our cute little chicken.

Read more

Sophie got some good extended family time in this week. On Tuesday night Joan and Dan came over for dinner before Dan left for Tunis. Dave made some tasty lamb burgers on the grill and we sat outside and enjoyed the great night.

And then on Sunday we went out to West Chester to visit Doug, Vicki, Quinn & Carley.



Read more