Special Visit from Hal and Denise

We had some very special guests this weekend.  My parents have been very busy over the past several months, selling two houses and moving into a new home and a new community.  So this was actually the first time we've hosted them in our new home since we moved here (though I should say that they came up and helped me move before Tori and the kids returned from Costa Rica!).  

They arrived Friday afternoon and took us to a nearby alehouse that we like.  It was the first time in a long time that we've gone out to eat with the kids, and I think they did pretty well.  Then Saturday morning they wanted to see Zadie's soccer game -- she hustled and scored a few goals, so she was quite proud of herself.    And then I took them by our park's new visitor center and we ate fresh strawberries and blackberries underneath some big oak trees.

Here's to many more visits up this way!

Family Beach Photo

With the exception of Charlie, I think this photo turned out quite nicely.  Just look at how cute Zadie and Skip are.  Charlie is also exceptionally cute, but that's not obvious in this picture.  We've been fortunate to have lots of great days at the beach this summer and fall, despite moving much further away!

Charlie Turned Two a While Back

I'm a bit late in sharing that Charlie turned two about a month ago.  There is so much to say about this child.  He is by far our most stubborn and feisty child, but he's also our most sweet and affectionate child.  He can be so charming and adorable that it makes you overlook some of his faults.  I know that Skip and Zadie feel the same way about him -- sometimes he drives them crazy wrecking their projects and biting Skip when he gets mad at him, but they always forgive him. Charlie is definitely a two-year-old with a very big personality!

We had a joint beach birthday party this year with Charlie's cousin Gavin.  Joint parties are great because you get another family to help you lug a bunch of stuff to the beach and clean up!  Also, Charlie and Gavin have a special bond, so it was nice for them to celebrate their birthdays together.  Thanks to Gavin's mom Katie for all the photos!

Gavin and Charlie with their birthday cake.

Charlie and Skip with their biological half-sister Hannah (same birth mom).  We're so happy Hannah is in our life.  Note the crazy resemblance between Hannah and Skip!

Portrait of our young man at the beach.  He's starting to thin out, but he's still got some great cheeks!