To Virginia and back

The girls and I just returned from a week in Charlottesville at Henny and Papa's new house. I still marvel at the fact that we flew there and back without any notable incidents other than the stroller falling over with Anna Kimball in it as we exited the family restroom at the Charlotte airport.

Before the trip I prayed for many helping hands and a grateful heart and the prayer was answered over and over again. I felt particularly humbled when I inwardly (and hopefully not audibly) grunted at the lovey-dovey young married couple snuggling in front of us on the plane because I was sure I had seen the wife give us a dirty look for disturbing their romantic ride ... and then of course she was the first to ask me if I needed help getting off the plane.

Our time with Henny and Papa was wonderfully full of repetition, in that we went to the pool constantly, rested frequently, ate gelato nightly, and delighted in the girls' antics hourly.

Enjoying a layover in Charlotte, during which a fellow traveler offered to buy me a cup of coffee. Oh how I wanted that cup, but the risk of juggling a hot beverage with a wriggly infant and trying to avoid too many trips to the restroom demanded that I politely decline.

Emery's first time in a baby pool!

Synchronized kickers!

Anna Kimball's perch for much of the week.

Emery's first real tea party.

Emery loves her Papa ... didn't even mind that Henny, Uncle Austin and I were driving away to go out to dinner!

She charmed us with smiles all week long, despite a terribly runny nose that she graciously shared with her hosts.

Emery's second real tea party!

Cruising with cousin Tucker.

The first of many baths together!

Headed home, but we'll be back again soon!

A fun trip and kitchen safety

I just returned from a fantastic few days in Annapolis and Charlottesville. Of course no trip to Charlottesville would be complete without some time with Tucker, who now eagerly refers to me as "Yiz!" whenever he wants my attention. We had a lot of fun tromping around at the park, playing with trucks, reading, and listening to numerous renditions of "The Wheels on the Bus."

I came home to a house FULL of notes from Matt, who is backpacking in the Sierra Nevadas this week. Everywhere I turn, every cabinet or door I open, there's a note! Definitely a wonderful surprise.

However, I felt suddenly reprimanded when, barefoot, I opened the knife drawer to find a knife to slice some bread, and was reminded by a note from Matt to "wear foot protection."

It's not that Matt's some kitchen safety czar. He's simply reminding me of what happened last summer when he was backpacking - I dropped a knife on my foot while trying to make him banana bread. This little accident put me into surgery and onto crutches for about two months. Not fun.

So, I immediately put on my Merrells and am vowing to have them on at all times while handling knives this weekend! And, incidentally, I have loads of frozen bananas that are just begging to become banana bread. Dare I give it another try?