Easter 2009- Part 1

Unfortunately we weren't all able to be together this year. Jay and I went to Raleigh, NC, to spend the long weekend with Laurie and Zach. We had a fabulous time with them, and the warm temps and sunshine were certainly a mood lifter. Not to mention the fabulous massage Laurie gave me as an early Mother's Day gift. Boy am I glad she changed careers; she's terrific!:)
Lindsay, Rick, and Cate were in Maine. Luckily through the miracle of modern technology, we were able to share our weekend activities through pictures on our blogs. For the rest of you, here goes:



After church on Easter Sunday, we drove to the coast and visited Wrightsville Beach. I was so disappointed that my idol, Jim Cantore from the Weather Channel, wasn't in town (no hurricanes in sight). I did find out that he broadcasts right here by this pier. Guess for now that will have to do:)

We also enjoyed downtown Wilmington and walked through lots of quaint little shops and along this beautiful walkway by the Cape Fear River. What a charming city.

This is the World War II battleship the USS North Carolina, right across the river from Wilmington. Do you suppose there really are alligators or is that sign just kidding???

Laurie and Zach were with us. They had been there before and made excellent tour guides.

Before church on Easter Sunday:)

Easter 2009 - Part 2

Now for pictures of the Maine contingency:

Cate all dressed up for church on Easter Sunday. What a baby doll.

Something in the neighborhood has caught her eye. And speaking of dolls, doesn't Rick look the part of the perfect daddy, holding Cate's baby doll in the background? What a good Daddy:)

Love the hat!

The family portrait:) We sure did miss being with them.

Just a few more:)

It is very difficult to get Cate's picture these days because she wants to look in the camera and see her own pictures. This is what happens sometimes when we insist.

This is what she wants. And she even knows which button to push to view the shots!

The dishwasher just happened to provide a handy seat while looking at herself in the camera:) I was unloading it, and she just backed up and sat down.

Grandpas have the best laps!

Not counting Mommy, of course.

More Maine pictures

Cate is carrying her "groceries." These came with her little grocery cart which she also likes to push around.

I took Cate a little kitchen set that had belonged to Lindsay and Laurie. Yes it was in my attic which gives you some idea of how much trouble I'm in with moving:) I showed her how to "pretend eat" and feed her dolls. She caught on very quickly. Guess she's going to take after her Auntie Laurie with dolls although she also tried to feed her stuffed animals and Zoe.

Amazing how she just seemed to know what to do with a spatula and a frying pan.

What's going through her mind?

Maine celebrates Maple Sunday so we were at a maple syrup camp enjoying some syrup on ice cream. Cate couldn't get enough:)

Sunday's day trip in Maine

While visiting L. L. Bean, Cate found her own reflection in the mirror in the Shoe Dept. was very amusing:)
The stuffed animal labs were so soft but where would they fit in the house?
So Daddy purchased a smaller version and promptly named it Whitey. Silly Daddy! Cate carried it all through the store showing it to everyone she passed and giving it frequent hugs and smooches.
The big bear footrest in the Home Furnishings Dept. was a huge hit!
Before our visit to L. L. Bean, we went to a place called The Pinelands in New Glouster. Cate thought this mural on the wall in the room where we ate lunch was great.

Our March visit to Maine

Now that we're in Maine and can actually see for ourselves, it appears that Cate is finally getting a little hair. I took these pictures so that I would be believed:)
Just had lunch and her belly is full.
Reading books with Grandpa is a favorite activity.
Gramma is so much fun to play with but maybe not as much as that camera that Mommy has in her hand:).

January 16: Cate is one!!!

It is hard to believe that Cate is one year old. Thinking back to holding that tiny newborn only hours old, I am so grateful to God for the miracle of her life. She has brought us joy and laughter and love beyond measure. Twelve months later she's walking and talking and playing and laughing. It is all so amazing and such a blessing.
Since we won't be with her for awhile, I'm putting the link to Lindsay's blog so that you can check there for updates. In case you don't know, Zoe is their dog:)
www.bigsisterzoe.blogspot.com