A welcome addition

I may get a bit sentimental here. If you start feeling queasy...well, I warned you. I had to post these because I just received them. This is my brother Royce and my sister-in-law Rachel. They are a great couple and so perfect for each other. They both love sports, doing puzzles, the outdoors, and reading. Don't worry, they also have enough differences for a healthy, well-rounded relationship. She looks like a princess in this picture, and Royce looks like her knight in shining armor. I feel so grateful that Rachel is a part of our family. She and I have some commonalities and she is someone I would've been very good friends with had we roomed together or served together in the mission field. Don't worry Rachel, we will have plenty of opportunities to get to know each other. I'm sorry to inform you, but you are going to be seeing a lot of me around. I looked at this picture for a couple minutes and felt overwhelmed by all of the people that I love. Looking at the people I love in this picture makes me so grateful that family is eternal: no empty seats! Look at the man in the bottom right hand corner. That is my grandpa. Don't you love the face he is pulling?! Click on the picture for a better view. My family

Wake Forest vs. Duke

Wake Forrest won! I must say that is all I know about the game because I didn't any (I almost wrote much, but had to cross that out)of it. I guess that's what happens when you go to a football game with good friends. Why watch the game? Having a good time is 100% about the people you are with. Oh, and it rained most of the game. We were drenched. We made ourselves look like die-hard season ticket holders because we stuck it to almost the end of the game. Great stuff. I can't wait for the next one.

Oh how I love the water. My extended family started going to Wyoming every year long before I can remember. They now go over Labor Day weekend. We would run the Snake River, sometimes take the canoes and kayaks to a nearby lake, and swim at a pool in Astoria or Jackson Hole. My family also enjoyed going to Lake Powell once a year. I think that is where I would like to retire one day. The funny thing is we still went back every year after coming home more red than a ripe tomato. Steve also loves the water. Growing up, he enjoyed going to nearby beaches with his family and life-guarding at Walden pond. He also enjoyed going canoeing and sailing. He actually took me sailing on our honeymoon. I can't wait to go again. We were not able to go to Wyoming with the rest of the clan this year, but made our own fun filled water weekend. On Saturday we went to Bolton Pool and played in their spray ground. We thought this might be fun for Chase. Unfortunately, the water in the spray ground was a bit too cold for any child or grownup to enjoy. We smiled long enough to take the picture and then made a mad dash for the bigger, much more comfortable pool. Isn't this a great picture of Steve and Chase? On Monday we went to the beach with our friends, the Footes. This is Chase in the sand, his favorite part. Don't try to tell Chase that sand doesn't taste good. He didn't stop after one handful. If you can't read our sand art, it says Labor Day '10. Steve's shoulder is a little sore from attempting to surf. He did pretty well for his second or third time. Surfing is hard, just ask anyone who knows how to do it. He's looking forward to giving it another go. We also rented a boogie board, which was fun. I personally liked swimming the best. We enjoyed spending time with the Footes, and with each other, and look forward to another water filled Labor Day weekend.

We didn't see a bear

We went hiking in Pilot Mountain, which is the same Pilot Mountain referred to in the Andy Griffith show. Next time we go we'll have to get a pack for our big man Chase, who has grown out of his little man infant carrier. We are having so much fun seeing the sights unique to North Carolina.

8 months old!

Chase is 8 months old! As far as I can tell he is 28" and weighs 19 lbs. It can be hard to get his exact length when he tries to eat the tape measure.

Chase laughing

Family Pictures...what a good looking family!

Chase's first time at the ocean. This is my families favorite beach,Wingaersheek beach, there are lots of rocks to climb and when the tide goes out three tidal pools appear with size and depths similar to a clubhouse swimming pool.

Chase loved the ocean. He would sit at the edge of the water and splash and laugh when the waves rolled up to him. He also loved motoring through the water; i.e. dad holding him running him through the water. When a wave would come he would laugh, or sputter if his face went under. Surprisingly he never cried after a wave got him in the face, instead he would blink his little eyes and use his little tongue to lick up as much salt water as possible. He is a little fish! Once he got tired of swimming, I buried him up to his waist in sand. He thought sand was the most interesting thing in the world, until he ate a handful. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be to watch both hands go for the sand. Of course, he didn't like eating sand as much as salt water and told me so with a bout of tears. Poor little guy!

Chase at the 4th of July parade. My mother took him to use as a shield so we would try to get her wet. Problem is, Chase loves the water!

I think I'm going to submit this picture to a contest of sorts. I can say, with no bias whatsoever, that he is the cutest baby I've ever seen.

The race!

Danielle and Chase.

We had a wonderful time with family in Boston and are looking forward to the next trip. I was fortunate that my boss was on vacation and I didn't have to work practically at all. Hopefully, the same thing happens every time we visit family.