Jack goes to the Asheboro Zoo

If you know anything about Jack at all, you know that he LOVES dinosaurs.  With his 5th birthday coming up, John and I decided that we just had to take Jack on a road trip to the Asheboro Zoo to see their special exhibit.  You guessed it, DINOSAURS!!!!!

Elissa, Celia and Lily joined us there which made the day perfect!!

The pictures say it all!!!

Family gathering!!

It has become our tradition, this is the second year, that we get together my family on a Saturday in September to reminisce and remember.  There are 16 of us now and it is no small task to get on everyone's calendars. 

Elissa, Chip and Celia arrived first and were thrilled to be reunited with Lily. (see previous post) We all got to see a calf that was just 7 hour old and had just been born on the farm behind our house.

I take advantage of the opportunity to get a family photo.  It is a rare occasion when I have them all together and I do love the yearly picture of the whole gang (although some are more interested in having their picture taken than others i.e. Jack)  I feel so blessed every time I look at these faces!!

So there you have it....This is what we looked like on September 29, 2012.  We are not a perfect family by any means but we have a good time when we get together and I love, cherish and am grateful for each and every one of us.

Big gifts come in small packages!!

In September Elissa and Lily spent the night with us on the way home from a trip to Maryville, TN.  To our delight when they got up the next morning Elissa shared the news that Lily didn't want to go home with her but was hoping to stay with us.  Serendipitously, we could make it work because the Pope family would be returning the following Friday for a Saunders family reunion.  Soooo we got to keep Lily for the week.  I felt so pleased and honored that at 3 years old she was brave enough to spend the week with us by herself.

We went to Asheville and had a chance to visit a friend that had a 7 week old baby.  Lily happily seized the opportunity when invited to hold her.

 
We really didn't do anything special but we had such a wonderful time with her. She was such a sweetheart and we all enjoyed every minute. 

And of course time in the sandbox is required.

And some time at the playground.

Gifts do come in pint size packages.  We do love our little Lily!!