Visits and Birthdays, Oh My!

Well.....we are on the other side of Jeffery's 1 year birthday.  I cannot believe that he is already 1 year old.  I know I've said this before but....where has this year gone?!!!!

We were VERY blessed to have family come into town for his big birthday.  Dave's brother Eric and sister Julie came to visit us and we had a wonderful time with them.  Unfortunately for them....they just happened to come during the hottest week of the year so far.  It has been absolutely awful....but what can you do?!  :)

Following a night of Bottom's Up Pizza :), the three siblings took the Amtrak up north to D.C. on July 3rd and took in the sights and sounds of our nation's capitol.  Julie has never been to D.C., Eric hadn't been for a long time, and Dave was only too happy to act as guide and show them around.  They walked miles (all in the blasted heat) and braved the pre-July 4th crowds and by all accounts, had a simply marvelous time!!!  :)    

Dave, Julie, and Eric

The siblings figured that they hadn't spent this length of time together since Dave was beginning college.  And Julie was insistent that they have their picture taken as we don't think there has been a picture of just the three of them for a very, very, very long time.  I think it is a good looking family!  :)

After their trip to D.C., Dave acted as a local tourist guide and took them to several Civil War battlefields around our fair city and drove them around showing them sites like: Poe's house, University of Richmond, Agecroft Hall, etc.  

July 5th was a very special day!!!  Jeffery turned 1 year old!!!!!!  In the morning, I took over as guide and left Dave home with the baby as Julie, Eric and I went to Berkley Plantation (the site of the 1st official Thanksgiving....18 months before the Pilgrims!!!).  Even though we absolutely melted, we had a wonderful time together and it was great for me to spend the time with my brother in law and sister in law.  We then came home and had the grand celebration in honor of Jeffery's big day!

My little pyro!  :)

Eating some birthday cupcake!

Chillin with Uncle Eric

Sadly, it was a very difficult birthday for Jeffery.  I think it is a terribly cruel joke to have little ones get teeth...when they can't tell you why they feel bad.  Two bottom teeth came in last week (that makes 8 total) and Jeffery spent all of Eric's visit (Eric left the evening of Jeffery's birthday) and a good portion of Julie's visit running a fever, loopy, cranky, and kind of out of it.  :(  Timing.  :(

A rare smile on his birthday...with his new dinosaur from Uncle Eric

Jeffery, Julie and I decided to visit the Williamsburg area the next day.  We drove Julie down the Colonial Parkway to Yorktown, took her past our old house (oh house...I miss you), had lunch at the Cheese Shop in Merchant Square, walked a little bit of the colonial section, and finished the day with a drive around the Jamestown Peninsula.  :)  We had tons of fun even though we melted in Williamsburg.  We have done a very good job convincing Julie that she needs to come back when the weather isn't so hellish.  :)

Auntie Julie & Jeffery in front of the Governor's Palace

And then we were to Saturday...the day of Jeffery's big birthday party.  Our amazing neighbors "Aunt Kate" and "Uncle Adam" had months ago graciously offered to let us host his party at their house....because Uncle Adam was going to brew a beer specifically in Jeffery's Honor.  We had originally intended for the festivities to take place outside in their fenced back yard.  However....with a regular temp of 106 and a heat index of 114....we moved everything inside.  Jeffery's Birthday Dunkelweizen was FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!

Uncle Adam's keg-orator with the list of his on tap beers.

Dave made his famous hummus, Kate made an amazing orzo and cucumber salad and queso, and I put together plates of veggies and meats and cheeses.  It was quite the spread.

Even though Jeffery was suffering from some moderate heat rash (he just couldn't catch a break last week), his days of being loopy and cranky because of teeth were behind him. He was able to enjoy the people who came.  Dave and I were....ARE....so incredibly humbled that so many people...so many of the people that we have come to think of as close friends and family...came to celebrate our little boy's birthday.  We miss our families out west...we miss the west in general...but we have been so unbelievably blessed to build such a wonderful community of dear friends here in Richmond.  

Blow out the candle, Jeffery!

There were over 40 people who came to Jeffery's 1st birthday.  He won't remember a moment of it.  But I will.  Dave will.  The sounds of everyone singing "Happy Birthday" to him are forever in my ears.  The insane kindness and generosity of Kate and Adam has left me speechless and forever indebted to them.  Being able to celebrate the day with Auntie Julie was so very special.  It was just an amazing day!!

Julie and Dave

Being the life of a party can make a little boy thirsty

Before we knew it, and after being here a week, it was time to say goodbye to Auntie Julie.  :(  She loved making Jeffery laugh and walking him around the house and keeping him out of the dining room (easier said than done) and feeding him.  We are SO happy that she informed us a couple months ago that she was going to come for his birthday.  We loved having her visit.  We loved having Eric visit.  It was wonderful to see all 3 siblings together again.

Bed time yogurt with Auntie Julie

And now...we look forward to our trip to Colorado!!!!  We will have a belated birthday celebration with my parents, my sister and my aunt and uncle and enjoy the mountain air in our lungs, the fishing, and the dear family.  It has been 3 years since I was in our valley and it has been 7 years since Dave was there with my family.  LONG overdue and we can't wait!!!!