The End of Our Company

After almost a steady stream of company for the past month and a half, we are now settling into being just a family of 4.  A family of four.  Boy!  That is weird to type.  The last of our visitors was my sister, Julie.  We had a wonderful time with her and I am so happy she got to see Jakob while he is still so little.  She took all the cuddling time and snuggles with him that she could fit in during her time here.  It's not hard to do.  He is a little snuggle-bug!

The baby whisperer

 She also spent a good deal of time listening to Jeffery talk about Thomas the Train.  :)

My sweet monkey

Fall is really late in arriving here in VA.  We had a late spring and now a very late fall, so the leaves were not changed like I was hoping they would be for her visit.  DRAT!  But she still got to see some colors.  It rained the first two days that she was here and we hunkered down inside.  The rain finally let up on Monday though and we took Julie down towards Williamsburg to one of our favorite places -- York River State Park.  (We had planned to go to White Oak Canyon but the blasted gov't shut down prohibited that as it is a National Forest.)  York River State Park is a beautiful area along -- yep, you guessed it! -- the York River!  :)  The York River is still salt water at the point and as a result, you have the odd combination of heavy woods opening out on to marshes and brackish salt water.  It is stunning...and was especially so when we took Julie.

Some leaves starting to cover the path

Our leaders on the hike

Two Wiggle Worms - like Aunt, like nephew!

Family of Four - Jakob's first hike

Marshy estuaries opening into the York River

Someone got tired....so daddy carried him on the way back

The shore of the York River

Happy as a clam!

Have an almost identical picture in the same location with Jeffery

Jakob was captivated by the sounds of the waves

Throwing sticks in the river with Aunt Julie

As Dave and I predicted, Jeffery completely melted down as we left the water.  It sounded like a banshee wailing.  No kidding!  But you should have seen Julie.  She just picked him up, holding him kind of parallel to the ground, and marched the two of them up to the top of the river bank...with him flailing and crying and screaming the whole way.  To say that Dave and I were impressed would be an understatement.  Little did Julie know that she would get such a work out that day!  :)

Tuesday was spent around the house and doing some errands.  And then....Julie babysat both boys so I could attend a James River Singers rehearsal (which Dave directs).  VERY brave of her!  AND SO HELPFUL!!!!!!  Both Dave and I were sure that we would come home to find that Jeffery had tied her up and was running around the house like mad.  But lo! she was free and somewhat smiling (Jakob had been a little fussy) when we got home and Jeffery was sound asleep!  I couldn't stop thanking her.

Jeffery "calling" (not really) Oma and Papa

Jakob hears his Aunt Julie and brother Jeffery having fun and wants in on the action!

Wednesday was her last day in Richmond.  AND -- my birthday!  We ventured back out and this time, we went to Pocahontas State Park....just to the south of our house....for another little hike.  Jeffery was much better on this outing and we all had a wonderful time.  It was the perfect way to celebrate my birthday!

Beaver Lake at Pocahontas State Park

Jeffery leading the way on the floating dock

The start of fall color

Appropriate color for mushrooms in October!

Fall color

A quiet moment

Sisters!

VA is SOOO pretty!

After we got home, we had a birthday lunch and then enjoyed the extremely yummy cake that Julie had made for me the day before.  Aunt Weezie called and sang to me.  My parents called and sang to me.  And Julie and Dave sang to me.  It was a great birthday!  But all good things must come to an end and that afternoon marked the end of Julie's visit.  It was so wonderful to have her visit and 4.5 days just flew by far too fast!  

We realize what a sacrifice of time and money it is for our family to come and visit us from the west coast.  But we are so thankful that Jakob has been almost constantly surrounded by his extended family for the first month and a half of his life.  And Jeffery has loved all the attention.  It truly has been a wonderful start to us being a family of four!

Tired after our hike

And while it is nice to have the house back to ourselves and for Jeffery to be a little more calm as we get back to our regular routines.....our sights are already turned towards Christmas and the possibility of traveling.  The 12 days of Christmas -- Arizona Style.  Hmmmm.  It has a nice ring to it....but I wonder if we're brave enough!  :)