Sarah's 10th Birthday

Here's some pictures from Sarah's birthday back in December. Here she's opening the puppy paw blanket that Rachel made for her.
One of our family traditions is decorating the night before with the kids birthday banners and streamers. Well the Rachel, Ryan and Matthew wanted to get into the action this year.
"Sis is 10"
Ryan made a finish line coming down the stairs.
In the morning Eric took Sarah out for her breakfast with Daddy at a local doughnut shop. Her birthday was on a Thursday so we went to "gym day" with the other PC families. Lunch was at home and the kids get to pick their favorite chips and soda to go with their pbj - Sarah picked Cool Ranch Doritos. Then I took her shopping at the Rio. She had made up her mind weeks before that she wanted to do that. I think because the streets were all decorated for xmas. Anyways, we went to Barnes&Noble, Target and Kohl's. It was so much fun hanging. Then it was home for a steak dinner with sweet potatoes, salad and chocolate pie.

The First One

I just noticed Marie's awesome entry! Here's the first picture of all 4. Sorry it's grainy.

Eric

A Williamsburg Tradition

Almost every spring and fall for the past eight years or more we've taken a drive up to Williamsburg and taken pictures of the kids. Here's a collection of pictures in front of the Governor's Palace.

Rachel and I got a real kick out of this sequence of pictures from 2003.

Fall 2004

Spring 2005

Spring 2006

Fall 2008

A Week in Virginia and a Family Wedding

Last Monday the kids and I headed down to Virginia for Eric's cousin's wedding. We stayed at my brother and sister in law's house and spent lots of time with them and the cousins. We were also able to spend time with other friends thru out the week and some various appointments. The weather had been beautiful all week and then unfortunately when all the wedding festivities began a wet and cold front came in. Though the majority of the events were planned for outside we made the best of it and had a great time.

Elise on her new point shoes!

Gordon was so cute. He had made a list of things he wanted to do with the boys like play soccer, ninjas and playmobile then he would cross it off the list.
Eric's cousin Greg and his wife Elka from Arizona stayed at Augie and Heather's too. This is their son Tre. All the kids just loved having a baby around.
Rachel was able to spend a day with Rebekah and Avery.
Heather and I with our girls and Michelle.
Elka, Michelle and Aunt Dianne - Jeff's mom.
Friday evening we all went to the Oceanview Pier for dinner. It was so chilly, wet and windy that night so we couldn't hang outside but it was great to be able to see all the family and the walk up the pier to the restaurant was a blustery adventure. This is Eric's cousin Sean and his wife Katie. They're expecting twins!
Eric's cousin and Sean's brother Joel and his wife Kathleen.
My boys with Jeff's brother, Mark and Eric's youngest brother, Brian.
Jeff and Michelle at the reception. It was beautiful.
Eric with good friends Matt Davis and Maggie Smith.
Gordon with Uncle Rob, another one of Eric's brothers.

Gettysburg

The kids have been studying the Civil War the past couple of weeks. This part of Maryland has been great for field trips including ones for the Civil War. A couple of weeks ago the kids and I went to Manassas where the Battle of Bull Run was fought. Last Monday we went with Eric to Gettysburg, PA only a little over an hour away. Eric was excited to go since he's read a number a books on the war and about the battle at Gettysburg. It was helpful to have him there. Also, a neighbor lent us the auto tour cd that took us all around the area and explained what happened at the stops along the way. Before the tour we went to the new visitor's center where they had a very well done museum, a short movie and the cyclorama of the Battle of Gettysburg (a circular picture of the battle painted soon after the war). It was well worth it but sadly all the details of the war got lost on me even after watching the movie Gettysburg. Here's some pictures of some of the battle fields. You can see on the right side of this picture a statue. There are statues and memorials all over honoring the different states, men, etc. The battle began west of this barn (McPherson's Barn) on the first of the three day battle.

This is the Eternal Light Peace Memorial where 75 years after the battle 1800 Civil War Veterans gathered to dedicate this monument. The following picture is the view opposite this where a battle took place.

This is the far right flank that began to crumble on the first day. The Union army was forced to retreat through the town.

If you've seen the movie, this is the Lutheran Seminary where Buford looked out over the fighting the first day.

This is the memorial to the "sons of Virginia" and that's Robert E. Lee on top. What's been interesting studying the Civil War is that my kids keep asking "what side where we on". They have come to consider themselves Virginians since we've moved to Maryland. When people ask them where they're from that's what they say not Virginia Beach or Chesapeake. They'll cheer when we cross over the Potomac back into Virginia when we go places, they'll say how much they miss Virginia. They're also really glad that we're moving back to Virginia after PC even though it's not the beach. So there you have it - my kids are self proclaimed Virginians but have had a difficult time with being a Confederate State.

Little Round Top on the left where Chamberlain and his men heroically defended the left flank which would have been devestating for the Union if they had given up that ground. Big Round Top is to the right.

Unrelated to the Battle of Gettysburg the house in the distance along the trees was Pres. Eisenhower's home.

Little Round Top.

A Visit from the Williams

This past weekend our dear friends, the Williams, came up from Virginia to visit us. It was Thomas' birthday on Sunday and he wanted to spend it with Matthew. We were honored, blessed and thrilled to see our friends. They came Saturday evening and our family was able to show their family our new neighborhood and new friends. We had dinner together and then made smores on the back deck. None of the pictures really turned out from the fire...oh, well.

The girls all stayed in the basement and had a great time playing around.

Matthew and Thomas on his 9th birthday. Aren't they too cute!

After church we went into DC to the Museum of Natural History, played football on the mall, waited in line forever at the National Archives but got to see the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, power walked with Laura up to the Lincoln Memorial and saw the sights along the way.

The excitement of the museum was too much for the guys.

Alexis and Rachel, the birthday buds.

It was a beautiful day!

I know this looks kind of funny but Alexis and Sarah are so sweet together.

This view was really cool - not my picture but the real view. It was from the back of the Lincoln Memorial and I don't remember if I'd ever gone back there before. The view is the Memorial Bridge over the Potomac and up the road is Arlington Cemetery with the Arlington House above it. And the sun was setting. The opposite view from Arlington Cemetery is really cool too. I'll have to post about that trip when I do a catch up.

Thank you Williams family for coming to visit us. We had a great time with you all and can't wait to see you again next week in Virginia!

Kids in the Neighborhood (by Rachel)

Gabriella Lockhart. She goes by Ella or Gabby.

I call her Ella.

Micah Lockhart watching the other boys play football.
Hannah and Ezra Lockhart. Their dad is in the PC with my dad. We got to watch all five of the Lockhart kids last weekend. It was crazy with nine kids under one roof.
Dalton Lowe. His family goes to CLC.

(From left to right.) William Wikner, Matthew,

Noah Lockhart, Estabon and Shaheem.

Noah's and William's dads go to the PC.

Ryan, Caleb Briley and Elliot Lowe. The Brileys are in the PC.

My friend Ellie Wikner. She loves to take picts.

Caleb again.
Luke Briley.
Ollie Lowe. The little guy. :)
Hope Wikner.
Noah and Estabon playing football.


Micah, Matthew and Noah with their weapons.
Mattew is holding Ry's bow he carved with his pocket knife.
Sarah and her friend Emma Lowe.