trip to SC

so ella and i have been traveling again. last wednesday we flew to nc to see my folks. my brother and his wife and daughter were all visiting (from guam), and it was wonderful to spend time with my family after so many years apart. this was only d.'s family's second time meeting elenora since she was born. also, grandma betty came to be with us. a full house, and lots of fun.

i spent a lot of time with the girls at the park up the street. ella and i were so happy to not have to deal with snow that we didn't mind that it was still pretty chilly out.

lorien and ella were really good at playing together sweetly. here they are working together on a game that requires putting shapes into the correct slots.

don't they look alike?

the girls had many sing-a-long sessions with my mom at the piano. their favorite songs included jingle bells, amazing grace, and jesus loves me.

d. was only with us for one day before going to visit friends on the west coast, but it was really special time for elenora to get to know her aunt better.

d. made one of her famously wonderful cakes before she left, too. here's ella enjoying a slice.

uncle d. fed her a kiwi. when he was done he got up and as he walked away ella looked at me and said "is uncle d. being nice to you?" (meaning she wanted me to ask her if uncle d. was being nice to her... so i did ask, and she said "yeah.")

i had lovely talks with my grandma. how special that she was able to see myself and ella twice in the last 2 months.

we read a lot of books...

and played more piano...

and played with toys...

and read more books.

here is ella playing with her poppy. he was making her laugh with these "necklaces."

d. and d. got the girls matching dresses which they wore to church on sunday.

so we got a lot of photos.