Extended Okies

On Christmas Day we drove from Saluda to Greenville to visit with the extended Okie family. There were 10 kids, many grown-ups, lots of delicious Christmas food, and good conversations all around the kitchen.

Around the World and Back Again

OK, maybe around the South and back again is a better way to start this post, but after a three-week tour of our Southern homeland, and a three-person sickness upon returning home, we are finally back in the swing of things.  I was going to say back into our normal routine, but "normal routine" seems like a bit of a stretch when you have only lived in a new place for 6 months.  In fact we are so used to moving and changing spaces that the only "normal" we know is change.  But that's for another post altogether...

On the morning of Christmas Eve we got to the Portland airport early with two suitcases, 4 backpacks, 1 briefcase, one pack-n-play, three car seats and three small children.  Miraculously, a few hours later our family of 5 and all of our belongings made it safely to the Charlotte airport, where Abe and Bethany were waiting to meet us with a van.  We hadn't seen them in 1.5 years (they had never met Raindrop before), and we were more than excited to be seeing them and getting to spend the whole week together with Hubry's family.

We spent the week at Grandmom's Saluda house, which has 18 acres of woods, an amazing view of the mountains, and many sweet childhood memories for Hubry.  There was a lot of exploring, cooking, eating, drinking tea / coffee, reading stories, and talking at night in between reminding stray children to get back in bed.  Altogether a lovely time of reconnecting and celebrating.

Art with BMa

Scavenger Hunt (They took this very seriously)

Playing Charlotte's Web with BMa

Beautiful light over the mountains

One of many delicious meals we shared together

Hats from India

Dresses from India

Story-time in the loft with BMa

More art with BMa

City Folk

Sound asleep (so the game goes)

Anniversary Club

Songbird is excited about our 10th anniversary.

"I'm Reveland Dolan, and you are getting married. You have to love each other and give your children 100 spankings a day. Now you are married."

"Papa, you're supposed to talk to Mama on your anniversary, not just sit around."

"Everyone has to shout to other neighborhoods, 'Look! It's the first anniversary club! Everyone, it's exciting news! All the anniversary guys and the anniversary women are going to the anniversary club! Oh yeah! Women dance in the streets." [collapsing in giggles]

Popcorn on the Cob

The kids had been asking about popcorn, so when they started selling these at the Farmers' Market, I couldn't resist.  We just popped it in the microwave in a paper bag.  Songbird used the husks to make a beautiful doll (sorry no photo).

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

It's hard to move when you're dressed like a marshmallow!

Bro says, "I love the snow, it's so relaxing." Songbird says, "It's a lot of work to play in the snow!"

Nutcracker

Hubry took Songbird on a very special date all the way to Portland to see her first ballet.  They had so much fun, though it was a bit on the long side for an energetic Songbird to sit still.  She has been dancing the nutcracker in the afternoons ever since... 

November