A Wonderful Weekend for a Wedding

PART 1: THE WEDDING

Rebecca Warren, one of my dear friends from Lance's Medical School class at PSUCOM got married on Saturday, October 9th in West Haven, CT. We headed north on Friday morning to get there in time for the rehearsal dinner. The drive was beautiful. . . until we got to Greenwich, CT and then we hit traffic, traffic, and more traffic. Luckily, the weather was beautiful and the company was even better, so we got through it!

Becky told us the color that she wanted us to wear from David's Bridal (Lapis) and let us pick whatever dresses we wanted. Here is mine. I wore a little cover-up cause "Modest is Hottest!"


Here's me with April (Becky's cousin) and Abby (one of Becky's sisters). They were the bridesmaids that I played with the most--fun gals!


The wedding day was perfect but the bride was even more perfect. Her and Frank were glowing the entire day. I love them! Oh, and I love this little guy!


As a matter of fact, I love both of these boys! And because some more med school friends were there, they kindly watched Sawyer Boy for us so my hubby and I could dance a slow song--what a treat!

Congratulations Mrs. Rebecca Pompo! I love you sweet girl!

PART 2: AFTER THE WEDDING

When Lance was growing up he used to love to watch the Disney cartoon version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Although it is definitely NOT my favorite film, I bought it for him for his birthday one year and we watch it EVERY Halloween. (What was I thinking?) Well, this year we watched it right before we left for Connecticut. So we were pretty excited when we saw a sign for Sleepy Hollow, NY on our way to the wedding. It's real! How cool! So we decided that after the wedding, we would stop and see what it was like on our drive home.

Here's Lance posing with the sign for Crane Ave.
(Named after Ichabod Crane, of course.)

Here's a closer look at the sign. Do you see the headless horseman?

We ate at the Horseman.
(Once again, look at the picture--he's headless!)

We had fun in our short time there and we want
to go back next year at Halloween time!

Christmas in September

Since Saturday, September 25th was Museum Day, we got 2 free tickets to go to a museum of our choice. Seeing as we love Christmas and there was a museum called the National Christmas Center near Lancaster, we decided to check it out. Here is what we found. . .

Here we are. . . and yes we are wearing Christmas colors!

What did we see at the National Christmas Center?

A room full of Santa Claus figures from all over the world
and plaques that taught you about those countries
and their holiday customs and traditions.


Sawyer met a little friend in that room.


There was a room decorated like a
department store at Christmas time.
It had antique toys--so fun!


This guy gave us directions to the North Pole.
(I'm quite scared of Nutcrackers actually.)


We found it!


Sawyer loved all of the toys and especially the lights.
He kept saying, "la" and pointing to the lights!


There was a room with a toy train tree.
Yes. A Toy Train Tree.
(Say that 10 times fast)


Please look at Sawyer's face in this picture.


Two Terrific fans of the Toy Train Tree


Momma and Sawyer posing in the Christmas chair.


Sawyer having a word with the Big Guy!


Ummm. . . Creepy!


They had thousands of Nativities from all over the world.
Since Lance and I collect them, we thought this part was amazing!
It ended with a life sized nativity with a plaque about the Savior.
It was a fun and spiritual afternoon.


We are so excited to celebrate the birth of that sweet little baby--
Sweet little baby Jesus!

The Utah Woods come to PA

Lance's parents and sister came to visit the end of September!

Here are some of the fun things that we did. . .

WE ATE AT FIESTA MEXICO


Sawyer likes Mexican food!
(Just like his Daddy)


WE VISITED AMISH COUNTRY


We went to a place called Lapp's Family Farm
and ate Ice Cream made from the milk from their Jersey Cows.
Sawyer loved the ice cream, but he liked the calves even more!




How could you not? Look at that face!
As a side note: Sawyer said "Moo" for the 1st time here!


Sawyer with Daddy


WE WENT TO THE HOTEL HERSHEY




AND WE TOOK SAWYER TO CHOCOLATE WORLD
FOR HIS FIRST TIME!!!


So we went on the ride of course.


There were these two really cute boys in line.


I find it quite ironic that we first show him real cows
and teach him that they say "Moo" and then bring him here
where the cows look different and sing songs.

Honestly, he didn't like the ride very much
(Maybe because of the previously stated reasons)
and had this rather stunned look on his face the entire ride.


He wouldn't even smile for the camera.
Nope, not one smile. . .


. . . that is until we gave him some of his 1st chocolate!


It was sure fun having them here!
We love you guys!

Back to the Banks

Outer Banks, NC
September 5-12, 2010
(Yes. I realize that I am behind!)

In September, Marm and Mike rented a beautiful beach house in the Outer Banks. This was one of my favorite vacations because for one of many reasons, Tuya poochini could come! Our WHOLE family went on this trip!

THE ROAD TRIP

The original plan was to leave September 4th and stay overnight in a hotel halfway to break up the 8 hour trip. However, after realizing that hotels/motels cost a lot more when you bring a darling little pup, Lance decided that we would do the trip in one day. So that's what we did. Lance and I have always loved road trips and although they have gotten a little more "intense" with our young ones, we managed to really enjoy this 8 hour drive that turned into a 10 hour drive when all was said and done. :)


LUNCH STOP

We stopped at a Panera Bread and got a sandwich and salad to share and then headed to a nearby park with a baseball field. We barricaded the openings with trash cans and let Tuya and Sawyer run as we all ate. It was a beautiful day! I went to get the camera and as I walked back I saw my family playing together in the grass and I got all teary-eyed. How I got so lucky, I have no idea!

We stayed there for over an hour just playing
and enjoying our time together in the sunshine!

Then we stopped for a late dinner at Arby's.

We got there around sunset, so it was lovely.



However, within 10 minutes it was dark
so we took some pictures of Sawyer looking
at lightening bugs and headed on our way.

THE HOUSE

Picture me in this chair. Oh, it was wonderful!

THE VIEW



THE FAMILY


Our little Family


Our little family at sunset


Sawyer with Grandma Martin


Sawyer with Grandpa Martin


Tuya with Grandpa Martin


Sawyer with his Aunt Kris


THE WRIGHT BROTHERS MEMORIAL
Kitty Hawk, NC







THE SAND DUNES






THE POOL




DADDY'S SERIOUS FACE

Although this little boy isn't our biological child,
it is uncanny how much he looks like Lance.
When Lance is concentrating pretty intensely on
something he tends to make a certain face.
He flexes his jaw and sticks it out just the tiniest bit.
Up to this vacation, I had never been able to capture it--
that is until I saw our son making the EXACT same face.


He would repeatedly make this face during our vacation.
My Marm and I couldn't get over how much he looked like his Daddy!


Need a closer look?
And yes, Lance looks equally as cute when he pulls it!


THE MARINA

During our vacation we heard about this marina
called the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center.
People told us that it was really fun to go there around 4ish
when the big fishing boats came in with their catches of the day.
So we decided to go on a drive on a beautiful day and check it out.



In came the big boats.


And they brought big fish!


Some weighed more than Sawyer!


He thought it was so fun. He would clap
when they would throw the fish on the dock.


But he still liked Momma's catch the best!



On our way back we stopped at the
Bodie (pronounced "body") Lighthouse.
It was under construction, but it was still amazing.


THE BEACH

Did Tuya like her first time at the beach?
What do you think?





She also loved relaxing in the sand with Grandma.



Sawyer was happy to play at the beach again!





What a cute little crab!



Both munchkins loved the beach!



Sandy kisses!


We all loved the beach!


Check out these two cute boys. . .




. . . and these tough boogie boarders!


Thanks for the vacation Marm and Mike!
We love you!


Bye Bye Beach.