Tuesday, August 28, 2007

life is crazy

As some of you may already know, my nephew Allen was in a very serious motorcycle accident last Thursday. The good news is that he was wearing a helmet and he is going to recover... the bad news is that he is still in the ICU and will continue to be for some time yet. He is stable, but has been seriously injured and is being kept heavily sedated in order to make him comfortable. It's been a long week! We appreciate your thoughts and prayers on his and his family's behalf.

Charlotte, of course, is keeping us busy as well. She has discovered the toilet paper in the downstairs bathroom. Also, one of her favorite things to hold for some time now has been a Crayola marker... today she figured out how to take the cap off. ;)

Luckily there wasn't much left on this roll.

our baby "Blackbeard"

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Charlotte's work is never done

As every good librarian knows, weeding the collection is very important.


Tuesday, August 14, 2007

walking the hippo

Charlotte's got some new moves we thought you might like to see.


Sunday, August 12, 2007

four score and seven years ago...

... well, actually, it was yesterday.

Pop-pop, Linda and Dan came down for a visit and we all went to Gettysburg for the afternoon. It was fun to walk around the shops downtown and interesting to visit the cemetery where so many soldiers are buried (and so many gorgeous trees grow too.) We visited the spot where Lincoln gave the famous Gettysburg address, and quizzed Pop-pop over pizza about how much of it he still has memorized from when he learned it in school.

We also drove around the battlefield a bit- if you've never been there it is rather large- and stopped at Little Round Top which is not only a great scenic overlook, but also the site of Pickett's Charge. And finished up our visit with some ice cream- which Charlotte was really happy about. :)



Gettysburg National Cemetery

The view from Little Round Top

Friday, August 03, 2007

keepin' it rural

Last night, after dinner, we went to the Carroll County 4H-FFA Fair at the Ag Center. We had a great time! It reminded me of going to the West End Fair as a child... except this was WAY smaller and more "rural."

For example, it was FREE. Also, tractors pulling wagons picked you up in the parking area and drove you to the main tent. Instead of a tractor pull, there was a mule pull with the biggest mule plowing teams I have ever seen in my life. They looked like Clydesdale horses! There were no rides- but there were kids playing kickball and there was a little tent with mist spray that kids were running through to cool off from the heat. There were lots of food vendors, and craft displays and TONS of 4H exhibits and animals being judged.

It was great to show Charlotte all of the animals that she'd only seen in books.



This little lamb scared her by coming over and saying hello ("Maa-aa-aa") rather loudly.


She was still recovering from her conversation with the lamb when we found a terrific, radiant, humble thing-a-majig of a pig.

The nicest animal we met (in Charlotte's opinion) was this beautiful cow. We're so glad we live in a little community where we get to enjoy events like this.

August in Westminster is "Movies in the Park" month with free movies each Friday night. We may go tonight, if it cools off enough, and watch Charlotte's Web on the big screen from our picnic blanket. Now that Charlotte has met some of the characters in real life, we think she'd enjoy it! :)

Thursday, August 02, 2007

overdue

Sorry for the lack of posting this week... this is just a little update as to what we have been up to.
Charlotte had a nasty little bug for several days and actually lost more than 8 oz. of weight! Thankfully, she is all better now and has been eating like a lumberjack to make up for it.
Also, Rob & I have been extra busy with our various projects.
*I taught a workshop (well 4 actually) on family history at youth conference.

*We worked at the Family History Center on Saturday.

*I had a Story Gathering on Tuesday.

*Rob began a new blog (you should check it out- it's http://zokilavabe.wordpress.com/. It is non-Charlotte-centric and very reflective of Rob's various interests... obviously, I'm a fan.)

*And just for kicks, we've decided to have a yard sale this Saturday. (Feel free to stop by if you're in the neighborhood!)
Anyway, for Charlotte's die-hard fans, I wanted to at least post a picture of Miss Pinkness herself. Even as a sick baby, she was very sweet and generally happy.


Sleeping like... well, a baby. ;)