Friday

February 2015

we didn't really care who won the super bowl.  but i love the seahawks' colors.  ha!

man oh man this made me laugh

because one day i know i'll look back at this and think "how beautiful" instead of "AGAIN?!"

i try not to post too many annoying food pictures, but pat said this is one of the best things he's ever tasted.  he certainly works hard for a good meal!

some mornings with this little dude are SO SWEET

look at my SEVEN year old!!!







the best gift this year was a locket from daddy to his little girl

my boyz

laurel's present from buddy and kissy.  isn't it fabulous??  i can't wait to see that big girl swing the racket again this spring.  thank you buddy and kissy!

"laurel would you rather me take you to school today or go spend the day in new york...?"  SURPRISE!!!

on the train

better shots of the locket.

first stop - american girl place to get katherine's hair done and to design matching t-shirts for the birthday girl and katherine ;-)

partners

second stop - the lego store!  (and to watch the ice skaters at rockefeller plaza)
third stop - ellen's stardust diner for lunch

such a fun place.  these two weren't the most talented of the wait staff.  we heard some serious talent there!

with a surprise visit from sarah!  BONUS



then we walked down broadway to the massive ToysRus in times square

we rode the incredibly cool ferris wheel and picked out a toy for the fredster.  then we said goodbye to sarah, and hurried a couple blocks to the last and biggest surprise...

terrible picture, but look how excited!
we enjoyed watching aladdin and jasmine then headed home.
what a DAY ~~ i love you Laurel Katherine Rayner!

it's freezing cold outside.  therefore we are addicted to puzzles and legos.









my BS girls got together one week for cheese, wine, and wedding albums.  that was pretty hilarious.   
pat and freddy went with doug and jude to test-drive his new pick up truck.
and freddy and i ride down to medford on tuesday mornings with Team Leh for swim lessons.



precious friends

typical after-dinner activity

happy valentine's day 2015!

we got to have a double date and forgot to get a picture of our handsome dates!

we switched places on the bunk bed.
laurel is practicing her cursive and loves to read to freddy (while wearing skates).
and i LOVE the valentine freddy brought home from school.

that's just stupid, no?

P (finally) had a little surgery at the urologist's a few weeks ago...
he recovered in Big Daddy's chair in front of the tv for a few days.  
doug stopped by to bring him a few books and shoveled our driveway.  what a FRIEND!!!
we did enjoy having daddy home for a few days.  :-)

even if he does use "inappropriate words!"

Sarah ROCKS!  
thank you so much for the book and the cd!

the workmen came to cut down the big beautiful (dead, apparently) tree in our backyard.  
we were so sad, but it did provide lots of entertainment!

and lots of firewood for somebody

a bit of a ham, at moments like these

so is this one!

"wha wha wha wha whatcha doin fweddy?"

these were both taken in tupelo, mississippi a few weeks ago!  
the one on the left is of mom's back deck, and the one on the right is clearly of Narnia.  or highland circle.  ;-)


my sweet friend emily and her hubby travis and the whole herring family welcomed baby Charlie into the world on February 20th.  i cannot wait to meet that precious little man!

as of february 26th, Pat and I have been married for 10 years!
somebody made an anniversary card for me.
not sure who...?

wow.  
yes, you are right, darling, i am so lucky.
but wow!

when you've been married 10 years you no longer take pictures of faces when you celebrate? 
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY PAT RAYNER.
one decade down, several more to go!

Thursday

January 2015

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!  
we love putting all the christmas cards we get up on the book shelf.  we never want to take them down!
some interesting outfit choices on the right, don't you think?

mmmmm.  hoppin john!

on saturday, jan 3, we went to the Please Touch Museum in philly for freddy's special birthday trip

lala liked some areas more than others...






we went to reading terminal market afterwards.  sensory overload!  

4 years old on February 4th



and i melt.

hee hee



super hero

a special delivery for the birthday boy

he LOVES his golf set ~ thank you buddy and kissy!
now he just has to learn not to use the clubs as weapons...

another special delivery.  thank you pops and abbi!


pat and i are so thankful to be reading through the Bible together this year.
so far we are blown away by the constant reminders of God's faithfulness in the face of abject unbelief ~~ exactly what we need to hear thousands of years later!

somedays it takes us a while to wake up

raise your hand if you love when ru comes over!

this girl has style, period.

amber and i snuck down to philly one night to see Motown the Musical.  it was a last minute thing, so our seats were comically bad.  but the ladies in front of us provided DOUBLE the entertainment value.  to say we loved this show is an understatement.  it was absolutely incredible.  it was like a concert featuring the jackson 5, marvin gaye, smokey robinson, diana ross, the temptations, the 4 tops, the commodores, stevie wonder, etc.  
we were amazed by the talent on that stage.  here are a few snippets...





i mean.  


what a fun age with this little boy!

2015 birthday celebration!

nothing easier than a donut tower birthday cake!


it was freezing outside.  we tried to warm up the garage.

donuts + hot chocolate + house full of favorite friends = ecstasy









our neighbor mike took most of these pictures.  he did such a great job!

and thank you, eliza, for being the BEST pirate/princess entertainer/wrangler.  

jude and jason.  aka JUSON



cutest.  pirate.  ever.

thank you Jesus for these two precious souls.





Laurel has become SUCH a good helper when it's time to clean up around here

this one.  keeps me entertained?

daddy had to give a talk in DC so we tagged along for the weekend.

and got to do some sight-seeing.

the MLK memorial is beautiful and incredibly moving.

"We are determined here in Montgomery to work and fight until justice runs 'down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.'"
WWII memorial and washington monument



laurel was so sad we didn't have time to go to the top of the monument.  it is now on the top of her list!



another good meal in old town alexandria

the air and space museum


that is really and truly the plane the wright brothers flew!

goofing off waiting on mommy to get our lunches at the national museum of the american indian

aaaaaand fro yo on the way home.  brrrrrrrrrrrr

next?  it wasn't the blizzard they were predicting.  but it was beautiful!

our new sled is awesome 
(or so i hear...)
laurel loves her "big sister" eliza.  ;-)



i guess he's a keeper...

i'll keep her too!

having a fabulous year so far

an excellent reminder from  
II Thessalonians when things aren't going my way.