một, hai, ba ...

3 weeks old...

Hard to believe little B was so small and new... What a fun family photo, thanks to Kelly Cotter for digging out of her archives and sending my way tonight!

Nostalgia

Every now and then  - or, quite often - I love to remember France. Anthony and I spent some time there a few years ago (including a few days with his parents), and there's just something about the country, and certainly Paris, that awakens me a bit, fills my senses, gets my imagination churning. I'm convinced I'd be a better and more prolific writer if we lived there from time to time :-) But perhaps photos and memories can be effective too...

Four photos from the archives:

       

Snowy Stroll

Love strolling our neighborhood with Anthony and Beckham. Has been awhile since we ventured out, coffee mugs in hand, for some fresh air. Along the way I discovered Anthony had a little bit of an alterior, er, additional motive for wanting to take a stroll - he had plans to spy on our neighbor's paint color. You could say we have quite a bit of home maintenance on the brain!

Dipping-in to DC

Reflection on MLK Day over at www.ijminstitute.org

Got a little stir-crazy and convinced Anthony to hop in the car and drive around DC with me while Beckham took his afternoon nap in the back. Just wanted to be close to all the action for a few minutes. Loving the MLK Day/Inauguration combo history experience.

Driving back home we stopped at an overlook to enjoy the rare frozen Potomac. Snapped some quick fun shots while B. snoozed.

My boys.

I am thankful beyond words.

 

Cozy Veteran's Day

Been enjoying many wonderful, cozy fires already this Fall. Anthony spent 40+ hours splitting wood from several trees that had died in our back yard, and now we have a superabundance of free fuel... Haven't even turned on our "real" heat yet because our stove has been so sufficient. Today Anthony had the day off (Veteran's Day... thank you abundantly to all who serve and have served for our freedom...) and lugged no less than 100 pieces of wood into the house, trip after trip, stoking the fire and playing with little Beckham...

Anthony is 32!

Anthony's birthday was this week - and we've been taking the week to celebrate. Wednesday was the official day. Tuesday I tried my hand at 7 lbs of homemade pulled-pork bar-b-q (thanks Susan Den Herder for the tips!) for our two families, Wednesday we had a quiet night by the fire, and tomorrow night... drumroll... we're going to see Coldplay! I was particularly excited to have managed to keep this a surprise for Anthony until his actual birthday. Loved the look on his face... Hoping for an amazing concert.

To Anthony: I am so thankful for 6 birthdays with you now. It is mind-boggling still to think of how God brought you into my life and has built us into a family. I am amazed by who you are, by the way you lead and serve with such integrity, love others so well, think and dream with such beautiful creativity, delight in our little boy, make me crack up uncontrollaby, and on and on. I never knew I could know such joy...

Rounding-Out and Gearing-Up

Had a truly refreshing time last week at the Catalyst Conference - even more so than expected. Very fruitful, and my mind has been spinning for days with new ideas and desire to innovate.

Had a wonderful past couple of days just being home with Anthony and Beckham. Breakfast with Ben and Ainsley Arment in Atlanta before heading home, coffee on Sunday with Joy Eggerich and her wonderful parents (founders of Love&Respect ministries), naps during Beckham's naps (haven't tried that one in forever - A MAZ ING), and impromptu lunch today with my brother's family. Love watching our kids together, especially now that Beckham can literally run around everywhere exploring.  Great afternoon and evening at home, and then a late-night glass of champagne in our kitchen with Kelly Cotter, celebrating her passage of the bar exam.

And now, to bed.

But look for some really fun photos and videos of Beckham from our family time galavanting at playgrounds and in our yard these past couple of days. Life with little B could not be sweeter.

Doxology du Monde

Anthony is at a government conference down in New Orleans (Nawlens...) this week. Last time we were there we were putting shingles on a roof in 100+ degree weather post-Katrina and loving every minute...

Anthony wrote me this fun little note from the French Quarter after breakfast:

"I just ate three beignets and drank coffee at Cafe du Monde... As I was wrapping up, I heard a horn player outside just begin his performance with the Doxology...he played through twice, pointed his horn towards the sky as he faded out the last note...and then he lifted up his arms and shouted "Praise the Lord."

Celebrating 5 Years...

Since our first date - August 2, 2003. After having just met in July and then talked on the phone a couple of times, Anthony asked to meet me in NYC for the day (he was living in VA, I in Princeton, NJ). We met at Penn Station, 9am and meandered down to the Village for some crepes.  The day unfolded to be the stuff of legends - again, more for another blog post (I try to keep these bite-sized, and the "first date" story is a whole meal, complete with mind-blowing marvels.)  The crepes were the first of many French-food themes for that day, somewhat coincidentally. We have some great photos - poloroids and film - one of these days I'll scan them in and post.

August 2 fell on a Saturday again this year. We decided to celebrate 5 years by taking Beckham with us over to Dupont Circle for crepes.  Lots of crepes.  We ate them, Beckham smacked them with his palms. Then off to the park for B's 10 month photo shoot. It was a perfect (yet HOT) afternoon.