South Carolina on My Mind

Ahh, the South. Time just seems to go much slower there, people are friendlier and everything seems more relaxed. Although we technically still live in the South by a few miles, Northern Virginia is generally lumped into the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast culture. Don't get me wrong, the South has its own problems (that I won't get into here), but it is wonderful to pass some time down there.

A couple of weekends ago we returned to the city that was our home as newlyweds for 3 years, Columbia, South Carolina. The occasion was welcoming our best friends back to the states who were coming off the mission field for furlough after 3 years. Along the way we were able to catch up with several other friends that we miss dearly and attend the church that we are still technically members of. (We may need to get it on that!)

First stop, the Comptons, our old neighbors/good friends/martini drinking buddies (did I just write that?). It has been 4.5 years and 3.5 babies since we've seen them!

Maggie, the newest arrival

Grayson and Campbell

We then met up with my middle school cheerleaders who are now SENIORS. Grayson LOVED those girls!


Then we met up with the Merediths to watch a little football and introduce Kate and G.

It took a little while for them to warm up, but obviously they did. (And don't worry, Ellis, he's just practicing for the real deal!)

We spent the rest of the weekend with the Danfords and Hawkins. Yea!!

Baby Nate!

Grayson learning how to be helpful/sweet to babies.

The Hawkins. This is how family pics roll when you have a newborn and a toddler.

G loves Jaime

Mercy arrives next month!

Grayson with Aunt Sara

Boys

Ben with Aunt Ashleigh

And to all the others not pictured here, we had a wonderful weekend and cherished our time with each of you! Thanks for loving us and taking care of us!

More T-shirts!

*If you think wearing matching T-shirts is uncool, this post may not be for you.

(This post should have been written at the end of June, but I was busy gallivanting around Italy and spent the subsequent weeks as sick as a dog, wondering why I thought it was a good idea to get pregnant again. Don't worry, I'm over that now and happy to be with child.)

Team Dickerson

+

Team Hawkins

=

Team Hawkerson!

We have traipsed around 3 continents in these bad boys.

We've been pregnant in them.

When we first got them printed babies were not on the horizon, but we got 2 little shirts just in case.

Grayson

Ben (his shirt is on the wrong continent right now)

So we had T-shirts for everyone!


Until this guy came along in June...
We are oh so proud to welcome (belatedly) the newest member of Team Hawkerson:

Nathaniel Wib Hawkins!

Nate, we love you already and can't wait to hug and kiss you to pieces this weekend. (you too, Ben!)

And in the meantime, I'll be ordering more T-shirts.

Low Bridge, Everybody Down

Does anyone else remember the Erie Canal song from their childhood?

Low bridge, everybody down
Low bridge, cause we're coming to a town

When we drove through upstate New York in route to the Canadian family wedding, we passed the Erie Canal. I thought I could remember a song and a picture book about the canal from long ago. Joe didn't think any such thing existed. (Of course he has been since proved wrong)

On our way home we had a little extra time and I begged Joe to stop at one of the parks along the canal. You may laugh, but it was one of those full circle moments for me.

It was beautiful and cool (temp.) and even had an old lock system you could look at. Of course my part in the side trip was almost ruined due to a sudden pregnancy ravenous hunger, but thankfully we had some Cheez-Its in the car to stave it off.

This was the weekend Grayson discovered the joy of throwing rocks into the water. (He did it in Lake Ontario as well)
It may have been a little further off the interstate than Joe anticipated, but he agreed in the end that it was worth it.

And you'll always know your neighbor and you'll always know your pal
If you've ever navigated on the Erie Canal.