Sweet Carolina

I spent last week with Jason and Kimberly's family in North Carolina to "help out" with the new baby. It turned out to be a very relaxing and fun week for me. I guess my favorite part was holding adorable 3 week old Madeline. I'd heard from her parents that she was smiling at them from week 1. They had even forwarded pictures. "Silly parents" thought I..."the baby has gas." And then I witnessed it myself. Total eye contact and big smile response when you talk to her. I have never seen such a thing at such a young age!!! Here she is in her Grandma Rhonda blanket.

Kimberly is managing so well that she took me on hikes in the beautiful NC forests (before she broke her toe) and made homemade crepes for lunch. Thanks Kimberly for making me feel so welcome.



Ethan and Colin are both so sweet with their new sister, very gentle, loving and proud.

Here is Ethan grabbing his lunch for his first day of kindergarten. I got to visit his amazing and creative classroom with his brothers and his mom. He is attending a private school in Raleigh and all I can say is WOW...

One day while Ethan was in school Kim took me to the Duke Gardens at the Duke campus. They were gorgeous

Randy joined me for the weekend. Can't believe I didn't get pictures of him with the baby. We enjoyed a nice hike with Jason and Ethan on Saturday and were treated by Jason and Kimberly to some very fine dining including a mean white chocolate/lemon souffle. Thanks guys!