dear pap

Dear Pap (or should we call you, Jake?),

We had such a fun day with you yesterday!

Thank you for spending the day with us and for coming up with the idea to go to Luray Caverns. It was very cool and spooky. We loved it! It was a great for teaching all of the kids about caves and nature. I didn't know that moss and algae grows in caves. I hope we can do something like that again. Thank you for paying for all of it. Next time I will treat you.
Love,
Julianna

Dear Pap,
I loved learning about cave crickets. They are the newest thing a cave could have. I really didn't want to be creeped out. Thanks for the money to throw into the wishing well. I can't believe we walked a mile!
Love,
Josh

trail runs and sweet notes

On Saturday my half marathon training group had a recovery run scheduled for seven miles. Some of the group was doing the Salem Lake Trail Race but we decided to just get up earlier and go run Salem Lake Trail without racing.

It was absolutely gorgeous.  I love running in this kind of weather. Perfectly cool and beautiful views.

My dad ran with me and for a long time at the beginning I couldn't keep up with him.

There was also a 30k going on that morning as well. After we finished our run, Jonathan and the kids met us and we handed out water and Gatorade to some of the 30k racers. Julianna helped but Josh mostly sat and avoided talking to people.

Some cute little boy brought me a note at one point.

Not much could have started my day off better.

the week in pictures

As I was cooking dinner the other night Josh brought me this and placed it up on the counter and ran off yelling, "You can look at it now, Mama!"

So sweet, that boy!  And I love that he's writing his name by himself now.

Speaking of handwritten notes, check out this note Jules left for the tooth fairy night before last.  Girl has got some negotiating skills.  In case you can't tell, she colored the tooth with a marker ane the note says, "Dear Tooth Fairy, This is one pretty tooth. It is 3.00. Take it or leave it. Love Julianna"  The toothe fairy normally leaves her $2 bills at our house but obviously those aren't special enough.

Yesterday we had pretty enough weather to start hiding a few Easter eggs outside.  Julianna had a lot of fun hiding the eggs for Josh and then dancing around the ones she hid.  It was entertaining to say the least, but I could have done without all the bickering that started when he hid the eggs for her and then kept immediately telling her where they were.

Josh has also had some simple fun building with blocks this week and playing with some funny glasses he found.

I was given a $10 Target card and a ticket good for leaving work 30 minutes early one day at our staff meeting this week.  Hoorah!

We're watching the ACC basketball tourney this weekend and running in two different races.  Wish us luck!

What are you up to?

notes from Josh

Dear Daddy,
Thank you for bringing me a hat back from Detroit. I look incredibly cute in it! We missed you while you were gone. Don't go away so long again, OK?
Love,
Joshua

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Dear Mamaw,
Thanks for coming to play with me before school this week. I had a lot of fun getting extra attention and playing games. Thanks for coming to my school with me for Goodies for Grands. I hope you'll come back and wander the halls with me again sometime!
Love,
Joshua

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Dear Krispy Kreme,
Thank you for the doughnuts! It was a treat to celebrate pirate day with you and there's not a lot that I like more than a hot original glazed doughnut.
Love,
Joshua

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Dear Pap and Aunt Whit,
I love you and miss you. Where have you been? I wish you could come see me soon.
Love,
Joshua

notes from Jules and Josh

Dear Mamaw,
Thank you for the advent house and Charlie Brown Christmas book.  We love them!  We fight over opening the next window in the advent house each day and we love singing along with Charlie Brown and his friends as they sing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing."  Thank you for reading the story to us!
We love you!
Julianna and Joshua

notes from Jules and Josh

Dear Jennifer and Samuel,
We had so much fun with you at the pool the other week.  Thank you for inviting us to come visit.  I hope we can come again before the summer is over.  It was fun riding noodles and eating oatmeal cookies with you.
Love,
Jules

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Dear Aunt Whitney,
Thank you for keeping us a few days this summer.  We love to come to your house to play.

Love,
Jules and Josh

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Dear Daddy, Nanna, Pap, Whitney, and Seth,

We're so sorry that it didn't work out for you to come to the beach with us this time.  We definitely hope that we can all come back again soon.  Don't work too hard while we're away!

We miss you guys!
Love,

notes from Jules and Josh

Dear Mamaw,

Thank you for taking care of me while my family went to that Carowinds place without me.  I was glad you gave me a nice place to sleep (instead of in that hot sun) and kept me well-fed.  I hope I get to come play at your house again soon!

Love,
Josh


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Dear Uncle Seth and Aunt Whitney,

Thank you for the week at Oonie Koonie Cha.  Oonie Koonie Cha was very fun.  I didn't know it would be fun but it was.  I had a lot of fun and I still love singing the songs I learned.  There was this big organ pipe there.  I hope one day you will play the xylophone, keyboard, and pipe organ with me since I LOVE instruments.


Love,
Jules




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Dear Jackson,

Come play with me!  Do you want to come to my pool?  Or do you want to go back to the big pool at the train park?  I miss you.

Love,
Jules