Fun-filled Family Time

The two weeks of holidays, grandpas and grandmas, aunts and uncles, fun outings, sleeping in, goofing off, etc. seemed to fly by! With lots of family in town, we filled every day! When we weren't giving Eddie's car seat a workout, driving somewhere to do something, we were busy working around the house. Did I forget to mention we moved? Yep, we successfully loaded up and changed addresses in one day with a two-week-old! Pretty sure that's impossible without an army of family willing to help and some serious prayer. A nap also helped immensely. Anyway, we're now settled in (mostly), and I'll put up some pictures soon.

For now, here's a sneak peak!

Besides enlisting our visitors in packing, loading, unloading, cleaning, driving packed-to-the-hilt vans through downtown in stop and go traffic, and the other somewhat unpleasant tasks associated with moving, we managed to fit in some fun!

Christmas! We celebrated with the Sauders beginning with a delicious brunch of ebelskivers, egg casserole, fruit, coffee...brunches are the best!  We Skyped Jesse for the gift giving portion, and then hung out all day playing games, going for a walk, snacking, laughing, napping, and, of course, oohing and ahhing over Eddie!

Shortly after Christmas my family arrived (more oohing and ahhing over Eddie). Both families did an excellent job of sharing the very in demand baby--there were only a few squabbles over whose turn it was!

Chatting over coffee at Jameson Brown

(a favorite local coffee shop which features a Mayan Mocha--spicy coffee, who'd have thought!)

Eddie tolerated an afternoon at The Getty Art Museum. For some reason the trip beforehand to In and Out didn't seem to bother him at all! Maybe it was all those vanilla milkshakes he sampled while in utero. It looks like he was properly introduced to California's finest fast food, but missed the finer cultural experience of appreciating art! We'll have to remedy that!

We had to have breakfast at Uncle Bill's Pancake House! Classic!

Exploring the Terrenea Resort,

gorgeously situated on edge of some rocky cliffs overlooking the ocean!

Also during our families' visit, we had Eddie's dedication service at church. It was beautiful! He was wide awake the whole time sitting on Jonathan's lap as Uncle Tom spoke of God's blessings of heritage, family, and fruitfulness. We were charged to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and might, having His words on our heart in order to teach them diligently to our children at all times (Deuteronomy 6:4-7). We were reminded of the command to declare God's greatness, faithfulness, truth, and love to the next generation (Psalm 78). And we heard about dedication--being a "chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession", for the purpose of declaring God's glory: "that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness and into his marvelous light!" (1 Peter 2:9)

Then Jonathan and I promised to raise Eddie in the knowledge and understanding of the gospel, teaching him the ways of God, declaring to him, by God's grace in His authority, the majesty of the Creator and the glory of our Savior! The church was charged with the responsibility to help us, encourage us, and boldly fill their role as a community for Edmund to know God in and through. Our families were reminded of their weighty influence on Eddie's life. It was powerful!

In summary, we are extremely blessed to have been able to share this new and unique time of life with our families! Eddie was properly introduced to his Illinois family, and I think he charmed them all! For some reason, it was a lot harder to say goodbye this time!