The Last to Go

My sister, Courtney, got married on November 20th, and it was exciting to celebrate the last of the Culbertson kids' weddings! Since I was a bridesmaid and Tom was on Daddy Duty we didn't really get any photos. However, here a few photos the photographer (Ruby Sky Photography) took of my sisters and I and Tom and I with Raleigh. If you are interested in seeing more, leave a comment and I'll send you the password to view all their wedding photos.

Lynley, Courtney, and I

The 4 Sisters

My sweet Raleigh and I

Tom and Raleigh (16 months)

Courtney's Bridal Shower

I wanted to share some photos from my sister's bridal shower back on October 9th at Veritas Vineyard. My sister, Lynley, really did a great job planning a fun and special day for Courtney and many of her friends and family members. First we had an elegant wine tasting (where I discovered I love Port!), and then we enjoyed lunch on the veranda. Lynley also had everyone bring their favorite cookies, and the recipe, as part of the shower. The bag lunches included a gourmet sandwich (either turkey or veggie), orzo pasta salad, Route 11 chips, an apple, a chocolate truffle, and a souvenir wine glass. (For anyone that is interested the $21 tour and lunch is well worth the cost!) It was a beautiful setting and we all had a great time.

Enjoying lunch on the veranda.

The wine list

My mom and my cousin's wife playing with string and passing time.

My mom, me, Courtney, Lynley, and Dawn

The whole group

A Heavy End to an Otherwise Wonderful Christmas

This past Christmas was an amazing time with my 24 member family. We laughed, played games, ate, and just really enjoyed being in each other's company. On the last night we were all together (December 27th) we all headed to my sister's house in Broadway for a family picture and dinner. After the picture I went upstairs to feed Raleigh. My sister, Dawn, came in and said Lynley had an announcement to make. Normally that means a pregnancy, but seeing as my sister was crying I knew that wasn't it something good.

By the time I got out in to the living room everyone was gathered around listening to my sister, Lynley, with my brother-in-law, Dan, right beside her. His hand was on her back and he was looking down. I heard things like "surgery," "lump," and "doctors." For a second I didn't comprehend what was going on. Was it her? Where was the lump? What did it mean?

Taken after "the announcement."

They still look good, even with puffy eyes!

I don't really need to give all the details here, but Dan discovered a lump during yoga, of all things, around December 10th and went to the doctor right away. They soon were doing surgery to remove swollen lymph nodes in his neck. (My brother, Cameron, noticed the scar and asked Dan about it, somewhat prompting Lynley and Dan to share with the family what was going on.) By this point there had already been lots of tests, scans, and appointments. When Lynley was done talking I think everyone was stunned and in tears and then.......and then we all got up and hugged them, hugged each other. Just long, meaningful hugs. Some of us prayed for them. It was a very heavy moment. So very different from different from the same day last year when we announced to my family that we were expecting Raleigh.

The next day Lynley and Dan headed back to PA for a late afternoon doctor's appointment. They called while the rest of us were having dinner and told us that the doctors had confirmed what we were all fearing - cancer. Dan was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkins Lymphoma. It was so surreal because Dan is only 30 and he and Lynley are hand's down the healthiest people we know. Thankfully since Dan is a pre-med student at Penn State he has been getting the royal treatment! So we are so happy about that.

It still seems so surreal. So unfair that Dan has to go through this. I can't tell you how my heart aches for them. As of now Dan has done 4 of his 8 chemo treatments. He's dealt with "fire tongue," fatigue, nausea, and just recently hair loss. And in May he'll do 2-3 weeks of radiation. Though his prognosis is extremely good he (and Lynley) still weigh heavy on our hearts and our minds throughout the day. So if you could please, please remember to pray for them I know they would appreciate it. And if you want to follow along on their journey to kick cancer Dan's Caring Bridge website is: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/teamlapp .

We look forward to the day he is cancer free....and we know that will be soon!

Christmas~ Part 2

Let's see if I can actually find the time to sit and get caught up on my blog. Since I am so far behind (Raleigh is 7 months old I haven't even done a 6 month post for him!) I'll just post a few photos from Christmas that I wanted to share.

An overhead view of most of my family while my Dad

read a devotion before Christmas dinner (12.26.09)

My siblings. Yeah, we're ridiculous!


We went to the Harrisonburg Children's Museum on the 26th with my brother, Kyrce, and his family. Here's a fuzzy, yet adorable, photo of Tennyson.

Racing Daddy

Riding the John Deere

Weighing vegetables

My nephew, Holden (3), and my niece, Bethany (3), eating bananas. I love the guilty look!

My sister-in-law, Maureen, and Raleigh (5 months).

Christmas ~ Part 1

In the craziness of moving 6 days beforehand, Christmas was almost forgotten. ;-) Okay not really. But we put unpacking on hold and spent 4 days wonderful, special days with my family. Lynley and Dan came in to town on Christmas Eve and Kyrce and his family got here late on Christmas day.

Tom and I opened presents first thing that morning with the boys before heading over to my parents'. Tennyson was much more excited this year and we were impressed with how he took the time to open each present and study it before moving on to the next one. He especially loved his Thomas the Tank Engine wall stickers, sheets, and trains. He also loved all his Disney stuffed animals from Nana Joan, Tom's mom. Mickey, Goofy, Donald, Winnie the Pooh, and Pluto sit on his bed every night.

My family loves to play games!

The best part of the photo is Cameron with a tie around his head.

I just wanted to post this adorable photo of Raleigh.

It looks like he's blowing a kiss!

The chaos of opening presents

The Month Between

The rush between Thanksgiving and Christmas is a blur in any year, but this year was particularly bad because we found out 2 days before Thanksgiving that our landlord sold the townhouse we had been renting since we got married and we had to be out by the end of the year. (More on the unfortunate move in another post.) So naturally I didn't get to take near as many photos as I would have liked, but here are some from that crazy month in between.

Tennyson thought it was fun to walk around the house with this on his head.

Raleigh (4 months)

Tennyson helping my sister make cookie bars.

Santa Baby!

Raleigh loves Christmas!

Tennyson trying to decide which cookie to eat from the giant box.

Aunt Lynley had the magic touch and got Raleigh to sleep. (Christmas Eve 2009)

Meeting Some Great-grandparents

Back in September my maternal grandfather and my step-grandmother came to visit. Since they live in Florida they hadn't met either one of our boys, so it was exciting for them to meet for the first time! Unfortunately we weren't able to get a photo with just them and Tennyson, but I did get some cute ones of them with Raleigh.

Friedel and Raleigh

My grandfather, Papa, and Raleigh

Friedel was absolutely taken with him and asked several times if he could go back to Florida with them. I think she was joking.

My parents with Papa waiting at the airport

My uncle coming in for a landing

Watching the planes

Tennyson loved watching the planes land and take off.

Posing with Daddy by the plane

Tennyson's 2nd Birthday!

Boy, has time gotten away from me. I am finally posting about Tennyson's 2nd birthday a month after the fact. At least I have a good excuse, right? :-)

Since Raleigh arrived much earlier than anticipated we hadn't planned a party for Tennyson's actual birthday (we were already planning on going to the waterpark on August 2nd). But my wonderful sister, Dawn, stepped in and planned a great party for our little guy on his birthday. She got balloons (one of which is STILL floating), pizza, and cake. Thanks so much Dawn for making his day a very special one!

One August 2nd a bunch of my family went to the Massanutten Waterpark for the second year in a row to celebrate Tennyson's birthday! Our little guy loves that place and the four-hour group pass is perfect since there were 18 of us. My sister, Lynley, and her husband, Dan, even came from Hershey, PA for the occassion! :-) After the waterpark we went back to my parent's house for a cookout, cake, and gift opening. Some of the gifts he got were "Cars", "Finding Nemo", "Veggie Tales", Playdoh, a new plate, toy cars, and a towel with Lightening McQueen on it. (Tennyson calls it his "racing towel.")

Here are the photos from his parties:

With Aunts Courtney (L) and Dawn

Tennyson really enjoyed that cake!
Walking with Daddy

You can tell by the look on his face he loved going down the slide
Catch me Cranky! (That's how Tennyson pronounces Courtney. Haha!)

Playing in the kiddie pool. This one might be my favorite.
Not a great quality photo, but I adore his expression!

Some of the waterpark crew

Yes, I took my 13 day old. I wasn't going to miss my other son's birthday party for the world!

The awesome, incredible Thomas the Tank Engine cake Carrie Harman Ashton made for Tennyson. It was truly a work of art!

After dinner and cake Tennyson asked to hold his baby brother for the first time. So you know everyone got their cameras out for that! My precious boys.....I almost cried....almost.

Our Dear Tennyson Harper,

Mommy and Daddy can hardly believe you are two years old already! It seems like yesterday we were bringing you home from the hospital. You are such an unspeakable joy to us. Every day you learn and say something new. We love to watch you play with your Duplos, trucks, and trains, and those "boy noises" you make fill our home and remind us what a gift you are. Some of your favorite foods are: black olives, chocolate milk, jelly sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, cucumbers, and mixed vegetables. You love to draw with crayon or chalk and Playdoh is a newfound experience. You love taking a shower or playing with your "yetters" (letters) in the tub. You love reading, especially Curious George. You love beating up....I mean, rough housing with Daddy, and going to the playground with him. You are so full of life and energy we can hardly keep up with you, but you are so fun and we love you more than anything.

Love,

Mommy & Daddy