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)

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

AMAZING Photos of Our Boys

My dear friend, Lisa, came and took photos of our boys on July 30th, Tennyson's 2nd birthday, and when Raleigh was 10-days old. As usual she did an absolutely wonderful job! We can't wait to see all of them!

A Little Time to Steal Away

Well, I had decided a couple weeks ago that I needed my toes to look nice for our anniversary. (Like we women need an excusse to go to the spa!) I had a gift certificate and some birthday money, so I went and had a wonderful, relaxing pedicure at the Beauty Spa before Tom and I left for our little get away on Friday.

This is the best photo I could get (because I can't actually SEE my feet anymore), but I love my watermelon-colored toes!

We were heading to the Stonewall Jackson Hotel in Staunton to celebrate our 5th Anniversary. After leaving Tennyson with my sister, Courtney, on Friday evening we headed to Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse for dinner. It's one of our favorite restaurants, but since it's usually a $50 check we rarely go. So it's a good place to go for special occasions. On the way there I realized I had forgotten the camera, so we figure we'd swing by home on the way to Staunton. We checked in with Courtney after dinner to let her know we had to come back by, and since Tennyson was fussy (due to another tooth and bad diaper rash) we decided to walk around Target and Old Navy until he went to bed.

After picking up the camera we headed to the hotel. We checked in to the hotel and put our bags in our room, and decided to go ahead and exchange gifts. I don't know if it's "kosher" or not to say what we got each other, but Tom's gift was SO thoughtful and sweet that I have to share! Since we honeymooned in Disney World this was just the perfect gift, and I was so thrilled I couldn't stop crying.

Isn't this precious!?

The gift I got for Tom was something I felt was special enough to be an anniversary gift - a Bible. To be more specific, the The American Patriot's Bible. For anyone that knows anything about my husband you know that he is "Mr. History," and the great part is that since he's been out of the Christian bookstore loop he didn't even know this Bible existed! One point for me!

Once we exchanged gifts and cards we decided to go grab some ice cream. Blackfriar's had just finished a performance so getting out of the parking garage was fun, plus there was a wedding reception at the hotel that people were beginning to leave. But we got to Kline's and back to the hotel in no time. We settled in for the night and I had to remark to Tom that it's no wonder we will have 2 kids in 2 years (and almost by our 5th anniversary). We don't have a t.v. in our bedroom and no king-sized bed! Haha!

The next morning we enjoyed a delicious buffet breakfast in the restaurant off the lobby. Then we walked around Staunton for a while, and came upon a little farmer's market downtown. We didn't buy anything, but it was good to get out just the two of us. I have to admit it felt a little strange to not have a diaper bag on my shoulder or a little boy holding on to my finger as we walked. But we know it's good for our marriage, especially on our anniversary, to just be with each other. It was great to be able to talk about whatever we wanted without interruption. And the funny thing was we were still finding out things about each other we didn't know. Is that great or what?!

But as fun as our 17 hours away was it was great to get home and be greeted by a little boy, who came running, wrapped his arms around our necks, and kissed us when we walked in the door. And I only cried a little as I showered him with kisses. ;-) Of course it will be a while before we'll be able to leave overnight again since the baby will be here soon. But it gives us something to look forward to!

Here are a few photos from the downtown area and the hotel:

The lamposts in downtown Staunton

Duckies on parade in a window display
The hotel lobby

A display case in the lobby with Stonewall Jackson artifacts

Artwork outside the Shenandoah Ballroom

The lounge, Sorrels, named after Jackson's horse

What a special time Tom and I had, remembering that beautiful day our life started as husband and wife five years earlier. We are excited to see what God has planned for our marriage in the future!

FIVE Wonderful Years of Marriage!

As I sit here writing this I can't help but become overwhelmed by emotion (not that it takes a lot these days) because I am reminiscing about what happened five years ago today -Tom and I got married. It seems like yesterday and I remember that beautiful day so clearly. We were remarking last night that it was raining, just like it did the night before we got married. But on our wedding day we had p-e-r-f-e-c-t weather!

Even though our marriage relationship has come easily, we have faced many obstacles since becoming husband and wife. But we were blessed to have come through them stronger, closer, and more in love. God has truly blessed us beyond belief. And after (nearly) two babies and five years later we are looking forward to our future with hope and anticipation.

Tonight we are going away.....JUST the two of us! And even though we are a little apprehensive because we've never left Tennyson overnight, we are excited about spending time....alone.....just soaking in each other's love. (Sound cheesy? I don't care!) :-)

Twila Paris is a favorite of ours and this is my favorite verse from "How Beautiful." It still makes me cry every time I hear it because it reminds me of how we were on June 12, 2004, and I know it's how we'll always be - beautifully in love.

How Beautiful the radiant bride

Who waits for her Groom with His light in her eyes

How Beautiful when humble hearts give

The fruit of pure love
So that others may live

How beautiful, how beautiful,

How beautiful is the body of Christ

Thank you for five wonderful, beautiful years together, my love. Words cannot even begin to express just how very much I love you.