The Doty Family: Whew!!!!

Life has been a whirlwind since we returned from PA. Here are a few highlights... although, not in chronological order - since I managed to post my pictures in reverse order again! :)

We had a delightful time in Pennsylvania visiting family and friends. I was incredibly nervous about the drive up, because Laura is not a good napper and she rarely sleeps in the car. It took us about 11 hours to get to PA and Laura, true to form, slept only TWO HOURS!!! However, she was cheerful most of the day - at least as long as her Oma was entertaining her. I'm so grateful that my mom was able to join us. I couldn't have made the trip without her. Laura sure does love her Oma and Oma really enjoyed spending some quality time with her grandbaby.

We visited my Nana (my Mom's mom) the day after we arrived. Nana is 86 years old and doesn't get to leave her home very much these days, so I think our visit was a bright spot in her day. I hadn't seen her in over a year, so I was grateful for the opportunity to visit with her.

My dear friends, Cathy and Craig Horlacher, hosted us for the entire duration of the trip. They excel at hospitality! Despite the recent birth of their little girl, Allanah (7 weeks old), they graciously opened their home to us. It was so nice to have a home base during our stay.

On Sunday, we visited on of my favorite places on earth, Living Hope Church. Home sweet home!! It was so wonderful to see dear friends and to introduce them to Laura. We enjoyed a lovely lunch with Ken and Beth Mellinger and had a surprise visit from Ryan and Marcia McCarty. (Aside - I had prayed for God to cross my path with Marcia once again a few weeks ago. Marcia and I got to know each other during my Residency in York, PA. That same week, Marcia and her husband were praying to reconnect with me. They searched the internet and found my blog and contacted me through a blog comment. Wow!!!! God is amazing!! Ryan and Marcia came to Living Hope to visit and to see us. It was a treat to see these dear friends again!)

My Aunt Sue and Amanda came to visit for TWO WHOLE DAYS!!! It is always a joy to see these dear sisters in Christ. We had so much fun visiting and just enjoying each other's company. I love them!

Ann Smith and her little boy, Aaron, came to visit us Monday morning. Have I posted about our story? If not, I'll have to do that some day soon. Ann, Cathy, and I have been friends for only five years, but it seems like a lifelong friendship. God has been so faithful to us, all married in the same year, all have had babies within months of each other. These sweet ladies have been such a blessing to me over the years. Their friendship helped to make my single years rich in fellowship.

My mom and I made the long journey home again and she did a great job of caring for Laura. We had lots of laughs along the way!

Perhaps my favorite part of the trip was coming home to my dear husband. He wasn't feeling well all weekend, but wanted to bless me by doing projects around the house. He re-did the landscaping in our front yard, did the laundry, vacuumed, cared for Drayton and Makenzie, put flowers around the house, bought some little gifts for me, and had the house nice and tidy for my return. Wow! I sure do love him!

Whew! That's a brief update of our adventure. I posted a few pictures from our time in PA and from Drayton's birthday party below.

The crazy guys from Drayton's party :)

Happy 12th birthday, Buddy!

Uncle Sean and Aunt Rachel

I'm 4 months old!!!!

No stats yet... Laura's check-up is next week.

New tricks: blowing raspberries, grabbing her feet, sticking out her tongue, laughing, putting everything in her mouth, sucking her thumb

Too cute!

Laura's dear friend, Mac. He adores her and is so gentle with her!

Yay! We've been hoping she would find her thumb and she seems to have done it. She prefers her left thumb... will she be a lefty like Uncle Sean?

Ann's son, Aaron trying to put the moves on Laura.... hehehe.

We put Alannah, Aaron, and Laura on the couch together. They were so funny. I almost wet my pants laughing!!!!!! Laura was such a ham - she flashed her tummy at all of us!