DYKSTERHOUSE NEWS: November 2009

You may be wondering why you're looking at pictures from August when it's now November and you would probably rather see Mary Laine in her Halloween costumes (yes, there were two) than on the beach. Well, first of all, there are grandparents in North Carolina who would be upset if they didn't get to see all that's been going on with us over the past few months. But secondly, my friend Laura introduced me to Blurb. It is a website that gives you access to software that will "slurp" your blog posts into a book that you will have to treasure forever (and yes, slurp is the actual terminology that they use - you're intrigued now, aren't you?). It is very reasonably priced and they give you alot of freedom in the design and format of the book. So, since I am definitely not a scrapbooker, I want to be sure to include everything on the blog so that we will have it in our book. (And in case you're wondering, there isn't anything in it for me if you choose to slurp a book for your own blog. Just thought that others may be as interested in this as I was.)

Now, onto the good stuff. August was a very busy month. Since it was before the start of the Great Flood of Aught Nine, Gary was home working hard in the fields while Mary Laine and I were making tracks all along the southeast. But before the travels, we were actually home on her 7-month "birthday". It is becoming very difficult to get her to sit still and look at the camera without hiding the baby. I am very thankful for digital cameras. There's no telling how many rolls of film I would have gone through trying to get a decent shot. This is the best I could do:

As I have mentioned before, my Uncle Will and Aunt Susan have moved back to Mississippi from Nebraska. Along with the benefit of getting to see more of them, we also get to see more of my cousins. Here is Mary Laine meeting her cousin Will for the first time.

Also in August, Gary's parents were in the process of moving from Atlanta to Raleigh. Just before the move, though, Gary's dad had one final business trip to Mississippi. He made the drive up to Greenwood for dinner one night to see us (ok, he was really here to see his granddaughter). Here is Mary Laine with her two granddads.

Mary Laine got to go to her friends' birthday party. Mamie and Ann Grace were born about 12 weeks early, so their first birthday was a big celebration. It was a swim party - all of the babies were so cute in their swimsuits.

My cousin Gaines got married in the middle of the month, so Mary Laine and I packed up and headed to the Georgia coast. Gaines and Cassie got married in St. Simons Island, where Gary and I got married 7 years ago. It is always so much fun to go back to St. Simons for a wedding, but a little sad when Gary can't be there with me. On the way there, we stopped in Atlanta to see our good friends, the Galbreaths. It will be so much fun to be able to watch our kids grow up together.

Mary Laine and Aunt Shannon

Kelsey and Carter are loving this. Mary Laine looks a little unsure...

It was so great getting to spend some time with family before Gaines and Cassie's wedding. Mary Laine was loving the attention that she was getting from my cousin Micajah at dinner on Thursday night.

Mary Laine and cousin Carson (Carson is the same age now that I was when she was born)

Cassie and some of her bridesmaids at the Bridesmaids Luncheon

Me with my Aunt Cindy at the Bridesmaids Luncheon

Me with the handsome groom after the Rehearsal Dinner

Mr. and Mrs. Gaines Peacock Sturdivant II

Mary Laine and Carson getting in some pool time

Mary Laine loved the beach!

The next weekend, Mary Laine and I headed back to Atlanta to get together with my closest friends from college. We try to all get together at least once a year. Sadly, Sarah Catherine couldn't make it this year. She was definitely missed! Since I was back in Atlanta, I got together with some of my friends from when we lived there. It was great seeing Tommie Ann, Mary Holley, April, and Jeanne. I ran out of time, but am planning on making another trip in January over a weekend so that I can get together with more people.