Fort Williams Park

Gwen & the Portland Headlight

Grandpa needs a segway!

Gwen doing her funny walk

(which requires her to make a funny face too!)

Mom, Gwen, & Grandma Earnshaw

Gwen demonstrates proper fog horn hearing safety

Gwen & Grandpa Earnshaw

Gwen strutting her stuff

Dad & the lighthouse

(Don't worry, we rounded out this very

Maine day with a trip to L.L.Bean!)

Sandhill Cranes and Citrus

When we're in Florida, we always like to see Gwen's great-grandparents, Grandma and Grandpa King. We spent the day with them on Saturday and enjoyed the visit very much. The first thing to catch Gwen's attention was a family of sandhill cranes in the backyard. Mom and Gwen thought they would chase them away, but the birds thought Mom and Gwen were bringing food and didn't fly off as easily as had been expected.

Grandma and Grandpa King have a lake in their backyard, and Gwen wanted to check it out. She was delighted to see lots of little fish when she looked into the water from the dock.

Gwen loved Grandma King's applesauce, the green sippy cup she got to use at lunch, and the lollipop Grandma King had gotten just for Gwen from the hairdresser's candy bowl earlier that day.

After lunch there was a ride in the golf cart, and we couldn't leave without Grandpa hooking us up with some fresh Florida citrus from his personal grove. Grandpa King helped Gwen pick out the best tangerines on the tree!

Gwen loves Grandma and Grandpa King! Thanks for a fun visit!

Gwen Goes to the Zoo

Today Gwen went to a zoo for the first time! Grammie took us to the Lowry Park Zoo, and Uncle Jacob, Aunt Rachel, and Cousin Katie came too. Gwen and Katie shared the double stroller, although they had to get in and out frequently to see the animals. We all enjoyed the animals and the fun. Some highlights included: being entertained by the very active orangutans and monkeys which put on quite a show of acrobatics, seeing the penguins getting fish to eat, watching the manatees at the manatee hospital above water and then below the water too, feeding the giraffe a cracker, Gwen eating her own crackers, petting and brushing the goats, and just being together in the sunshine! Gwen actually fell asleep on the way to the zoo, so she was very tired by the end of her first visit to the zoo.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Did you have a tasty Thanksgiving?

Gwen did!

We're thankful to be spending the Thanksgiving holiday with the Crosby family in Florida. (This is Jared's first Thanksgiving home since his senior year in high school!) In case you've never experienced a southern Thanksgiving feast, the stuffing is made from corn bread, the conk peas are a yummy side, the pecan pie tastes deliciously fresh, and the lemonade is squeezed from lemons right off the tree out back. Grammie Crosby cooked up an incredible spread and the meal was shared with Grandma & Grandpa King, Jacob, Rachel, & Katie, Uncle Wes & his boys (Chris and Sean), and some friends from the singles branch (where Rob and Linda serve). We thoroughly enjoyed the meal and the company! Happy Thanksgiving!