A Wonderful Wedding Weekend

We were so pleased to be able to travel to Mississippi for the marriage of my brother, John Thomas, to the sweet and beautiful Laura Kathryn.

On Wednesday morning we left the house just after 3:30 a.m. heading to the airport and had two great flights with three great kids. Lydia slept and ate perfectly, Sarah contently read, colored, snacked, and enjoyed the window seat, and Josiah napped and snuggled. We made it to Hattiesburg in time to end the day with dinner at Chick Fil A.

In the event of an emergency, at least these two will know what to do!

Manly man :)

The kids were super excited to spot Josiah's suitcase!

Lydia, meet your Uncle T

Thursday started with a treat- getting my nails painted! Dave and I then had a birthday lunch with my sweet friend Lisa and enjoyed an afternoon at Target (our closest store is 45 minutes away!). Mrs. Glenda came over for one of my favorite MS dinners. Cornbread and butter beans (picked by the children that morning) can't be beat. The Patriots won to top off the evening.

Dave's artsy picture of my less than photographic fingers.
Colored fingernails were fun for a change, though!

Friday the real excitement began. We all headed north about three hours to Yazoo City and got settled into our hotel. Mom and Mrs. Glenda were the most at home as they put together flower arrangements for the rehearsal dinner in the breakfast nook. My cousin Mary Helen and Aunt Susan kindly came to watch Josiah so we could be more fully present at the rehearsal. Our family rehearsal highlight was Sarah walking down the aisle with her sassy hand on her hip every time. Thankfully her hand was occupied with tossing flowers on Saturday! Dinner was yummy and the toasts were sweet and funny. Laura Kathryn gave Sarah what she has fondly dubbed her "bride baby," and then we took our exhausted girl back to the hotel for bed.

"Oh, I wish I was in the land of cotton . . . " for wedding week!

Saturday started with a brunch for the ladies. Sarah was all about the orange juice and I loved meeting Laura Kathryn's family and friends. She has a super sweet entourage! It was special spending time with Aunt Karen and Mrs. Glenda at the brunch and throughout the weekend, as well. The kids got solid naps during the afternoon and we dressed up and headed to the church for pictures. Sarah unfortunately let herself get overwhelmed by the mere thought of picture time, but did a lovely job sprinkling her flowers during the ceremony. The service was so well planned and full of worship from start to finish. Afterwards we headed down the street to a beautiful building call The Manchester for dinner, dancing, and yummy cake. I love that Dave had the opportunity to meet some of my cousins for the first time and we all enjoyed seeing so many of our family and friends. Lydia topped off the evening by going 8 hours between feedings!

Boys didn't get brunch, but they certainly made their own fun

When you're two you don't have to nap with dignity.

. . . or when you're four. Dave is just thankful I don't have a picture of him napping :)

Lisa captured some great memories!

Hey, we tried our best for a family photo while we were all dressed up!

Our friend Ms. Lydia holding our little Lydia behind the groom's amazing cake.

Sunday began with a leisurely breakfast and rehashing of our favorite wedding moments. Dave and I then met our friends Haley and Sam for lunch on the way back to Hattiesburg while Mom and Dad took the big kids to visit Aunt Marthy. Once home we unpacked, watched football, and Dave and I enjoyed getting away to visit the evening service at Temple Baptist Church. Boiled peanuts and milkshakes were the best end to the evening!

This does a heart good! Thankful for these newly weds. 

On our last morning in Hattiesburg we tried multiple times to take the children to Krispy Kreme while the donuts were in process, but it was not to be. We did enjoy a nice morning strolling around Southern Miss and taking pictures on the ancient oaks just like when JT and I were kids. After nap time we headed south and enjoyed Chick Fil A in the south one final time before getting settled into the hotel and saying our "see you soons" to Goggin and Papa.

Monday started early and we had another great day of flying with the kids- praise the Lord! Once home we decided to have one last adventure and found the newest closest Chick Fil A to us. It opened September 4 and is about 10 minutes from the airport in Rhode Island. We made it home around 5:30 and had time to fully unpack and begin life on Tuesday ahead of the curve.

It was a whirlwind of a trip that was a joy from start to finish. Living so far away I feel like we measure the way our family grows by our trips to see family. The kids looks more grown, they have different likes, know new songs, and say more silly things each time and I am thankful for the imprint this wedding week will leave. Thanks for saying yes, Laura Kathryn!

MegaTrip: Comforts of the South

Part Five in a series chronicling our first big family road trip. 

I hadn't worn anything with the Methodist cross and flame in quite a while. Then again, I hadn't worn choir robes in quite a while either. Yet there I sat in both, feeling just a little out of place.

Gagen had talked me into singing with her in the Heritage Sunday choir, and I was enjoying the challenge of sight-reading once again. It made me thankful for a skilled accompanist who made the parts easy to hear. We sang some old songs from my Methodist upbringing, and a few I hadn't heard of. Great fun in all.

One of my favorite things about Emily's home church is the welcoming atmosphere. You get the picture when walking around the church lobby that people really want to be there- and are glad you came also. I'm proud of OBC for being this way as well, but it was nice in a different way to experience this as a visitor in a church. It's right for church to be a happy place.

After Sunday Worship some of Emily's family friends came over for lunch and a good time. Some of our favorite Howell treats were on the menu: grilled redfish with caper burre blanc, red potatoes, cornbread, jambalaya, and fruit pizza.

Aside from the sight of her husband in a choir robe, the time in Mississippi became a comforting symphony of the familiar for Emily. It's nice to have a week of gas pumps staying on, stores having what you need, restaurants that you know are good, old friends, family, and a familiar college campus. I think Hattiesburg was to Emily what Louisville was to me.

I felt right at home with them, too. Except for the choir part.

Sarah feeding the ducks at the zoo

Papa, Goggin, and the grandkids

Family portrait at the USM campus

MegaTrip: The Things We Do for Football

Part Four in a series chronicling our first big family road trip. 

Maybe it wasn't such a good idea. It sure seemed like one before we left. Drive from Louisville to Hattiesburg through the night, go straight from the conference to the football game, let the kids sleep in the car, don't waste our vacation doing pesky things like sleeping, skip stopping to nurse because it's night- it all sounded great. Even better, neither Emily or I can sleep sitting up in a car, so we didn't have to worry about falling asleep at the wheel. What could go wrong?

And almost nothing went wrong, except that Sarah inherited our inability to sleep in a car. The poor girl slept about an hour, all in 10 minute sprints after 2 a.m. She wanted to sleep, but couldn't. She even asked, through tears, for her bed. Then she went back to letting out those same cries a child lets out when they're falling asleep- except they never seemed to end. I don't know how she didn't wake up Josiah. But we made it.

We pulled into the Howells' driveway at around 4:00 a.m. Central time, trying our best to remember what it was that convinced us to drive down at such an hour. Once we got up the next morning, it became clear: box seats at the Southern Miss v. Boise St. football game. Emily's parents had acquired four seats in a luxury box, making for a great morning and afternoon of food, playing children, festivities, and football. After a serious nap, of course.

All the pre-game festivities were right at home to Emily, but not to me. There were great bands playing everywhere, and the marching band walking all around the campus. The tailgating felt more like a cross between a birthday party and a circus. And that was just outside the stadium. Once we got to our suite, there was an endless supply of food, drinks, and fun. Southern Miss, along with other schools, are building a strong football program based on the fan experience. They seem to understand that a good game and a good time go hand-in-hand.

Sarah enjoined the game quite a lot, though Josiah was sometimes scared when the noise suddenly erupted. He wound up spending much of the game inside- another perk of the box seat. The rest of us went in and out quite a lot, always having a good time.

The Golden Eagles came out strong, taking an interception on the opening drive and driving right up to the goal line. But when the field goal didn't go in, it was a sign of things to come. The Boise St. Broncos came out on top, by quite a lot. Turns out they can play pretty well on a green field also.

After the game, we came home and took another nap. The evening was low-key, although Emily did attend marching band festival with some old friends.

As we retired for the night, Emily's mother proposed to me that perhaps I ought to sing in Heritage's Sunday choir the following morning. Either way, we looked forward to Sunday Worship at Emily's home church.

Willodene Poole Robertson

This week the Cook family took a trip down to Mississippi to say our farewells to Emily's grandmother, Willodene Poole Robertson. I was a part of this family for quite a while before I knew that was her name- every single person who set foot in her home called her, "Ma."

Though our reason for being there was sorrowful, the trip reminded me of everything I love about Emily's family: the closeness, the way they honor their elders, the laughter, and the bustling home. Perhaps the most enjoyable moment came just after the funeral, when everyone was invited to Ma's house for one large lunch. How sweet it was to see Ma's house bustling with life and laughter, with all ages of children and adults.

It was a sad, but fulfilling experience for us to see Ma honored and to be there for Emily's family. We're thankful we were able to be there!

Willodene, the mother of Emily Susan, the mother of Emily Elizabeth, the mother of Sarah Emily

Memphis wedding and MS visit

Whew! Things have been exciting around here lately and September is proving to be just as fun. The life update is going to begin with my long weekend in the South.

I (Emily) recently had the opportunity to take a quick trip south to celebrate my longtime friend, Greg
May, marrying his sweet Lori Brooks. The long weekend was fun packed, so I think I will give you a
numbered play-by-play of the awesomeness. This is also a good place acknowledge those who gave me birthday funds- thank you, they went to a great use!

1. We left home at 4am on Friday to head toward the airport. There apparently is a time of day
without traffic to Boston! Dave sent us away with well wishes and we made it to Jackson, MS in two flights. Our independent Sarah didn’t sleep a wink until her cat nap in the car
on the way to lunch.

2. Mom and JT picked up two very tired girls and we headed to lunch. Chick-Fil-A! Even better, we
were joined by Aunt Jane and Uncle Paul, Aunt Ann, Aunt Marthy, Lori (not for long) Knight, and
the Rob Robertson bunch, including the newest addition, little Beau. You might have guessed it,
but he was absolutely precious. From there we had a delightful visit with Grandma and Aunt Marthy. Sarah even got to try some of Grandma's Hawaiian themed ice cream, and was of course a huge fan!

3. Dad met us for lunch and we headed north toward Memphis, arriving just in time for dinner
at Central BBQ. My favorite BBQ nachos joint (which I also learned has great onion rings) has
made a few delightful improvements over the past year and a half. Now, you should know that
Memphis feels like home to me (as many familiar places now do) and my heart was refreshed to simply be in town.

4. After dinner we drove through Binghampton (where I lived) and then headed on to the hotel for
everyone to get a good night’s sleep.

5. The next morning Sarah got a good nap while Mom and I explored a nearby shopping plaza,
including a wonderful Target! I was super excited to share lunch with 3 of my former SOS
Academites/roomates: Ashley, Candace, and Melissa. They have each had so many exciting experiences in the last two year. It is wonderful to look back and see how the Lord has been
working. They are precious to me and I am so thankful for the work they are doing in Memphis.
Thanks for taking time to share a Huey’s meal with me! Sarah also got to meet Ashley and
Candace- they decided to be best friends.

6. I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with friends from Hattiesburg: Lisa, Haley C, Grayson, and Rachel. Our time together is far and few between these days, but I love how we know each other well enough that it only feels like a few days apart.

7. Then Greg got married!!! At the wedding we met up with Haley F and Katye M and
during the reception enjoyed seeing friends from Memphis (shout out to Kim Perry!) and home.
I’ll tell you, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a reception with so much dancing. It was tons of fun; the
food was perfect, the band was great, and I got to spend such quality time with people I love.
Mom and Dad took Sarah back to the hotel to sleep before it got too late, but don’t worry, she didn’t
miss much of the fun!

8. Sunday morning we discovered I had been eaten by bed bugs, but thankfully Mom and Sarah were spared. This issue may or may not get a post of its own. (All is seemingly well now.) We headed south and got to stop by and see Cousins Donald and Wanda before stopping for lunch in Madison. Aunt Susan, Mary Helen, and Will joined us and we had great fun catching up.

9. We continued on to Berwick were we saw Ma, Cousins Jodie and Ronny, Uncle Eric, and Uncle
Robbie and Aunt Karen. It is always good to spend time with family. One of the most fascinating
parts of this trip was having Uncle Robbie and Aunt Karen take us over to and explain the new
oil drilling extravaganza. It. Was. Fascinating. Aunt Karen filled us up with warm food and lots of
love before we headed to Hattiesburg.

10. Monday was a pretty relaxed day. We had lunch at Raising Cane’s (I could drink that Cane’s
sauce…), had the VIP tour of the Lowery home (OK, I might be the only person who labeled it
a VIP tour), and had the Lowerys, Stewarts, Knights, Haley C, and Ms. Glenda over for dinner.
Thanks Mom and Dad for a great meal and thanks to friends for the great fellowship.

11. Tuesday morning Dad and I hit the road (at a much more reasonable hour) and Sarah and I made
it back to Providence without too many delays. Dave treated us to delicious Red Robin on the
way home. Sarah treated us to calm mornings by sleeping past 10am the next two days! After that we put her to bed earlier and started waking her up at 8am so that she could get two good naps.

Friends, family, know that you are loved, but nothing compares with being back home with the one I
love. See you soon!

Being sweet on the early flight. We were thankful for all the space!

Reading with Grandma...she clearly preferred Grandma's colorful beads to her small white ones :)

Enjoying Aunt Marthy

Grandma was kind enough to share her Hawaiian ice cream with our little chick a dee

With Grandmama and Papa John at Central

Happy campers

It is official- she likes BBQ!

Sarah with her new BFFs, Ashley and Candace

With the fam pre-wedding

We are getting our fix of Lisa lovin' :)

Precious friends. I am so thankful for you guys!

Having cheerios with Ma

Uncle Robbie is lots of fun!

Learning all about drilling for oil. Just ask Sarah how it's done...she'll explain it all to you...

Mississippi 2011 Part 2.5

One of our favorite things to do when we visit Mississippi is dig through the family videos to see if we can find any funny ones. Dad always likes to see what Mom was like when she was a little girl. But it's even better because Sarah's Grandmama has both a complicated relationship with camcorders and the good humor to save all the home movies that didn't go so well.

We knew it would happen eventually, and it did. Presented for your enjoyment, Grandmama vs. Camera phone. Recorded in five parts:

Mississippi 2011: Part 2

Once Dad arrived in Mississippi, we decided it was time to give Sarah her first swimming lesson. We took her to the community pool in the Howells' neighborhood and gave it a go. She did very well, and we look forward to teaching her how fun, mysterious, vast, and dangerous the ocean is back here on the Cape.

Look at those feet!

Swimming to Daddy

Testing the Water

Here we go!

Nothing like a ride to the pool on a nice day.