We had our first visitors come into town this weekend! Gavin’s
sister Katie, her husband Drew, and their darling baby Brighton came to spend
Labor Day weekend with us. We were thrilled to spend time with them and show
them our new home and town. They arrived Sunday afternoon and after a quick
tour of our apartment and the grounds, Gavin took them to see his campus. He
walked them through the business instructional facility or BIF as they call it,
past the library and other main buildings, and drove them past War Memorial
Stadium and the State Farm Center. Then, we came back and had a roast dinner
together, followed by games and visiting.
The next morning, we went to Champaign County’s little Labor
Day Parade, also known as the Candy Parade. Henry was in heaven! When the first
piece of candy that flew his way landed near him, he grabbed it and excitedly
walked in circles. He was so overjoyed that we had to direct him to more stray
pieces until he realized where they were coming from. He ended up with a little
baggie full, and was just as thrilled (or more) than the kids that had a whole
bucket! We then drove down to Arthur, a little Amish Town about 30 miles south
of us, where they were having their annual cheese festival. We took a horse and buggy ride with an Amish man around part of the town, went to the petting zoo where Aunt Katie helped Henry feed the animals, we tasted some different cheeses, looked through the furniture and quilt shop, and people-watched. We had a great afternoon, followed by a yummy pizza lunch at Monacle's that Katie and Drew so nicely treated us to. We went back to our place and swam, grilled some hot dogs, then sadly said our goodbyes. Luckily we'll see them next month.
Prior to the weekend, we had some other highlights. A couple of weeks ago, Aunt Hillary very thoughtfully assumed we would be going through normal lonely feelings that come with adjusting to a new home, and so she sent us a "box of Sunshine"! AKA, a box full of yellow surprises and treats. She included the sweetest note, along with yellow car air fresheners, Swedish fish, a magnet, a Paris pen, etc...it was the first thing we received here besides our electric bill :).
We were also thrilled when other family members sent surprises too! For our anniversary, Stephanie and Norm sent the most sincere, kind card with a money to use to celebrate at a restaurant. (Gav ended up getting a cold, so we're saving it to either try Maize, a popular Mexican place everyone raves about, or one of the others on our growing list.) Then, last week, Janell aka Nannie sent Henry a copy of one of his very favorite books, The Fathers are Coming Home". He was so excited when he saw it--he yelled "low!" Which means "slowly", because on one page it says, "the snail father creeps slowly home to his little snails," and when Gavin reads it, he says "slowly" very low and slow. Then today, Grandma Annie sent a surprise envelope full of adorable new pairs of socks! Several of them are orange, which are our school colors here and will be perfect for October. She also slipped in some treats that Henry gobbled up in 3.5 seconds, a sweet note, and one of her famous articles. (My whole life, she has always saved paper and magazine articles that she knows I will find interesting or need to know about. This ones was about the new temple in Philadelphia because we'll be traveling up there soon for a career fair Gavin has to attend.)
These surprises have come as bright spots as we try to figure out how to fill our long days, adjust to the humidity, new town, etc. Henry loves the jaunt to the mailbox. He now knows how to use the electric key to help open the gate.
Well, I'd better post some pictures and get to bed. Goodnight.
Prior to the weekend, we had some other highlights. A couple of weeks ago, Aunt Hillary very thoughtfully assumed we would be going through normal lonely feelings that come with adjusting to a new home, and so she sent us a "box of Sunshine"! AKA, a box full of yellow surprises and treats. She included the sweetest note, along with yellow car air fresheners, Swedish fish, a magnet, a Paris pen, etc...it was the first thing we received here besides our electric bill :).
We were also thrilled when other family members sent surprises too! For our anniversary, Stephanie and Norm sent the most sincere, kind card with a money to use to celebrate at a restaurant. (Gav ended up getting a cold, so we're saving it to either try Maize, a popular Mexican place everyone raves about, or one of the others on our growing list.) Then, last week, Janell aka Nannie sent Henry a copy of one of his very favorite books, The Fathers are Coming Home". He was so excited when he saw it--he yelled "low!" Which means "slowly", because on one page it says, "the snail father creeps slowly home to his little snails," and when Gavin reads it, he says "slowly" very low and slow. Then today, Grandma Annie sent a surprise envelope full of adorable new pairs of socks! Several of them are orange, which are our school colors here and will be perfect for October. She also slipped in some treats that Henry gobbled up in 3.5 seconds, a sweet note, and one of her famous articles. (My whole life, she has always saved paper and magazine articles that she knows I will find interesting or need to know about. This ones was about the new temple in Philadelphia because we'll be traveling up there soon for a career fair Gavin has to attend.)
These surprises have come as bright spots as we try to figure out how to fill our long days, adjust to the humidity, new town, etc. Henry loves the jaunt to the mailbox. He now knows how to use the electric key to help open the gate.
Well, I'd better post some pictures and get to bed. Goodnight.
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