Easter Weekend with Byron & Lauren

Over Easter weekend we had a great visit with Byron and Lauren Morris, formerly of Merida, Mexico and now living in Augusta, Georgia. They skedaddled out of Augusta for spring break (and to avoid The Master's) and were on their way up to Illinois to spend the week with Lauren's grandma. (Byron - a Wheaton College friend - was in our wedding, and Jim was in theirs.) The highlights of the weekend were: enjoying the spring weather & flowers; cooking together - Byron displayed some never-before-seen skills; and spending hours talking about transitions, friendships & marriage.

The first night we made homemade pizza...

...and as you can see, Byron was really excited. (So were the rest of us.)

After church on Sunday, we wandered around campus a bit. There really are some beautiful buildings and trees and walkways.

Of course, we had to reward ourselves afterwards with ice cream. The funny thing was, we started driving home and I (Jul) said, "Maybe we can get some ice cream? But where?" (We are still learning our way around town...) And just then, only a block from the parking lot, we spotted this local joint, so we re-parked and went in! Yum.

That night Lauren whipped up some buttermilk scones - her first time making them (with Jim's aid) and they were delicious.

Thanks, friends!! Next time we'll see YOU in Georgia!

Lunch Date at Nick's

Celebrating Jim's recent success on three assignments, and searching for B-town's best hamburger, last Saturday we had a date at Nick's English Hut. This bar/pub/restaurant is only a block from campus and has been going strong since 1927. We were told that we had to go at some point, and after our visit, I think we'll go back. Tip: go in the summer when there are less students around.

Jul says, "Yes! Great hamburger!" especially because it's locally-raised (and hormone-free) beef. Perfectly juicy and messy. Jim had an elk burger, which he liked very much. The elk is also farmed locally. Maybe we'll go in search of that farm...

Here's an interior shot (we went mid-afternoon for a late lunch, so it was pretty quiet). Don't worry, no alcohol was consumed by the 17 weeks-along-lady.

And a few shots of some sights in this popular area of downtown Bloomington, adjacent to campus. Bicycles - of course:

A funky coffeeshop, restaurant and art gallery:

A church, also dating back to 1920s. Isn't the limestone cool?!

A few more Durham pics

Of course, I didn't take photos of all the fun moments, like: a morning walk and breakfast in Hillsborough with Dad; staying up late with R&C watching basketball and holding a sleeping Asher (then going to bed - me - as he was waking up for another meal); a birthday lunch out with Grandma and Mom; a lovely spring morning walk to church with Mom; tromping around 3 counties with D&M to look at houses; going through the Bojangle's drive-through with Rachel; walking around Gram's property to look at what's blooming...

But here are a few more pictures from the baby shower and a short visit with Grandpa & Gram! (thanks to Monica and Rachel for sharing photos)

I shared some stories that Mom collected about traveling at a young age, all involving taking a ship or airplane across the Atlantic: Grandma Miner going to Scotland at 3 months; Grandpa Miner coming from England at 3 months; Mom going to India at under 1 year; Matt going to Ethiopia at 6 weeks. And now Asher will be headed to Mozambique!!

The new dad snuck in at the end of the shower...

We had a great Sunday afternoon with Grandpa and Gram - thanks!!

Spring Break in Durham

Spring break in Durham...for Jul, that is! Jim stayed home in B-town to work ahead on studies and put in extra work hours (to get time off this summer). Meanwhile I got to fly down to Durham for 9 days to be with baby Asher (the big highlight of course), Rachel & Craig, Mom & Dad, Grandma, Pete & Rita. Wow, that's a lot of family in one place. It was good to be back in the hometown.

Here's Asher looking cute and 'cooperating' on a nap. At his 2 week check-up he weighed 8 lbs 13 oz.

Mama Rachel showing some of her expert burping techniques, though sometimes it gets tricky when Asher wants to snooze when he should be burping!

The second Saturday afternoon I was there we hosted a shower for Rachel and Asher. The weather was beautiful, lots of friends attended, and Mom of course came through with delicious eats. Here's Rita and Mom starting to set things up in the kitchen.

Longtime family friend Mrs Van Bruggen got to hold Asher during some of the shower - "practicing" for her grandchild who's arriving next month, she said - who was especially cute in his new striped leg warmers.

It was a wonderful afternoon!

And lastly, here's Grandpa with his sidekick, who kept us all entertained (during my last evening) with funny faces and growls. He was alert and listening and watching everything. What a treat to see him grow and learn new things during the week I was there!

Welcome to Asher Allen Frey!

Finally a photo of our beautiful nephew born Sunday, February 28th, in Chapel Hill NC, and weighing just over 8 lbs! New parents Craig and Rachel seem to be doing well and learning to adjust to the crazy sleeping hours with a newborn. I'm looking forward to joining them in Durham over Spring Break, and lovin' on Asher!

So far the family verdict seems to agree that he has his dad's nose & hair & eyes, and his mom's eyebrows. Yep, definitely those are the Hawkins eyebrows. (*thanks, Rachel, for letting me 'steal' this photo from your blog.)a