A visit to Biltmore Village

Jeff, Bennett and I took Caleb to see the Dickinsville decorations in Biltmore. We saw everything from brass players and live bands to jugglers and plate spinners. We even saw a horse-drawn carriage and knew we had to splurge since the rides were $5.00!

Emily and Eric surprised us and got back to Asheville right before it was our time for the carriage tour. We scrambled up and rode cozily through the streets for a short ride!

The air was chilly, but Caleb loved it all!

The first week of December...

We celebrate yearly with my sister's family "Christmas Adam". This is typically December 23rd - the night before Christmas "Eve" (hint: Adam came before Eve). For 2008 we moved the date to early in December to reduce stress at a time of frequent activites and other parties! Emily, Eric and Caleb arrive for the festivities...

Jeff and Jean Ledford (my sister Joan's mother-in-law) find a quiet corner (ha!)

Feasting in the kitchen are Kathy, Julie, Bennett, Joan and my Dad...

but shortly Joan and I relax in the livingroom watching Eli.Trent bids farewell to the Freeman's while holding on to his nephews - Caleb's ready for bed!What a fun night! We shared many goodies from meatballs and fruit to ham and cheese and a chocolate truffle cheesecake...

Remembering Thanksgiving

We continued our annual tradition of visiting the Rogers family in Clover, SC... Jeff's brothers and sisters and their spouses all get in for this occasion! Here, Pete and Olivia (Jeff's parents) stand ready to serve! and we sure did have enough... Nancy (Jeff's sister) gets to sit first in the diningroom! We join her shortly...

Caleb gets to meet Berleigh, Ren and Linda's dog - of course he met her last year, but I'm sure he doesn't remember! Ren and Linda and Berleigh are from Connecticut. My mom and dad visit from Asheville, NC for the afternoon. Nana loves to hold Caleb. Bryson Rogers can be seen in the background... since there are 5 people in the David Rogers family, I didn't get them all in one shot. It's a seek and match up challenge!

Jennifer and Jessica belong with David and Gwen and Bryson Rogers.

Elizabeth, Abbey and Jackson Hartley can be seen in this photo - sorry it's not very clear!

Jan, the Hartley's German foreign exchange student, and Abbey fix their plates.

Jeff and Alan Hartley are found conversing in the livingroom - obviously they have finished eating!

Emily, Eric and I get in the picture with Mom and Dad before they return to the mountains. Emily celebrates her 26th birthday on the 28th of November...

Happy Birthday!David and Gwen Rogers also celebrate their 27th anniversary on the 28th! Congratulations!
Bennett celebrates his 23rd birthday a tad early, but since we're all together...

Elizabeth Hartley and Nathaniel are in this picture! (The 5 Hartley's are spread out over several pictures too!)
Nathaniel entertains Caleb a moment -
then Caleb welcomes the beginning of the Christmas Season!

On the first day of winter...

I'm way behind on posting, but I thought I'd put a couple of pictures on to show Caleb's latest focus! He loves Christmas time! I think he likes snowmen!

Capturing Caleb's personality on video

Caleb was still on Daylight Savings Time when he visited - so we were up at 6:30 or earlier every morning! This clip was taken Sunday morning, after breakfast...

Later that same day, Caleb had been through all of his outfits and Jeff resorted to putting a pair of boxers on him secured by a plastic tie! Caleb didn't care - and proceeded to push brown bear around in the basket!

And finally, after laundering some clothes and donning denims, here's a shot of BIG FOOT!

Visiting the Nature Center

Caleb got to spend 4 days with us while Emily and Eric went to Pigeon Forge with Amanda and Trent. Our first afternoon we went to the Nature Center and saw black bears, a bob cat, grey wolves, a cougar, and white-tailed deer.

After strolling through most of the park, we came upon a petting corral. This was the best shot I got of Caleb walking past the goat. I found it difficult to get him to pose with an animal without worrying he might pat the sheep too hard - or that the goat might sample Caleb's clothes! So - this proves he was there!

As we were leaving the park, this striking peacock showed us his feathers!

Caleb promises to be a drummer!

Caleb is surrounded by drummers - at home and church! Here he plays in Bennett's djembe bag! A most unusual back pack, don't you think?

Later, we found him trying his hand on the djembe...

And one last video of Caleb playing in the leaves... they're just about all down now!