North Carolina!

Last week we took a trip to North Carolina to visit with my sister Meredith and her family. We had eight kids under eight years old in the same house! It was a bit chaotic, but really fun. The cousins all interacted so well together and it was fun for Mer and I to each meet the other's newest addition.

We were able to do several fun things with the Morgan crew. We visited an historic farm where the kids could dress up and play in an indoor play area (doesn't George just make the cutest bumble bee?!)...

...and the kids went on a quest to find pecans.  But the trees had already been picked over, much to our disappointment.

The cousins still had fun!

Jack was eager to try out Luke and Ben's bikes after Uncle Jeff put the training wheels back on.  Within an hour or so of practicing with the training wheels, he was off on his own!  Amazing! He took a few tumbles, but really did well.

Here is a funny picture of the boys with their superhero jammies.  :-)

We all liked nap time after having such active days.  One day, we let Jack and Luke stay awake to read books...but came out to find that they were napping, too!

What a cute posse of kids! 

Joe's first ride in a double stroller...with cousin Caleb!  Hey...we've seen pictures like this before....

Here are Jack and Luke in October 2009....



...and George and Jacob in 2012!

We took a trip to a really neat little train park in Raleigh - a beautiful day for a picnic lunch!  

The kids enjoyed riding the little train, climbing and playing on the play ground and riding the kiddie boats. 

What a cute bunch!  Aside from Jake and Sarah, Mer and I have kids born every year from 2006 thru 2014...little stair steps! (Joe was sleeping during this picture.)

Big men in a little train...enough to make Mer and I laugh out loud! 

Coordinating cousins! 

Mer and I with our little ones. 

Jacob reading to baby Joe.

Ben reading to Jack.

We were there to help Princess Gracie celebrate her 4th birthday!  We love that sweet girl!

Mer with baby Joe.

We had a great time and cherish the memories our kids are forming with each visit to our Morgan cousins!  Thank you Morgan crew for a great visit!

On the drive back, we took a route through the Shenandoah Valley - beautiful!!!

Now we are back in Ohio after picking up Jake and Sarah and driving through ice and snow to get home for Thanksgiving.  We are so grateful for all of the time we've had together as a family.  Please pray as Josh heads back to Curacao next week and we wait to make further plans for the rest of us to join him.