Visiting Philadelphia

So back in July on our crazy trip, we also stopped in Philly and stayed with the Luzar family, Brandon, Elizabeth, Agnes, and Charlotte. Agnes was really excited about Baby Lijah coming to visit. She also called him Baby Jai-ah. Agnes is two and has awesome nicknaming superpowers. We also got to go to Nathan and Sabrina's wedding, which was awesome to see them again after leaving them on their own in Denver :( We miss them, and it was great to celebrate with them and remember our own wedding. They also had their reception at Swarthmore, so Eli got to see his Daddy's campus for the first time. (Not that he'll remember it). Of course, we had to take a family picture in front of the big Adirondack chair that started out as an art project the year before I went to Swarthmore and is now a campus landmark.

Agnes liked playing on the chair. If/when we have another kiddo, this is probably what a lot of our family pictures are going to look like.

(Anisha, fabulous job capturing the essence of our family! beautiful wife and children, goofy looking dad.)

Sleeping on the last airplane home after a race across, under, and through the Detroit airport to make a quick connection. What a trip! I think we finally recovered sometime in August. It is such a blessing to be able to travel to see family and friends. Mom has finally met everyone in Dad's extended family. And reconnecting with college buddies is just beyond words how much I enjoy it and treasure our short visits with folks like Brandon and Elizabeth, Jesse, Billy and Anisha, Nate and Sabrina (even though they were a bit busy :) ), and Nick Groh. We can't wait to see everyone again.

This is kinda scattered. daddy must be tired. and it's only tuesday. oh well.

New Picture

So even though Daddy didn't get a picture of Eli with Great Grammy Birney, Aunt Karen (Great Aunt Karen) did! yay for picture happy aunts! :) Eli likes having crazy, fun great aunts and uncles. He told us when we got home . . .

Lots of Catching up to do!!

So July turned out to be a crazy busy month for the three of us. We left for vacation (Eli posted a quick blog right before we left), had a great time introducing Elijah to both sides of Dad's extended family, met some friends in Lubbock and in Philly, and then came home to host Diana, Matt, and Jamie on their cross-country drive for their move from Boston to Albuquerque. Here are some quick pictures with more to come soon!

Technically, this was Eli's fifth flight from Austin to Philadelphia. (We flew from Omaha to St. Louis to Dallas to Lubbock, spent two nights in Lubbock, Lubbock to Austin to Philadelphia, and then Philadelphia to Detroit to Omaha to get home!! whew!)

The Birney Clan. now 20 people strong. I think.

The Hajj Clan. now 17 strong.

including Siti who couldn't make it to the beach.

The newest and smallest Birney family.

Our first trip to the beach, complete with toes in the water and everything.

Great-Poppy Scott got a chance to have some one on one time with Elijah.

Somehow Dad didn't get a picture of Great-Grammy with Eli, but she did get some time with him too!

We also got a chance to visit Siti (Great Grandma!) at Crosslands before coming home to Nebraska. She had a blast holding Eli, making faces, and getting great big smiles from the little guy in return!

Eli still has to meet Great Grandpa John and Great Grandma Charlotte (Mom's grandparents). We can't wait to see them. hopefully sooner rather than later.

What a blessing to have five Great Grandparents to love our son!

and we know that Jidu (Dad's Grandfather), Marge (Mom's Grandmother), and Kilbourne (Mom's Grandfather) are watching from heaven too! There is such a powerful legacy in the men and women of God that have come before our son and walked a path of righteousness and humility by the grace of our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ. As we learn what it means to raise Elijah Khalil up in the way of the Lord, we can look to his grandparents and great grandparents to guide our steps. God has blessed Stacy and I so much with families to look to and see His love, grace, and wisdom shining through their lives.