Fall in Full Swing

It has been so long since I've made time to blog. That is mostly because I started a new job at Seedco Financial on September 21st as a Business Development Associate. I help with investor relations and product development, am learning a lot already, and using many of the things I learned in my master's program. I'm so thankful to be there and to be employed!!! A couple of the wonderful "fall" things we've been up to in the mean time, however, are below.

First of all, we just spent the day in Philadelphia celebrating Brendan's first birthday. He just started walking last week and is getting around pretty well. We love him so much!!! Taking the Cake

Josiah with Aunt Gwyneth

Last weekend we went apple picking with a lot of our good friends in Princeton, New Jersey. I really enjoyed being in the orchard and pumpkin patch, eating apple cider donuts and kettle corn, and being in the fresh, cool, open air.

With my friends, Johanna and Meg

A couple weekends before that we traveled to PA to visit Bryan's family. This time we took our good good friends, Meg and Gabe. We took them hiking in Rickett's Glen state park, roasted marshmallows by the campfire, ate AMAZING food (as always at the Langdon house) and relaxed by the pool. Also that weekend, Kevin and Megan dedicated Caleb to God. I am so glad we could be there to participate in this blessing. Kevin and Megan recently moved to Mississippi, so we will miss seeing them and the boys when we head to Pennsylvania over the next two years. (Their plan is to return in 2011- hope that plan sticks!) We are so thankful for Caleb and love him so much!

The Gentleman's Sport

We're watching the Steelers! After being glued to tennis the past few weeks, I realize how barbaric football is. It is violent on that field!

It's a good thing the Steelers are on because Nadal's quarterfinal match is on a rain delay. (We MUST watch our sports.....)

Tuesday we spent a full day at the US Open with our good friends, Meg and Gabe. We watched three great matches- the Bryan brothers had a solid win in men's doubles, Kim Clijsters defeated Na Li handily in a women's singles quarterfinal match, and, to everyone's surprise, Marin Cilic wiped out the deflated Andy Murray in a men's singles 4th round match. We had beautiful weather and it was really nice to spend the whole day outside. We were so glad we could go to the open- Meg got us half price tickets through her work. Thanks, Meg!

September Days

Saturday we took a quick trip to Philadelphia to see my sister's family. I know that a lot of pictures on here are of our nephews and niece, but we can't get enough of them, so I hope you don't mind.

• Brendan at 10 and a half months. He is a real climber, and I caught him on these steps grinning.

• Josiah and Brendan with their dog, Max. While the boys were napping, Aubrey took us on a walk to her wonderful school. Max got to come along and was all tired out from the trek.

• Here we are throwing rocks into the Wissahickon Creek not far from my sister's house. I loved the Wissahickon Valley Park when I lived in Philadephia, and it was nice to revisit it for a few minutes. I'm glad Josiah likes it, too.

Yesterday we took a refreshing walk through the gardens (BBG). The weather here has been beautiful. We have enjoyed the cicadas during our evening walks this summer, mostly because they remind us of the countryside. We were standing within three feet of one yesterday- we could hear it- but it took us awhile to spot it! Today we went to the beach with a bunch of friends from our church. Our friend Tori was baptized. The only other time I've been in the ocean this summer was during Memorial Day in Florida. So if we can't get in the water that often, at least it's fitting we open and close the summer with a dip. The tide was very strong today so we got a workout trying to stand our ground. I enjoyed getting smacked with salty sea water and then resting on the sand- especially with friends! Tomorrow we head to the US Open all day, so we're looking forward to that. We're glad we can rest up tonight.

Open Ended

Yesterday I finished my internship at Seedco Financial. It was a great couple of months. We had planned to go celebrate at Zaytoons, our new favorite restaurant (delicious middle eastern food in Prospect Heights), but good friends surprised us at the last minute with tickets to the US Open! Aubrey got box tickets through work, but his wife Andrea (five months pregnant) wasn't feeling up to the trek to Flushing Meadows. So that three hour match between Venus Williams and Vera Dushevina last night--- we were there! And up close, too. Andy Roddick played Bjorn Phau in the second match of the evening, but we left at 11:30- after the first set.

Next week we're going for a day session during the fourth round with some other good friends, Meg and Gabe. Can't wait to go back. We are really getting spoiled this year.

Trips to Pennsylvania

Earlier this month we took two trips into PA, one to visit my parents and go to the wedding of a dear friend, and the other to visit Bryan's family for our annual "camping" trip. This year we just parked at 'Real America' because Caleb's just five months old, but slept outdoors and roasted marshmallows on the campfire. Most stayed in tents, but Bryan and I slept in the fort.

First trip: This is my friend Rachel and her new husband George.

Second Trip: The tents and the fort!

The boys throwing wrapping paper in the fire- Smokey said the forest fire risk was low...

At the Covered Bridge Teaching Joel how to skip rocks

He was getting the hang of it.

But mostly he just wanted to hear the big ones splash.

Megan and Baby Caleb

The boys going for a bigger splash.

Ephraim- The Baron in the Trees

We also took a trip to Penn's Cave, which I didn't get any pictures of, but was beautiful and amazing. Penn's Cave is in Penn's Valley (imagine that) which is a narrow valley between two small ridges, filled with perfect Amish and Mennonite farms. We passed clotheslines of colorful "plain" clothes, teams of horses pulling modern plows, and children playing on wooden swing sets in the front yard while their mothers picked vegetables from the garden. When we arrived at Penn's Cave we were greeted with a field of sunflowers in full bloom. The Penn's Cave tour is in a boat and chilly (52 degrees).

Kid Stuff

So it has been quite awhile since I've posted anything. First, I want to tell about a visit from my sister Aubrey and her son, Josiah. They came to visit us the last couple days of July, and we had lots of fun. We went to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, the Propsect Park Zoo, rode the old Carousel, played in the playground right around the corner from our apartment, spent time on the roof, and most importantly, RODE the SUBWAY!!! (Josiah's favorite.) Here are some pictures from their visit.

The BBG

The Playground

The Zoo- Watching the Baboons

The Carousel

The Roof

Josiah watering the plants!

And... the subway!

Fair Brooklyn, Fair Claire

Today, we strolled through the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. Everything is beautiful in Brooklyn.

Last weekend, my brother Jonathan, his wife Lara, and their 4 1/2 month old daughter Claire stopped in on their way home to North Carolina from their vacation in Maine. They were all nursing colds from the chilly temperatures in Maine-- even Claire was sporting her first fever! But it was wonderful see them, and catch Claire at this great age.