Happy 2nd Birthday Lily!!!

I believe I am justified in saying that Lily's second birthday party was a blast (pun intended as it was held on July 4th). Gran and Jonathan came up from Knoxville; while Nana, Papa, Uncle Chipper, Aunt Ashley and Cousin Jackson (in utero) came down from northern Virginia. Anna, Sam and Mary Hudson crossed over the mountain from Ashville. We were also glad to have local guests, including Uncle Kevin and Aunt Carrie, Beth and Tim, and Emily's resident buddy Elizabeth with her husband and son, Brent and Luke. If I missed somebody, I'm really sorry....

Anyway, it was an exciting weekend, though not always in a good way. Thursday night Dad and I helped Chip rearrange the bones in his "Great Toe," at least the doctor folks thought it was an "interesting case." The party also featured a home-made Elmo cake....that's right, Emily and I made the cake ourselves! I did most of it, while allowing Emily to interject some (very useful) help when she just couldn't help herself any longer. The grownups played a little ladder golf and cornhole in the backyard, while the kids generally preferred the swimming pool, sand box and slip-n-slide (kids being Lily, Mary Hudson, Luke, and me).

Lily got some really great gifts, for which we are very thankful and are currently working on the thank you notes. And as will happen at any good family gathering, the food was delicious and plentiful. We've spent most of this week having battles within ourselves between our desire not to waste any food, and our desire to not require new (larger) pants.

So thanks to all who came and sent cards, Lily, Emily and I had a really great time and hope you did as well!