Archive | weekend

the mountain house!

When you go to the same university as your spouse, you are guaranteed to share a love of many things.  Elliott and I both attended the University of Virginia, and we hold dear reading in the Gardens, hiking in the Blue Ridge mountains, worshiping at RUF and Trinity, living on 14th Street our fourth year, studying in the stacks of Alderman, and even nervously streaking the Lawn.

The joy sharing life like this is that you often get to know the same people through connections like your university.  When Elliott and I began to date and compare lists of friends, we discovered we had some in common.  It’s not often that we get to spend a lot of time with these friends anymore, especially now that we’re in Italy/Texas.

However, this weekend we felt lucky to have a chance to relax and enjoy the friendship of some fellow UVA friends in the beautiful Blue Ridge.

We drove down to Charlottesville on Sunday afternoon, arriving just in time to watch the sunset from the ridge.  From that lovely spot we caught up over meals, hikes, and dirty dishes.  On Sunday night we roasted s’mores over the first fire of the fall.

Mari and John practiced holding a baby for when they have one of their own.

Lena and I discovered the flowers outside the house before we headed off on a hike up to Humpback Rock.

I haven’t been up here in four years when I climbed it with a group of 4th year girlfriends.  So much has changed since then in my life!  Much as I loved that hike four years ago, and much as I loved life at UVA, I’d never go back.  I love these two people too much!

Lena’s going to be a little rock climber one day.  She might need to lose the bow eventually if she wants to be taken seriously, though.

Sweet couple.  Thanks for hosting such a fun getaway in the mountains!

Someone was tired after our hike… and she didn’t have to take a step!

0 :: in friends, Lena, travel, Virginia, weekend

a weekend with the Greens

Over the long weekend at home in Virginia we stayed at my parents’ house.  That house was full of joy and people that weekend with my grandparents in town from St. Louis and my sisters home from the University of Virginia.  My mom cooked up a feast on Saturday night and everyone came home for supper.

My sister Booie… er, Julia (those childhood nicknames!) made phenomenal chocolate torts with jam and fresh raspberries for dessert.  I think I had three!

Lena got so much sibling love. 

Snuggles from two (of her three, counting Elliott’s side) UVA aunties.

And so much love from her Grammie and her GG (Great-Grammie).  Lena’s rocking on all fours these days, ready to crawl!

Emily Ericson, a friend of ours who lives in our basement, came up to do a family photo shoot later that evening.  We’re all together… Elliott’s back from deployment, Lena is born, the girls are back from school, Eric came by for dinner, and my grandparents are visiting.  Quite a feat!

The next morning, while my wonderful hubby let me sleep in, he and Lena visited with my grandparents before church.  Lena’s wearing the dress my mom and I made for her before she was born.

My favorite!

Four generations of Palmer women.  I remember taking a picture like this when I was about 10 and my GG was still alive.  Now it’s Lena’s turn!

2 :: in family, home sweet home, Virginia, weekend

a weekend with the Greens

Over the long weekend at home in Virginia we stayed at my parents’ house.  That house was full of joy and people that weekend with my grandparents in town from St. Louis and my sisters home from the University of Virginia.  My mom cooked up a feast on Saturday night and everyone came home for supper.

My sister Booie… er, Julia (those childhood nicknames!) made phenomenal chocolate torts with jam and fresh raspberries for dessert.  I think I had three!

Lena got so much sibling love. 

Snuggles from two (of her three, counting Elliott’s side) UVA aunties.

And so much love from her Grammie and her GG (Great-Grammie).  Lena’s rocking on all fours these days, ready to crawl!

Emily Ericson, a friend of ours who lives in our basement, came up to do a family photo shoot later that evening.  We’re all together… Elliott’s back from deployment, Lena is born, the girls are back from school, Eric came by for dinner, and my grandparents are visiting.  Quite a feat!

The next morning, while my wonderful hubby let me sleep in, he and Lena visited with my grandparents before church.  Lena’s wearing the dress my mom and I made for her before she was born.

My favorite!

Four generations of Palmer women.  I remember taking a picture like this when I was about 10 and my GG was still alive.  Now it’s Lena’s turn!

2 :: in family, home sweet home, Virginia, weekend

brunch @ the Garbers

It’s a family tradition every time most of the kids are in town.  Pick a weekend morning, gather for Mom Garber’s good cooking, pet the dog, admire Lena, talk about playing Settlers (but rarely actually do, poor Elliott), go for a walk, savor the season.

This time brunch was French toast and sausages on the grill.

Annie would like some, please.

The basement flooded during the recent rainstorms.  Few good things come out of such a disaster, but occasionally old treasures are disinterred, such as a box of photographs from when all the older Garber kids were in middle and high school. 

Afterwards Lena showed everyone how she’s almost able to crawl (hands and knees, rocks back and forth, sooo cute).  She tried out her new pants from Aunt Eden, which are as darling as can be and even have reinforced knees for when Lena does start crawling!

When she got tired, she snuggled with her mommy.


We finished the morning with a walk around the block.  Not much fall color yet, but it’s slowly seeping into the leaves.
Such a great family I married into!
1 :: in family, husband, Virginia, weekend

brunch @ the Garbers

It’s a family tradition every time most of the kids are in town.  Pick a weekend morning, gather for Mom Garber’s good cooking, pet the dog, admire Lena, talk about playing Settlers (but rarely actually do, poor Elliott), go for a walk, savor the season.

This time brunch was French toast and sausages on the grill.

Annie would like some, please.

The basement flooded during the recent rainstorms.  Few good things come out of such a disaster, but occasionally old treasures are disinterred, such as a box of photographs from when all the older Garber kids were in middle and high school. 

Afterwards Lena showed everyone how she’s almost able to crawl (hands and knees, rocks back and forth, sooo cute).  She tried out her new pants from Aunt Eden, which are as darling as can be and even have reinforced knees for when Lena does start crawling!

When she got tired, she snuggled with her mommy.


We finished the morning with a walk around the block.  Not much fall color yet, but it’s slowly seeping into the leaves.
Such a great family I married into!
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1 :: in family, husband, Virginia, weekend

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