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Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Rafe and Caroline

A Trip Down Memory Lane!



Rafe and Caroline's first picture together.
Rafe was 23 months, Caroline 2 years 4 months.

Rafe, Caroline and Owen on Rafe's 2nd Birthday.

Rafe and Caroline at the park. Notice the shoes!

Trick-or-treating at the Aquarium.

This is one of my favorite pictures of them.


Tired after trick-or-treating.



Riding the carousel at the Festival of Lights.

Everyone piled on at the Mt. Pleasant Christmas Parade.

Their first date in his Gator!

Dancing the night away with the Mariachi Band.

Hanging out at the Mt. Pleasant park.

Easter Egg Hunt at our house.

Caroline's 3rd Birthday Party.

Rafe's 3rd Birthday.

Rafe's 3rd Birthday party.

Festival of Lights


Kissing his sweetheart on Valentine's Day!

Rafe and Susanna. I LOVE this picture.

Rafe making Susanna play dress-up.
She was NOT happy with him.


And now... Rafe 3 years, 8 months, Caroline 4 years, 2 months.




It is SO hard to believe that our two years in Charleston are coming to a close. So much has changed in the last two years. When we moved to Charleston Rafe was only 21 months old and didn't really know what a "friend" was. Boy did that change when he met Caroline Fortney. I thank God everyday that he brought the Fortney family into our lives. Not just for Rafe, but for me. We are so blessed to be a part of this wonderful family. We have seen Lauren, Caroline, and Susanna most everyday since we moved to Charleston. Every special occasion or activity we did was with them. For as happy as I am about moving back to Greer to be closer to our family, I am that sad to be moving away from our most special friends. It is hard to imagine going to Chick Fil-A or Moes without them. Here are some of the special memories I will always remember about Rafe and Caroline:
  • Rafe went to New Beginnings Community Church preschool with Caroline last year. This was good for both of us. Thank you Lauren for convincing me to send him to school. He learned to much from that experience.
  • I love the way he calls Caroline's name.
  • They have a brother/sister relationship AND a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. He will say to me, "But Mommy, I just LOVE her!"
  • We eat lunch together everyday (even though they did not go to the same school this year). Our favorite places are Chick Fil-A, Moes, and Groucho's. After we eat Rafe and Caroline either race each other on the sidewalks, pick berries out of the bushes, or jump off of the curb. What excitement!
  • Rafe learned to love TWO Fortney girls when precious Susanna was born last July. He cannot keep his hands off of her. He absolutely loves to baby-sit her and enjoys putting all of his costumes on her.
  • Rafe is VERY protective of Caroline. If anyone is messing with her, he quickly intervenes and put a "kung fu" move on them. I can only hope he will be that protective of her one day when they get married!!

  • Rafe and Caroline made the cutest couple at Halloween. He has never trick-or-treated without her. They would hold hands and walk up to each door together.
  • We had a tradition each year of going to see the Christmas lights at the James Island park. We will definitely be making a trip back this year for that. We roasted marshmallows, drank hot chocolate and rode the carousel.

  • We enjoyed eating at Senor Tequila's. Rafe and Caroline entertained everyone with their dancing to the Mariachi Band.

I could go on and on listing the things that I think about with the Fortney's, but there are just too many to list. I know we are moving next week, but I hope they keep their guest room open for us. We are coming back to Charleston often to visit.


John, Lauren, Caroline and Susanna, thank you so much for being such a special part of our lives. We love you dearly.

2 comments:

lauren said...

okay...i'm sitting here with tears streaming down my face. that was the sweetest thing i've ever read. the pictures are just amazing. please don't leave us!!!!! i thank the Lord every day for bringing y'all into our lives. it was not coincidence. we love all 3 of you so much and treasure every memory we've made. what are we going to do without y'all??? and, you ALWAYS have an open invitation to our home and guest room. this is going to be even harder than i thought...love you!!!!!!

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