Family Algebra: Does Family(A) + Visits(B) = Food(C)?

As I look at this post and the last one, I am reminded how it always seems that whenever we have family visit from out of town, not only do we experience the typical sight seeing adventures but it always seems that food becomes just as important. This is what happened when my cousin Russ and his wife Elizabeth and daughter Megan came for a visit. We had a fun visit with them as the babies were able to play and Dan and Russ were able to share Korean mission stories.


Dan feeding Sam Korean soy bean paste soup at the restaurant. Our waitress said that the babies love this soup and made some just for Megan and Sam!

Megan enjoying her delicious Korean Entree!

Next food of importance: Geno's! You can't hit Philly and not get a cheesesteak. Forgeddaboutit!

Geno's or Pat's are always at the top of the list when visitors come, and that is all right by us because we love it too (Geno's is the best of course)! We think Sam has joined our appreciation for Geno's as well as he is acclimated to Geno's famous cheese fries!

Saying Goodbye to My East Coast Cousin

One of the blessings of being out here in the east is the opportunity to hang out with Tom and his family. Their son Luke is close to 24 months, so it has been fun to let the kids be around each other. Unfortunately it has become time to say goodbye as they move back to Utah. We will miss our family and our Brooklyn trips.

Sam and Luke at Lombardi's Pizza in Soho. Good brick oven pizza, supposedly the first pizza shop in the country.

Alysha, Tom, and Luke Bean

The Stromberg family

Growing and Growing

Sam crawls. Seemingly not a big deal, but he was a bit delayed. While I was in Utah I constantly worked with him trying to get him to crawl. I baited him with just about anything, but he just wouldn't crawl for some reason. Everyone kept telling me he was waiting for his daddy to come home. Sure enough, Dan got home late on the 5th, and on the 6th (2 days prior to his 10 month birthday) Sam became a crawling machine. Maybe he was waiting for daddy, better late than never!

Although a tad late to crawl, he seems to be on the verge of walking. Even though he can crawl really well now, cruising is his choice for mobility. He especially loves his Lion walker from the Bean grandparents. Everyone warned us about this stage, he is already into everything in the kitchen, the computer chords, and the coffee table drawers.

Welcome Home Danno!

Daddy finally made it home on January 5th. His plane did not get in until 9:30 PM so Sam was a bit cranky at first. And of course, Sam didn't recognize his dad, but after a few minutes of reading a book to him he began warming up to Dan and even rested his head on his arm.

This gave mom and dad hope that all would be well in the end. And in the end, it has been wonderful. That is why it has taken us so long to get this updated, we have been enjoying our time together as a family. The feeling of being a complete family again is indescribable!