Bon Voyage Benners

For those of you who know our friends Mike and Rhianwen, or who have read their blog, you know that they will soon be moving to Los Angeles.  Mike is an amazing writer (which is why they are moving to LA in the first place) and if you want to read his account of their decision to take this step check it out here.

On Saturday we went to a going-away party for the Benner's. It was a great time to hang out, meet some of Mike and Rhianwhen's friends, and watch lots of little kids run around.  These first two pictures are of Rhianwhen and her Mom holding Aiden, and one of the party's other babies, Edan.  Pretty cute, huh?

We also got a little bit more Benner time in on Monday.  Valley Forge Park is a great (and big as we found out) place to a walk... and walk... and walk.   

What started out as a casual afternoon stroll soon turned into an epic forced march (the "trail of tears" was briefly referenced).  By the second hour morale was getting low, and there was some mutinous chatter circulating among the women-folk.  A typical exchange went something like this:

 Jen/ Rhianwhen-  "Do you know where are? Or are we just walking?"

Rob/ Mike- " Of course.  See that church over there? Thats where we started."

Jen/ Rhianwhen- "You mean the church on the other side of that mountain??  It's farther away NOW then it was 20 minutes ago!"

Rob/Mike- "Yeah, but at least we can SEE it."

And on it went- through hills and dales and replica revolutionary log cabins, until finally we  stumbled back into the parking lot, tired and broken (but happy.)

In reality the near nonexistent drudgery of our long walk was FAR overshadowed by how great it was to spend so much time with our friends.  Mike and Rhianwhen have been in our lives as long as we've been married (and longer for Rhianwhen and Jen), and it's going to be hard to have them so far away.  But more than anything we are beyond excited for this next stage in Mike and Rhianwhen's life.  

Bon Voyage Benners!  

And in conclusion, Aiden hates hats.