Uncle Ray and a Trip to NC

November was a sad month for the Neeland family, as we lost my dad's younger brother Uncle Ray to a combination of cancer and a heart attack.  Virginia and I had booked a flight to see him, but he died the week before our visit.  It was a blessing that he was no longer in pain, but tragic because he was far too young.

We decided to keep our plans for a visit to NC and spend time with the rest of the Neelands, and we were happy to have made the trip.  Virginia had not seen her Neeland side of the family in more than a year, and she quickly picked up where she left off with everyone.  Auntie Lynn smartly pulled Cousin Beth's old dollhouse out of storage, and it was a major hit with Virginia.  She spent many hours in Nanny's living room playing with those dolls.  We also visited the local park, ate at Dick's Hot Dog stand, and visited First Baptist Church (Virginia made it through 3/4 of the service, so we call that a success).

The dollhouse extraordinaire: 

Lovin on Aunt Lizzie:

With Auntie Lynn (a.k.a. the source of Virginia's fashionable wardrobe):

Virginia was obviously thrilled to see Mimi:

Serious conversations with Papa over the kitchen table:

Ready to go to church with Nanny: