A Little Piece of Home

My heart is busting at the seams with joy!  This past weekend, we were blessed with a visit from my beloved Auntie Kerry who traveled from southern California to Indy!  It had been way too long since we were last in a position to give real hugs instead of virtual ones, so I took special care in cherishing them while I could.

We went to the first-rate Children's Museum, visited the pumpkin patch, had lots of playtime with our Halloween-costume-clad kids, and a handful of precious moments to sit back and catch up (the benefit of having 5 adults to manage the kids!)

These new special memories will sustain me as we count down to our next reunion at our giant, old-fashioned family Christmas celebration in California!  I can hardly wait!

Hannah lounging in her personal play space at the Children's Museum.

She welcomed Mr. Jacob. :)

Clairey glommed onto Auntie Kerry...

...so did Jacob...

...and Hannah.

The least scary black widow I've ever laid eyes on. :)

Nick went missing and we found him mesmerized with the water clock...It was awesome...

...Uncle JP and Emmy were also lured in.

That's my girl stuffing her tutu into a little sports car at the Hot Wheels exhibit. :)

Can't forget the mini Harley. :)

The more the merrier!

Auntie Kerry and her captive audience.

Auntie Kerry set Kris and I loose in the unbelievable toy store at the Children's Museum with a budget and clear instructions to buy our childrens' Christmas presents while the daddies loaded the kiddos in the cars... The experience itself was a gift to Kris and I, because shopping for our babies happens to be one of our very favorite things to do!! We were GIDDY running through the store with our shopping baskets!   None of us could wait until Christmas to reveal our finds, so each of the kiddos got a little teaser from their gift bags!  THANK YOU AUNTIE KERRY from each and every one of us!!!

Timer photo of the overflowing dinner table...the very best "problem" to have!

The girls welcome Auntie Kerry on morning #2!

They woke up asking when she was coming over. :)

Auntie Kerry & Emmy, off to the pumpkin patch!

Sweet Claire, a mere 15 minutes after she vomited in the car enroute.  After this, she made her way to the bounce house.  A resilient one, she is!

Mommy and Jacob!

Auntie Kerry and 5/6 of her great-neices and nephews!

The best out of many.

Practicing her tricks with Daddy. :)

Flying high!

Jacob is awestruck upon seeing the ponies.

Precious cargo.

Grammy & Poppy Come To Town!

Each and every one of us is so very grateful to Grammy and Poppy for coming to visit us this past week!  Barely 12 hours after they landed in Tennessee, Nick and I handed over the reigns as we departed for our own trip.  From the sounds of it, Emmy and Hannah didn't waste any time at all making them feel right at home!  Between Hannah's pre-dawn wake-ups and Emmy's insatiable energy level, Grammy and Poppy got the FULL experience!  They braved the park, went for walks, played pretend, blew bubbles, colored, and logged time playing in the backyard.  Poppy helped Emmy practice her potty training and Grammy persevered through Hannah's finicky appetite.  Grammy even became intimately familiar with our thin carpet pad when Emmy insisted on company after a bad dream.  Now that's love!  Nick and I were placing bets that they would meet us at the door, with bags packed, and an earlier flight itinerary when we got home; but instead they were both smiling, in great spirits, and full of funny stories! :) We so appreciate all that they did to care for our babies, knowing what a tall favor it is to ask!  They did a wonderful job managing the chaos, and provided our girls with some fantastic memories in the process. :)  THANK YOU a million trillion times over, Grammy and Poppy!

Nick and I were able to get in on the fun during the back end of their trip with excursions to Honeysuckle Hill Farms and the park!