Friends, Fresh Air, and A Sleepover

We had a full week of special times and events. Our long time friends, Susan and Billy, from the coast, visited for a couple of days. We always have such a great time with them, and even though we don't see them as often as we would like, we are always able to "connect" again so quickly, as Susan put it in an email when she returned home. Our friendship started when we were both young married couples finishing up the last two years or so of college. We were neighbors and Susan and I were co-workers at the University Library. What memories! Before they came I asked Susan what she would like to do while here. She replied that the only thing she really wanted to do was see our grandchildren. When I relayed that message to the girls, Chloe replied, "That would be us!" Paula graciously brought the three C's to the park and we played and played and had a picnic.

On Friday evening after our guests had left for their home we met up with the girls and Paula for a quick dinner. We had planned to take Claire and Chloe to an African Young People's choir that was presenting a concert at our church. The girls loved it, we sat in the second row so that they were able to really take it all in. Claire hardly moved a muscle except to sway and move her shoulders to the music. Chloe loved it too and whispered to me after the third costume change how much she loved purple which was what most of the members had on. She did tell me the next day however, that one of the boys had purple on and "boys don't wear purple." Who says they don't? I'm thinking that maybe her Daddy doesn't wear purple. :) Following the concert Claire and Chloe got to come home with us for TWO nights. They were so excited as they both told us how it was going to work, that they would stay one night, and one day, and then another night, and meet up with Daddy and Chris at Sunday School on Sunday. Saturday morning Claire asked me if we were going any place today. I answered that we hadn't made plans yet and she said she would like to just stay at our house. That sounded wonderful to me! They had such fun going through my jewelry and accessories, playing pony on the stairs, and just enjoying the full two stories of our house. I have no idea how many times they were up and down the stairs but they had a ball. After lunch we played at the park and then they helped me do just a little yard work. I can honestly say they were as good as gold and we had a wonderful time with them.


Claire found a dandelion.....

And so did Chloe...in a bit of a different form....

They played on the slides, swings, and spent quite a bit of time trying to master the monkey bars. I am betting that on the next trip they will make it clear across without dropping down.

After they helped cook dinner they had some quiet time with Papa. Papa's favorite book as a child was a book called The Wolf King. He decided to start reading to the girls from that book. They seemed to enjoy it and had lots of questions about the story.

This morning we went to the early church and for the first time took the girls into the service. We were only 10 minutes late, and they sat quietly through the whole thing. Both Papa and I were shocked. A ball-point pen and paper goes a long way with Chloe, and Claire decided to go through my Bible page by page and just look at it. Whatever she was looking for occupied her for a long time. After their Sunday School class the teacher told me how great they are to have in class and what leaders they are for the other children when it comes to sitting quietly during story time. It was a proud moment but I think a lot of credit goes to the pre-school they attend three days a week where they clearly are having a great learning experience.

Papa and I are preparing for a long trip in about a week. I am so glad we had some extra time with the girls this weekend and I can't wait to be able to have Chris come too. The hardest part of leaving on our trips is knowing how much we will miss our family.