{ A Wonderful, Wonderful Weekend }

Over the weekend we had the very special privilege of hosting two families in our home.  Including our own little family that equaled = 6 adults, 3 kids, and 2 babies.  It was a wonderfully full house!  Nikki, Chelle and I have been friends our whole lives.  Technically we've been friends since before we were born as our parents were friends before we existed.  Since being born we've been practically inseparable.  We were home schooled together, went to church together, kept each other up all night at our slumber parties, wrote stories together, acted out our vivid imaginations together, and went through all of life's changes together.  Now that we're all married and have kids I still can't think of a year that we haven't all gotten together at least once a year for a girl's weekend.  Last weekend was particularly special because it was the first time that we were together with our husbands and kids.  We kept marveling and just how good God has been to us to give us these families of ours and to still be such a central part of each family!

They came in to town Friday afternoon and we settled in with catch up on our lives and our kids getting to know each other again as kids have to do.  They all played together so well and enjoyed all the toys spread throughout the house.  We enjoyed a delicious dinner of comfort food a.k.a. Cougar Gold Mac 'n' Cheese and ham or "steakon" as Jack called it, which cracked us all up.  I don't think I'll ever to able think of ham any other way now!  That really is the best of both worlds: steak/bacon!  I think we'd all like to say that our first night together was spent relaxing around the fire roasting s'mores, kids happily asleep in their beds.  Alas, they were literally bouncing off the walls, our dear Oliver in particular!  By 11 pm he was finally asleep and we were able to stumble off to bed!

Next morning, Chelle and I got up early and put cinnamon rolls in the oven and decorated for the "welcome baby" party we put on for Nikki and Mike.  The sun came out for a little bit and brightened the breakfast table right up.  Then there were sweet gifts opened and good coffee drunk.  We sure are excited to meet Miss Peanut come July!

Mid-morning Tim organized a walk to the park to get everyone out of the house and get wiggles out of the kids.  It felt so good to soak up some sun and get some exercise.  Naps were no problem after that!

In the evening I took Tim to see Kansas in concert for his birthday while our kids slept.  Thanks so much!  It was sooo much fun to get out on a little date and enjoy a good concert and then come back to good conversation and yes! kids asleep!

We sure hope this is the first of many visits.  We talked about future plans, and as our families continue to grow, the adventures will only increase!  It was very hard to say good-bye.  Oliver's little heart all but broke as they pulled out of our driveway.  Tim and I wanted to cry just trying to comfort him.  He had SO much fun with his friends!

We're still catching up on sleep and getting our house back in order, but the memories made will be fresh in our minds for a very long time.  It was a wonderful, wonderful weekend!