Mother's Day and Squirrels?

We went to my dad's house for Mother's Day yesterday. We had a fun time with family. My Grandma and Grandpa were there, my younger brother Mark, my Uncle Bob and Aunt Jeanne and two of their kids, and a fiance. My mom and Barry also stopped by a little bit later in the afternoon.

The funniest part of the afternoon was the squirrels. My dad, crazy person that he is, has started feeding the squirrels peanuts. There are about 3-5 squirrels in his back yard. There is one squirrel that will even come up to his slider and beg for food. My dad will open the slider just a crack and the squirrel will take a peanut right out of his hand. My kids thought this was great. They even got to feed the squirrel.

After lunch, they went outside and started chasing the squirrels around the fenced backyard. At our house they roar at the squirrels to chase them away. But at my dad's house the squirrels thought they were playing with them. The kids would chase them up on to the fence and the squirrels would sit up there and squawk at them. As soon as the kids would walk away, the squirrels would come right back down into the yard. Pretty soon they were running all over the yard with the kids chasing them. It looked just like two squirrels chasing each other around and playing, except that there were two squirrels and two boys running around the backyard. The boys were exhausted by the time we came home. The squirrels probably were too. And now the boys are asking if they can feed the squirrels at our house. Most definately not!!!

Weekend with friends

We had a wonderful weekend with our friends, Scott and Karen, at their home near Birmingham, AL. Another friend, Rachael, flew in from VA. It was a short trip, but so good to spend some time with them. I also got to fly on an airplane, the first time in 8 years! The girls spent time doing some things around their house for them, a little shopping, and lots of laughing. Mike and Scott and Caleb, Scott's son, went hiking at a state park. They came back hot and sweaty. Mike and Caleb played lots of games together - card games, checkers, Mario 3. They were good buds.

Scott and Karen are adjusting to their life after the death of their daughter, Cassi. It is just amazing to see their faith in God through all that they have been through. And though the days are not easy, the joy and hope that they have in Christ is very evident.

Mike and I had a fun time together too. It is fun to travel without kids and be able to get treats and snacks that you wouldn't normally get if the kids were along. We had DQ peanut butter cup blizzards for supper on our way home from Chicago. That was it, except for the Mike and Ikes and Good-n-Plenties we also ate. You could never do that with kids.

It was good to get home last night. The house was picked up, the laundry was done (even the ironing from the last month), clothes were mended and the kids were in bed. Thanks so much, Mom. You are wonderful. Ian and John were still awake so we were able to get some hugs and kisses. I have been hearing stories all day of what they did with all the people who watched them while we were away. We feel blessed to have such wonderful friends and family who are willing to take care of them, so we can enjoy some time together.