These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Yesterday my good friend Teri and her kids Beth, Allie and Nathan were in town. We got to spend the morning with them at Jetta's house. Swimming, chatting, lunching and watching the kids play were the day's scheduled events. It was a great morning packed with a few of the things and friends I love most. We started in the pool, then moved to snack time just outside it. We all got drippy and sticky munching watermelon slices in our swimsuits. The kids rolled around in the sand, jumped on the trampoline, rode bikes and then were herded in for lunch. Jetta's homemade bread with aged cheese slices was the main course, along with some salads and home-canned peaches. I multi tasked-- eating while improving my tan in their porch swing while telling stories and laughing with the adults. Dave and Phil were able to join our crowd for lunch.

Watching Ella in the pool is such a joy. She's gotten so independent and adventurous. She and Delia even jumped off the diving board towards the end of the day! (With life jackets on, holding on to Dave's hand, but still!) Teri's kids are strong swimmers and my girls loved splashing around with them.

I get such a kick out of Delia and the twins. Their "Buddies Since Birth" bond deepens all the time. Now they call each other by name ("Pee-duh and Gore-uh") and interact in their funny toddler way. At Jetta's house, Delia is called "Peter's Girlfriend." Who knows? IF they do get married some day, a name change wouldn't be necessary! :)

Phil just finished building this awesome sandbox next to their pool-- it was like going to the beach. The kids were burying each other and digging up treasures with shovels and making sandcastles and everything.

Ella and Nathan always connect. Here they jump together, they also spent a good amount of time riding bikes around the wrap-around porch. I got to talk to Nathan a bit and he cracked me up!

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Teri and the kids had to take off and head home, but the party lingered a while longer. We hopped in the pool one last time and had some ice cream sandwiches before exhaustion hit the kids and an exit became necessary. All this pleasure in the middle of a weekday-- I LOVE my stay-at-home-mom job!!