No! Don't Go!!

My feelings exactly. My parents left last Saturday after another fun visit. I love it when they come. I love that they love my children as much as I do. I love that they don't expect a packed calendar. It's just a time to enjoy my children with my parents, do puzzles, and take a break from all the mundane duties of running a household. I love it.

Another fun thing about this visit was the extra visitor they brought along--their dog Louis. Our kids have wanted a dog for years. We've tried to talk them out of it. I don't need to expound on the unwanted things that come with a dog. One day Miles said he thought a dog would be a lot less work than gerbils. Hmmm. I thought if my parents brought Louis with them Miles could be in charge of his care and finally see what it means to be a dog owner. The outcome...

...now the kids really want a dog....and so does Matt. WHAT?!! That didn't go as I had planned. At least there's still one that feels the same way I do.

My parents are seriously the best house guests. They are so easy to have around and fun to talk to. My mom really wanted to go to a tea room that's nearby. It's one of our favorite girly outings. Emily and Lucy love dressing up in different hats and pouring hot cocoa out of their own tea pots. My poor dad got sucked into going with us. Matt had mentioned to the girls that of course Grandpa would want to go because he loves being with his granddaughters. When that story was related to Grandpa, how could he say no? He was a good sport though. He even let Emily put hats on him...kind of.

We also went to IKEA. I haven't been there in so long and I love their lignon berry juice! We spent an evening at Chuck E. Cheese where Miles and Grandpa had an air hockey tournament. I would post the score but I wouldn't want to embarrass my dad ;)

We spent an afternoon bowling. Lucy really wanted her friend Adam to go with us. It was so funny to watch each of them with their different bowling styles--if you can call them that. Lucy would set the ball on the ground and push it during the first half of the game then she got a little adventurous and tried to copy the rest of us.

Adam's method included some serious skill I'm sure. I have no idea how to describe it but it reminded me of the motion of a cue ball in pool--only in midair. Of course Adam and Lucy really wanted to give the candy machine a try. I tried to talk them out of it telling them that those machines never really work. Well, I was wrong.

The night before my parents went home we went to one of Lucy's favorite restaurants--Red Robin. Unfortunately we did not have Gloria as a waitress but we still had a great time. My dad kept teasing Emily about taking her shake. She was pretty serious about not letting him get it.

She paid him back with a serious spoof later that night...

Thanks for coming Mom and Dad. We love you! We can't wait to see you in the summer.