Visitors..

It has been a busy last week. Matt's cousin Heath and his wife Laura and two kids Hailey and Drew came to visit. It has been so much fun hanging out together and getting to know them in person finally :). They will be leaving this Tuesday and it is going to be so hard to see them go. Alissa is struggling to under stand why "her" Hailey can't stay here and play with her "always". This is the first girl friend Alissa has ever had who will play worms with her -- what could be better?? :) As for me, I have found a great friend in Laura and I am going to really miss being able to hang out with her. It is a rare and beautiful thing when you find someone you "click" with right away and I am so glad to know her.. just hard that we live so far apart. Hopefully her family will someday live closer (even if only for a few years).. until then I look forward to our next visit! Matt was disappointed that he couldn't spend more time with them, but he enjoyed the days we were able to get together.
I absolutely love Hailey and Drew -- what awesome kids!! We had a ton of fun playing, cooking, and seeing the sights of Salem :) On to some photos!!

This is the first day that the kids got to play together -- this is GG's back yard where the kids played for hours with dirt.. making mud pies and who knows what else :)

Meanwhile, the adults played a few rounds of Hillbilly Golf.. Heath and Laura (who swore they had never played before) whooped us miserably, but we took it well.. beginners luck..pfft ;)
GG's patio was a very popular place.
The next day we took the kids to AC Gilbert house where they had a blast going from house to house, room to room, and playing outside.
Heath and Hailey got creative with a houla-hoop while Laura and I snapped pictures :)
The boys thought the ball pit/giant stomach was the best.. both were reluctant to leave.

Alissa adopted Laura as her very own slide buddy and had a blast going down the giant slide.
And then we have the picture of the day -- the kids put on a play for us in the castle.. Alissa was the princess, Hailey was the prince, Drew the dragon, and Jon.. well, Jon was Jon :) The next afternoon the girls all got dressed up and headed to a tea party. We arrived at the tea house at 2:55 to a CLOSED sign.. GASP.. I ran to the door to find out they close at 3pm and I begged and pleaded to be allowed in.. the ladies were kind enough to accomidate our late group and it was wonderful!!

Hailey wanted me to put a fresh flower in her hair from one of the plates, and this is one of my favorite pictures of her from the trip. Such a beautiful girl.. and to all those Oregonians -- jealous of that tan?!?! I sure was.

This picture chokes me up a bit.. I'm a bit of a softy :) No commentary needed:

After our tea party we went to the park in Dallas -- lovely park. Alissa had a ladybug on her shoulder in this picture.
Here is a great shot of Ali and GG.. she sure loves her GG! Here is another favorite of mine.. I have quite a few :) Boys versus girls on the teeter-totter, guess who won?!
Blogger is having heart failure at the moment so.. "TO BE CONTINUED...."