Buffaloes and Butterfly Wings

Greg's brother Scott, our nephew Aaron,

Greg, Alan, Greg's mom, & Dale

I didn't know when I started how time consuming blogging could be. Maybe I'm just slow. Or maybe I put in too much info? Or maybe I get interrupted too many times!!! Whatever the cause, it often takes me an hour from start to finish. This could be why I just don't some nights. But today was too full not too go ahead and give it a shot, anyway. Of course, halfway into my first sentence, Alan has woken up crying, after being asleep for 2 hours, and we don't know why. Go figure.

Anyway...

Spent the morning doing this and that getting ready for company. A pretty heavy rain and thunderstorm came over at one point.

Grandma, Grandpa Rick, Uncle Scott and Aaron arrived around 11:30. We had lunch, and then it didn't take the boys long to settle in together for a lot of side-by-side play. When you are a kid, two things are true:

1 - someone else's toys are always way more fun than yours

2 - your toys are way more fun when there is someone new to play with!

Based on these two truths, Dale and Aaron were hooked up for a great afternoon!

One of my favorite pictures of the day - Aaron digging deep into Dale's closet to see what toy he could find next. I think they pulled out just about everything that was in there!

There was an 80% chance of rain for the afternoon, but when Greg and Scott found themselves outside watching the boys in the sunshine, it didn't take long before they had filled the pool. And, once the boys were in the pool, it didn't take long for the storm clouds to gather! Needless to say, swim-time didn't last very long. Once it started raining, it really poured, and, had it been dark, there would have been quite a light show. As it was, there was just lots (and lots!) of thunder.






Late in the afternoon we decided to at least attempt to get the boys to take a nap. We put Dale in our bed and Aaron in Dale's bed. We saw them each in the hallway at least 3 times, finally set a timer for each at let them up at the same time. Oh well....they got some down time and the rest of us got some peace and quiet. (and some ice cream....sorry guys!)






The rain finally let up, and we ended up outside again. Greg and Scott have talked recently about playing "Annie Over" when they were kids. I'm not sure of exactly how it goes, but it involves one person on each side of the house. One yells "Annie!", the other yells "Over!" and throws a ball over the roof to the the other player. So today, Scott, Dale, Aaron, and I were outside in the front of the house. All of sudden, a frisbee comes flying over the roof at us. (from Greg in the backyard). Scott catches on immediately and starts shouting his part. Over comes another frisbee and a football. Greg came around to the front; one thing led to another, and before we knew it, Greg and Scott were playing frisbee in the street, with Aaron and Dale playing ball and riding a tricycle out there with them....and it was raining again!! So the four of them played and played, in the pouring rain, in the street for the longest time. From observing "Annie Over" Dale had decided that the football must be named Annie. He would throw it or retrieve it for Daddy or Uncle Scott, referring to it as "Annie" the whole time. Meanwhile, Aaron would get farther and farther away on the tricycle - he's got the pedaling down great, but steering he's still working on. :) Grandma, Grandpa, Alan and I all watched from the porch.

We hated to break up the fun, but it was getting late in the day, and our visitors had a long drive still ahead of them, so we all came in for supper. We were finishing up supper when Dale all of a sudden really wanted to go out in the front yard. It took us a while to realize what he was saying, but what he wanted to do, was "call for Annie". We let him go out, and he stood looking up at the house, yelling "Annie!! Annie!!" and expecting the football to come flying over! Greg couldn't resist this, and while I made sure Dale stayed outside, trying again for Annie, Greg went to the back and sent Annie over. :) Dale then began calling for the frisbees (I forget their names), but they weren't as cooperative as good ol' Annie. :)

At this point it was time to clean up, pack up and head home. So often when family or friends get together there are tons of activities you try to cram into a small space of time, but today was so different. There were no time-tables or to-do lists, and we had a great time visiting, laughing and playing. I just hope that it isn't another 18 months before we can do it again, and that next time Katie can come too! :)

(I've got more pictures, but the internet is not being cooperative...so I'll have to do them tomorrow. I'm an hour and a half in already for this entry!!)