Ryan, Shalissa, and Bella Visit! (2011)

Remember our friends, Ryan, Shalissa, and Isabella? Well, they came to visit us again this year!

They came in last Thursday evening and stayed through Sunday.

I had an OB appointment on Friday morning. This appt also happened to be my 1 hour glucose screen (to test for gestational diabetes- which I passed, by the way), so I had to drink 10 oz. of this SUPER sweet sugar drink. Seriously, it was hummingbird food and I had to drink it in 5 minutes and since it was early, I did it on an empty stomach (and not allowed to eat/drink anything after drinking it). I didn't think I'd be able to keep it down. So, anyway, Shalissa and Bella went with me and E to my appt.  Shalissa hung out in the kiddie area of the waiting room with both girls while I went back for my blood draw/pee-in-a-cup/blood pressure check/weigh-in/listen to baby's heartbeat/first fundal height measurement/meeting with OB. When I was done, we went to an early lunch at Chick-fil-A. We didn't realize until we got there that it was "Cow Appreciation Day". YIKES! It got crowded quickly and there were people dressed in cow costumes (to get free entrees) and the "Eat Mor Chikin" cow was walking around scaring all of the kids. lol. So, we ate and the girls played in the play area for a while and then we came back to the house for nap time.

When we left the house that morning, the boys were still trying to decide if they'd be able to go canoeing because there were some scattered showers in the area and some of the rivers were running high. Sometime that morning, Keith texted to say they were going to go float the Duck River, so that's what the boys did all day.

Saturday, the boys went canoeing again. 

So, the girls went to the (free) grand opening of a new play place here in Spring Hill called Storybook Village. Problem was, they REALLY weren't ready to open that day. We got there about 20 min after the opening, and we still had to wait outside for about 15 minutes while the crew inside rushed to finish constructing. Literally! We could hear the drill and hammers. So, then they finally decided to let us in even though there was still work being done on a slide. (One of the employees stood in front of the ladder so none of the kids could use that slide.) The place was cute and we'll give it another chance, but it was sort of a disaster that day. It was WAY over-crowded, and LOUD (high ceilings, no soft surfaces, still some hammering/drilling going on). They had door prizes you could sign up for and I got an email a couple days ago that said, "Thanks for joining us for our grand opening! You won a free Storybook Dream Birthday party. Please let me know how I can deliver your prize." So, we'll see what that's all about (and we'll see if the place is still open by Etta's birthday next year)...

Etta had the most fun in this "crooked house"

even if it was a *bit* crowded...

A couple of random shots of the place so you can get an idea (that giant, fun-looking structure in the back was the one that was still under construction and sadly, off-limits).

There was a little Thomas Train that ONE child at a time could ride on (so, you can imagine the LINE) and the battery died on it at some point. I think they still have a few kinks to work out...

Headed back home for lunch.

That afternoon (after nap) we just relaxed and played in the playroom. The girls were cute together.

Sadly, we said goodbye on Sunday. But not before a group picture, of course! :D

When I say Etta is "a tiny little thing", I mean it. Bella is about six weeks younger than her. Love my little "Mini" <3  <3  <3

We miss you guys already! Hope we keep up these annual visits (maybe one day, we'll actually come to you).