4th of July...a weekend of unexpected guests, unexpected blessings...

The kids were so excited to go over the bridge to Aunt Kathy and Uncle Paul's house for one of their famous creekside picnics. Uncle Paul cooks hamburgers and hotdogs over an open fire while the kids romp in the woods and play in the creek. This would have been Mercy and Odesco's first time experiencing it and the anticipation was building. Unfortunately, the weather did NOT cooperate and Aunt Kathy wisely postponed the event to a date to be announced. The kiddos were crestfallen and unfortunately it was too late to make it to the local parade. The Lord had other plans...a few minutes later the phone rang. It was Mr. L calling from the ER...his wife was in some serious pain (they later learned it was a kidney stone) and he had the children with him. Every one he had attempted to contact was out and unavailable... except for us :) So I headed over to the ER and picked up our friends, Joy, A and E. The girls were so glad to have an impromptu playdate and they joined us for a picnic at another friends' house for dinner and fireworks.

Joy and Odesco had a great time playing together!

Ali and L had a ball setting up battles...G, Mercy and E had fun just being little girls but I forgot to snap a picture!

E was a big help to one of the 'moms of many' at the picnic!

Fun at the pool...C on steroids!

L looking a bit stout!

G with friend V enjoying an evening jump :)

Now this is the life... Watching the township fireworks display in the steaming whirlpool!

A perfect view and just the right amount of noise!

The next day, Mrs. M called to ask if we could watch her little 10 month old daughter during the rehearsal dinner for her brother's wedding. We were only too glad to oblige...the kiddos loved having a baby in the house and L figured out that if Mrs. M had 5 more babies, there would enough babies for each of them to claim their own. Now, I must admit, it was a little strange to consider I am old enough to babysit for Mrs. M's baby...she babysat our children only a few years ago!!

A baby around sure makes these guys look grown up!!

Baby Kenzie had a hankering for Mercy's beads!

He's a natural... even though it's been awhile since we've had one this little!

Even C man got in on the action.

The next day was the big wedding mentioned above ... our dear friends the E's came to our church where Mr. E preached the message. They used to be apart of our church but were sent out to plant a new church in the next state over 6 years ago...boy do we miss them! Anyhow, after church we learned they had no place to hang out until the 3pm wedding and joined us for lunch and visiting until the festivities began. They are in the process of adopting a little boy from Ethiopia so it was great fun chatting about adoption and watching our kiddos play together.
So, a weekend that started with disappointment ended with a welcomed unexpected visit with old friends and a gorgeous wedding!

Mr. and Mrs. E with 2 of their daughters ( #3 was asleep in our room)...notice Mercy's hot sauce next to Mr. E...she had fun pretending to douse his plate with it.

Silly faces...pretending to have burning hot sauce mouths!

Grateful for special friends & memory making!
MamaB