A Long Awaited Visit with Friends

Thursday evening our friends, Nick and Nikki, Claire, Abby, Sam, Matthew, and Andrew came for a visit. They lived here in this area for several years and then Nick's work moved them back to their home in Virginia. During their time here, we became close friends. We played together, we fellowshipped together, worshipped at the same church together, and I even had the pleasure of coming to their house to stay with their children the night Nikki went to give birth to their fourth child. They were here during Hurricane Katrina and Rita. During one of those hurricanes we stayed with them for almost a week because they had electricity and we didn't. Those were fun times. Once they moved back to Virginia, we planned a vacation to stay with them, visit, and go sight seeing around Washington D.C. with them. This was right before Emma was born so it had been 3 years since we had seen them.

They are moving to a neighboring state so they decided to make our house a stop for several days during their journey to their new location. It was fun to watch the children pick right back up where they had left off and the new little ones pair off into buddies as well.

Here are just a few pictures that were taken during their visit. You would think that I would have tons of pictures from their visit but I don't because I didn't get my camera out much. It has been too long since we were able to see each other so I took the time to soak up my friend and the children instead.

This was Friday morning during breakfast feeding 13 kids ages 10 and under. I had cooked a quadrupled batch of my Whole Wheat Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins for everyone to enjoy.

You only got these breakfast pics because Rob got the camera out while I was serving everyone their food. Matthew, Sam, and Ian Andrew Tate, Claire, and Cade This was late morning on Friday. Nick was holding Asa while we were giving all of the children baths before heading out to lunch. It hadn't been 24 hours with the Shelbys and he fell asleep in the chair!!

We went to Brewbachers for lunch because Nikki wanted to get some good onion rings. She said she hadn't been able to get some that good since she moved back to Virginia. She also wanted her Chicken Croissant sandwich which is delicious there too.

Cade, Tate, Ian, Abby, Luke, and Claire

For dinner Friday night, we had the Lindsays over for dinner so they could visit with their friends too. We had a big Mexican feast with chicken and steak fajitas (Thanks Craig!), tacos, refried beans, rice, guacamole, cheese dip, with brownies and Chocolate Eclair for dessert.

This is the older kids sitting in our formal dining room eating dinner together. We decided to put them here so the adults could be with all of the younger children.

Cai, Sam, Matthew, Levi, Emma, Miriam, and Abram

(Cameron was eating here too but I'm not sure where he is in this picture!)

Micah

Sarah, Matthew, Nikki, Nick, Rob, Candi, and Craig
Here are all 18 kids ages 10 and younger together in the stair way!

This is Sarah attacking Andrew on Saturday.

Sarah and Andrew got along really well. They were due 3 days apart but Andrew decided to come 5 weeks early instead. I guess he wanted to make sure he was the oldest:) They shared many hugs during the visit!

Me and Nikki laughing while Rob was trying to take our picture!

Nikki and I

Nikki crocheting a blanket for one of the boys.

She would work on the blankets when she was sitting and visiting or watching the LSU/Florida game on TV.

Nick

Rob

Nick and Rob

watching the LSU/Florida game

Nick and Nikki

Rob and I

We took these pictures before church yesterday morning.

After church that morning, their family loaded up and headed to their new destination. It was sad to have to say good-bye but at least they are only a few hours away from us now instead of 19 hours. We are looking forward to going and visiting them and each of us hope that we will get to see more of each other than the one time in 3 years!