Visit with Nik, Josh, Madeline and Nathaniel!!!!

Okay, so I know that the number of photos included with this post is going to seem excessive. Does it help that I selected only 10% of the ones that I took? Probably not. Anyway, we had a GREAT visit with the Natale Meeker clan last weekend. Times like that with friends like those are priceless and too few and far between these days.

One of the activities that we attempted with the kids over the weekend was to make a gingerbread house. You can see that the kids clearly did most of the work in this activity.

Nik putting the walls of the house together.

Erinn and Dan putting the icing on the roof.

This is what the kids did while we "helped" them with the gingerbread house - licked icing off the table.

and off their fingers.

We were pretty thrilled with how closely our finished product matched the picture on the box. We think we're gonna take this up as a weekend business.

The kids didn't care what it looked like - just that it tasted delicious!

Jack put his whole face into the eating part of this activity.

Yum, yum, yum.

He was pretty sad that we wouldn't let him eat the whole thing. Yes, that is saliva dripping from his chin. Cute, I know.


On our visit Ellie and Jack got to meet Madeline's little brother, Nate.

Clearly, they adore him!


We also did TONS of playing and dancing!!

Jack-Jack showing some of his best moves.

Ellie taking a rest.

???Who knows what's happening here??? Monkey see, monkey do.


Nik and Josh also have a world class bounce house that they break out when the moms and dads need a few minutes of peace. The kids love it, are safe and exhaust themselves all at the same time. I can't think of anything more perfect.

Jack, Ellie and Maddy jumping and falling.

Jackie smiling big!

Bum bounce!! Maddy has it mastered!


The big girls also made some arts and crafts activities using markers, crayons and stickers.

They took their work very seriously!

While the girls were doing art projects, Daddy and Jack-Jack read some stories.

Madeline also spent some time "writing" on the magna doodle.

and Jack played in the tent.

The kids also had a great time with a wrapping paper roll. They used as a microphone and a telescope and a sword. It was good fun for about 30 minutes.

We also spent some time before nap watching an episode of Super WHY.

Ellie took some time to talk with Nate about the show. It was so cute!!

Also over the weekend Maddy, Ellie and Jack watched Cinderella. Maddy just loved it and was truly concerned about what was going to happen to Cinderella. My kids had seen it before, so they weren't quite so affected.

Watching Cinderella (I love Maddy in this picture).

On Sunday morning Ellie was sitting on the couch, reading a book and got some AMAZING static in her hair. Check it out!!

Also on Sunday before we left for home the kids played dress up and had a dance party to Lady Gaga (and others).

Maddy in her beautiful dress and Jackie wearing black patent leather Mary Janes.

Nate watched the whole thing - cute as can be!!