Trip to Maryland

Neither pictures, nor words can really capture what it meant to be in my parents' home with my sisters and our expanding families. Some of the best moments were mornings when my kids, my sisters, and I piled on my parents' bed to watch the Olympics. Or the morning when they all watched Olympics and I slept in =) Some other highlights were yummy food, board games, and reminiscing over gifts given by my grandparents.

One day we drove over to see my sister Summer and her husband Dave's home for the first time. They treated us to dinner using their wedding china and new silver. But the highlight for me was watching Elise play with her uncles. They gave her rides in an armchair by spinning her round and round. Then they thought they should check if she was getting too dizzy before spinning her more. This lead to her trying to walk around the room, reeling like a drunken sailor, then clamoring back into the chair and begging for more.

Elise building a car out of blocks with Uncle Graham.

Zion playing the piano with Uncle Graham.

Elise and Zion playing in my parents' sandbox with Aunt Summer.

Elise quotes:

Elise, ready to climb on my legs for an airplane ride: "May I come aboard?"


Jeffrey, seeing Elise for the first time after our trip:

Jeffrey: "Elise, I heard you went on a big trip!"
Elise: "Yes!"
Jeffrey: "Where did you go?"
Elise: "The grocery store."
Jeffrey: "Um, yes. I heard you went on an airplane ride."
Elise: "Yes!"
Jeffrey: "Where did you fly to?"
Elise: "Um, here!"

We had gone to the grocery store that day, and our most recent flight was the flight home, but I don't think the conversation went as Jeffrey had planned.