Fun with friends

This past weekend was a busy, but fun-filled weekend with some special friends who came to visit. On Thursday the Adkins' family arrived from Ohio. Ron, Jan, Ronnie, Nathaniel, Eli, and Maddie all came to visit and we had a blast. Emily loved the extra friends to play with and we enjoyed catching up with Ron and Jan, too. Ron was one of Viktor's professors in undergrad and also performed our wedding ceremony. And Jan has been a wonderful friend of mine since I met her years ago when they did our premarital counseling. I love that she is an experienced mama (of 3 boys and 1 girl!) who I can always turn to for advice and/or support...even with many miles in between! They all piled into our living room and had a big family slumber party. I was amazed they all fit!! :) You can check out Jan's BLOG for more pics!

On Friday the Ban family came to visit on their way to Myrtle Beach. They wanted to stop in and help us celebrate Emily's birthday (a week early) and congratulate Viktor on passing his citizenship interview/exam. Though we had a brief visit with them we enjoyed some play time and a yummy dinner at Buddy's and dessert at Orange Leaf! We also managed to watch Breaking Away (based on and filmed in our home town). Very fun!

Enjoy the pics below of our time together!

Emily helping me clean to get ready for our guests...I was in the kitchen and turned around to find that she had put everything up on the chair and rolled up the rug. She is a cleaning pro!

I managed to get a picture of all 5 kids in Emily's room Friday morning. It was cracking me up. Ronnie and Nathaniel were busy playing soccer, Emily was trying on shoes, Eli was playing with a jewelry box, and Maddie was vacuuming away.

Our attempt to get a group shot didn't go over so well...it was so bright!

Emily loved Nathaniel and he was so sweet to her. Such sweet friends.

Adorable family! Thanks for coming to see us. We are so blessed by your friendship!

On Friday afternoon the Ban's arrived...along with a few fun gifts for Emily. Here are Oscar and Viktor attempting to put the new basketball hoop together. Emily loves it!

They also gave her the book Llama Llama Red Pajama and a Llama stuffed animal. They didn't know that this has become Emily's favorite book from the library. Now she has her very own copy!

Mae was so sweet to hand down her My Little Pony set.

I love these kids...Oscar, Brick, and Mae...on our way to dinner.

Reading bedtime stories together. Sadly they had to be on the road by 5am Saturday so Emily missed saying goodbye. She was quite confused when she woke up to an empty house. Thanks for stopping by, we love you all!

On Sunday we joined the Bevils, Schirmers (Missy's parents visiting from Louisiana), Stouts, and Thimons for Gumbo night! It was so yummy and we had a blast. Ms. Susan and Mr. Jerry gave Emily a Melissa and Doug Cookie set for her birthday and she has loved playing with it. Here she is the next morning baking away.

What a great weekend! And, now, we are busy celebrating Emily's Birthday week...more on that later!