a week of guests

We've had a busy week in our house with birthdays and 

out-of town visitors! 

I have tons of pictures to share ..... so be warned :)

Toby's buddy Miles, from San Diego, was so sad when we left last summer.

His mom says that he claims Toby is his best friend, and so desperately missed him, 

 that they decided to take their summer vacation to the great northwest.

.... Especially so they could come see Toby! 

How sweet is that???

 They got to visit our church last Sunday, and spend the rest

of the day and night with us....

That afternoon we took them around town,

showing off some of our beautiful, local parks.

 The kids of course had a grand time collecting rocks...

 We came back home to celebrate four summer birthdays...

Toby's, Whit's, Miles', and Drew's.

The picture in yesterday's "moment" was taken during the 

mini-party! We sure had lots of candles, didn't we? 

The boys had to break away from this.....

:: lots of sillyness, water-guns, yelling, and just rough boyishness ::

....for some ice-cream cake :)

 Miles' family spent the night and then left Monday for more sight-seeing. 

We had other friends (the pastor's best-man in our wedding) come into town Tuesday.

They just spent the day, but it was sweet to meet their three children! 

Wednesday we hit the local children's imagination museum for Whit's b-day

and went out to dinner celebrating both her and Drew (whose special day is tomorrow)

Thursday, the pastor's family came down to share in the b-day celebration

and to pick up another dear family friend who was coming to visit

from New Jersey.... I told you, lots of visitors!! 

Friday, I took four of the kids downtown, to see Miles' family once again

before they left town. We walked from their hotel to this COOL fountain.....

which was choreographed to music. It was FABULOUS!

 The kids could have played for hours. 

It cracked me up, how when we first arrived it was overcast and chilly....

(not many were venturing too close to the water... see Drew on the far right

in the picture below? There was a loose toy someone had left close to the center

of the fountain. When the spray got low enough, he was able to run in and get it!

At certain points, the music would stop and so would the fountain!)

..... and after a bit, we went inside for a quick "rest-stop", and came out to this:

breaking clouds and all of a sudden a blue sky.

CRAZY!!!

The people came out of the wood-work, and soon the whole area

was filled with kids playing in the fountain.... bathing suits and all!  

Definitely a fun place to take visitors....and now I know how to get there!!

 There is SO MUCH of our city that we need to explore.

Miles' mom suggested we just take a "stay-home" vacation one week

so we can hit all these sights. I think she might be right!! 

This music museum and maze out front was right in the same park:

Sweet friends, and sweet times to remember. 

Thank you Lord.