Spring fling, part 2: Charlotte

So we left Mark and Jill's on Tuesday and headed to Raleigh for a night with old friends the Dawkins. Fun to catch up! Thanks for letting us crash, Karen and Rob. The next day we met my good (really only) high school friend Mary Lee and her husband Nate for lunch. It had been a long time! Very glad we stopped.

Mary Lee and I met in 1971 when we were 16!

We arrived in Charlotte Wednesday afternoon. It's never an easing into the pool of life

at Dan & Jenny's ... it's a "you'd better be in your swimsuit 'cause you're gonna be jumping in the moment you arrive!" 

 

Ashlyn and Ari worked a puzzle with Popsy.

 

Noah is a doll! He really took to Bill, especially the night we watched all 3 kids.

 

Ari was pushing through the sniffles but we had fun anyway. She is fascinated by everyone and everything around her. We should all embrace life as this delightful four year old does!

 On Saturday we packed off to the National Whitewater Center in Charlotte.
What a cool place! Man-made whitewater "rivers" let people raft and kayak.
We had fun watching ... and the girls enjoyed demos of clever dogs and raptors. (Birds of prey.)

 

 Look at these girls: sitting on the laps of teenagers they just met!

 

 Dan and Jenny asked me to do a family photo shoot which, I'm learning, is no
simple matter with three young kids. We stepped into the woods behind
their house and snapped away!

Ashlyn preferred to dig for bugs.
 

 

Mama love: Jenny and Noah.

 



 Maybe the best part of these visits is seeing our children as parents.

There is growth. Struggle. Frustration. Intense work. Joy.

A deep, deep love for each other and their children.

So proud of you all!

(And thanks for putting up with the 'rents!)