We Made It

When we awoke the next morning, not only had Uncle Steven folded all of our laundry, he'd made us waffles.  The girls were in heaven--waffles with strawberries and ice cream. So delicious!  Then I made bacon sandwiches from the leftover bacon and packed the leftover potato salad and homemade chocolate chip cookies (thank you Uncle Steven!), plus an array of driving snacks they had bought for us at Sam's Club.  I have to admit, we were flagging a little bit after Rosalie's hospital visit.  It felt so wonderful to be fed and loved up before setting out again.

Eating waffles in the high chairs at the counter while
watching the birds outside the kitchen window.

Aunt Linda had the girls bring out all of the singing and
dancing toys. It was like baby Disneyland!

Had to get a picture in our 4th of July
finery - Aunt Linda bought the skirts
and bows for the girls.

Nourished and energized, we hit the road for Kentucky with a brief stop in Newburgh, Indiana to see Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Lloyd. Aunt Carolyn is Arthur's dad's sister.  She just had hip replacement surgery, but still was game for a quick visit from the family. She had these nifty string-along lacing kits that Jane and Grace played with while we visited. They also plied the girls with cookies and milk while we caught up for about an hour. They are some of the sweetest people and so good-natured about little girls who've been sitting in the car too long.

Next stop - Grandma Jarboe's! We made Kentucky about four o'clock and were warmly greeted by Grandma and Aunt Pam. The girls are over the moon.  Grandma Jarboe is as wonderful as Arthur has been telling them for years (of course!) and Aunt Pam has been doting on them and playing with them and teaching them all sorts of new tricks.

Rosalie sporting the beautiful hat that SarahRose crocheted.

Then, just when we thought the day couldn't get any better, Aunt Clarissa and SarahRose (and Emily, SarahRose's good friend) pulled up.  Now the party started!  SarahRose had crocheted a beautiful hat for Rosalie and headbands for Jane and Grace. What an awesome cousin! Throughout the evening, she and Emily proceeded to entertain, soothe, and otherwise keep the girls occupied while Arthur and I got to look at old photograph albums and hear Grandma's stories.

Grandma had made us homemade chicken pot pie and boy, was it delicious.  Arthur pulled out the leaves of the table and all ten of us gathered around the table, said grace, and dug in.

Grandma telling stories and Emily holding Rosalie.

Grace has been running up and putting her head
in Grandma's lap or giving her random hugs. She's
a drive-by lover.

More pictures to come tomorrow.  We were so busy soaking in the warmth of this family that we didn't stop to take as many photos as I would have liked. But, I think the girls will always remember sitting around Grandma Jarboe's dinner table.  I think this was Grace's first encounter with chicken pot pie (so, of course, she embarrasses me by refusing to eat it) but the more she ate the more she thought that it was pretty tasty. And then having two grown-up girls giving her bites and Aunt Pam cheering her on, she did pretty good. The fact that there was homemade applesauce and cookies for dessert didn't hurt either.  Jane wants the recipes!

There may not have been fireworks (the girls are terrified of them anyway), but this was the most memorable 4th of July we've ever had! We feel very blessed.