A Long Layover... that we LOVED!

On Saturday, February 18th, my Dad stopped in Chicago on an extended layover so he could visit us over the holiday weekend!

He came bearing MANY gifts to spoil us with, including hotel shampoos and lotions, balloons, beads, puzzles, hatching dinosaur eggs, glowing masks, buckets of candy, and multiple coloring books! Lily especially liked the beads and balloons and kept herself busy for hours stringing the beads on pipe cleaners and chasing the balloons around our living room.

Brooklyn, on the other hand, had been waiting for a month for Grandpa Uda to come and teach her how to use the rock painting kit that Grandma Hanks gave her for her birthday. She stuffed her cheeks with the candy grandpa brought, and then wasted no time in persuading him to sit and paint with her.

On Sunday, we went to church and then came home to some good naps and a dinner with our friends the McConkies. After the McConkies headed for home, Brooklyn convinced Grandpa to sit and color with her again.

She drew him a picture of a mermaid, while he drew a picture of her favorite Pegasus/Unicorn. As you can tell, she was tickled pink over the amazing resemblance. (Which she should have been since she sat and nagged grandpa about every detail while he was drawing it!)

Monday morning soon rolled around and we woke up to a dance party! Despite his bad back, grandpa couldn't resist Brooklyn's invitation to dance with her when she said, "Do you want to come play with me Grandpa? We can dance your wrinkles out!"

And by the time they were finished dancing, I think he may have actually lost a few wrinkles... as well as his breath!

 

After dancing , we got dressed and drove over to Ty Warner Park. It was deceptively cold with the humidity and wind chill, but that didn't stop the girls from enjoying all the playground toys with their grandpa.

Their favorite part was when grandpa pushed them on the swings. If you look close, you can see the pure joy on their faces!

Soon we were chilled to the bone, so we packed up the kids and drove over to Costco to pick up a few treats and enjoy a quick meal. Lily was being pretty ornery by then and didn't enjoy the pizza we gave her for lunch, or our very presence in her midst for that matter.

 

But Brooklyn was in HEAVEN and enjoyed every last bite of her cheesy treat!

When we were done eating, the girls went down for a nap and me and my dad watched the Hulk and enjoyed some one-on-one time. Then Kevin got home from work, we ate dinner, had FHE, put the girlies to bed, and watched the movie Abduction before heading to bed ourselves.

Anyway, my dad had to leave early this morning and get back to work. I was very sad to see him go but SO grateful that his boss allowed him to extend his layover to come see us. After he drove off for the airport, I wanted to sit around and mope for the rest of the day, but then I remembered... my mom will be here tomorrow to spend 10 days with us! WOOHOO! We are truly blessed to have so much family and so many friends who have been willing and able to come visit us out in Chicago land. Thanks to all of you who have made the effort. We enjoy every second we get to spend with you.