A spectator sport

We were honored to have our first guests break in the basement guest "quarters" in the new house when "Becca/Sara Kate" (and now joined by "Baby Sister," also known as Elisabeth) from Houston came for a few days last week. Annie needed the familiar faces and, frankly, so did I. But with 2 toddlers and an infant ruling the roost, Rebecca and I realized quickly that we were merely chaperones to this reunion. At almost three, Annie and Sara Kate are truly a force to be reckoned with, but in a good way. We had a blast (although Roscoe and Mason may never be the same). We went to the zoo, parks, breakfast, lunch, made play-do and brownies. What could be better? Well, Annie didn't nap the entire time, so I guess THAT could have been better, but she held her own and I think she was just so excited she didn't want to miss a minute.

The above video gives you a hint of the effect these two have on each other. Prior to Sara Kate's visit, Annie wouldn't go down a slide to save her life. She was traumatized by a visit to a bouncy playground with her father--at Christmas, LAST YEAR--and still had yet to recover. And, I'm told, Sara Kate wasn't so much of a climber until she encountered our simian daughter launching herself up the slide on all fours. Ah, the power of friendship. And, if you're worried about the shaky ending of the video, don't worry, Annie made it down the stairs just fine, although I have a few more gray hairs than I did prior to their acrobatics.

Baby Elisabeth should not be forgotten in this post. She celebrated her half-birthday while visiting, and, at 6 months, this kid is already a heart breaker. Annie was certainly smitten. I'm hoping that it's babies in general she has an affinity for and not just Elisabeth, given the pending sibling. It was very sweet to witness her sometimes overly enthusiastic love for this baby. (I'm sure the bruises are healing fine.) All in all, it was a great visit and we were sad to see them go. Roscoe and Mason, on the other hand, probably are a little bit glad there is again only one kid running after them. Well, at least, for now.