OFS, part 3...Rachel and Nicole reunion!

Rachel and her 5 kids and Nicole and her 4 kids drove up from Rochester (Nicole was visiting the midwest from Cincinatti at the same time which was perfect!) to visit us for the day on Monday. 

Kaia meeting the girls again. 

Charlie running to Addison to say hi....I was tearing up watching this! 

on to the beach to play despite it being a bit overcast. I loved watching these kids quickly assemble into a line - they are definitely all used to taking turns! 

Rachel's youngest - Leif - was the most frustrated by the sand. 

Charlie - Thor - Addison

full beach

 I wanted to snap a photo of these 3 - they were our firsts and we did our first music classes together. They were afraid to touch here. Ha.

I asked them to get a bit closer....they all giggled. 

Bubba put on the full lunch!

Kate - Nicole's youngest. 

Ellie

Brita - Rachel's third. 

goofy faces! 

We had 3 - 9 year olds, 4 - 7 year olds, 2 - 5 year olds, 2 - 3 year olds and 1 - 1 year old! 

Lars, Claire, Eleanore, Kate, Leif, Kaia, Evelyn, Brita, Cayden (behind Ellie), Addison, Charlie & Thor 

on the boat ride over to Selmas!  

Thor and Claire! 

Oh how I love these girls! I spend hours on Marco Polo with them or directly chatting on the phone. I miss living day to day life with them in person, but thankful for technology that allows us to be deeply involved despite the distance. 

cayden jumping off the boat

Brita loving on Charlie again.

I am so thankful these 2 still cherish the time they get together! I remember laying them on an activity mat together when they were babies and praying they would be buddies. 

Cayden and Thor added.

Another of the trio! 

The girl line up. 

Kate, Brita, Evelyn, Ellie, Claire, Kaia

saying goodbye -- it is never enough time!  

Forgot to include the final best picture of the cousins!  

Bubba and Charlie on our way to a beach adventure. 

throwing minnows to the big carp. 

I love how Ellie catches and holds bugs by their wings. 

Loved finding these new beaches on the St Croix to explore this summer. 

Nicole, Addison & Kate Visit Spokane

Nicole flew to Spokane with Addison (her oldest) and Kate (her youngest) on Friday night from Nashville. It was a WONDERFUL gift that she gave me coming all this way and it was a dream to just spend time with a dear friend (and watch our kids play!).

Charlie and Addison seeing each other on early Saturday morning.

this is the worst pic of charlie, but have to include it.

Bill hanging with Kate.

she is the best baby!

Julia came to Charlie’s soccer game to see Nicole and we then went to Rockwood Bakery to have a coffee and home.

Nicole and Julia.

Bill was kind and took the Boys to this horrible Jurassic Quest event. Was supposed to be cool, but was a money pit. Nicole and I took Kate and went to Riverfront Park and walked and then to Manito gardens and saw some beautiful flowers.

 

Then we went to Comstock and had the kids play. My car decided to break – fuel pump went out. So I almost cried. But our friends Kelley and Tyler saved the day and let me use their brand new Yukon XL for 2 days to haul everyone around.

Charlie and Addison reading in bed. It was so sweet to watch these two.

Ellie and Kate.

She was a dream.

The girls thought she was a doll.

me and Nicole before church on Sunday.

after church we drove to CDA. It was gorgeous and the kids were instantly in the water. (if you remember we were in the water on March 7th this past year as well!)

incoming plane!

Bill crashed out.

these two were in heaven.

me and claire – how big she is getting!

What a sweet picture!

born 7 days apart.

Ellie, Addison, Charlie, Claire

more doll playing.

Ellie and Addison.

Claire and Kate

Addison and Ellie doing pushups.

claire wanted a picture with her holding kate standing.

finishing up homework monday night!

playing with dolls while kate slept in the background.

saying goodbyes before bedtime Monday night.

a few last moments of lego playing before they headed off to bed.

silly picture.

LOVE! what a precious relationship these boys have. I pray it continues for years to come.

they wanted to end our trip with pictures of their creations.

Tuesday morning – at 3:30am – I drove them to the airport and said goodbye until next time. I am committed to flying to her family with Charlie where ever they end up moving in June. Nicole’s friendship is a gift from God and I am so very thankful for her filling up my cup. I needed her fellowship, chats and laughs.  We Love you Dufendachs! Can’t wait until we see you again!