Grandpops and Grandma Jan Visit!

We were thrilled to have David and Jan come down to visit from Chicago yesterday and today. David had some business here in Atlanta that he took care of, but then Jan flew down to join him so they could both visit with us. We had a great time together!

Ryan picked Jan up from the hotel early Thursday afternoon and brought her to the house. She was able to hold and play with Mia for a little bit before Mia's nap. We then had a chance to catch up before Lily woke up. Even though she had been talking all day about getting a visit from Grandpops and Grandma Jan, Lily was shy around Jan for the first little while after she came out of her room from her nap. A few minutes after she woke up, David arrived from his meeting. The four of us talked for a little while before Lily started to warm up.

Lily and I went outside to play while Jan fed Mia. When the bottle was gone, they joined us outside. Lily had a great time showing Grandma Jan her playground, demonstrating how well she jumps, singing her ABC song and bringing her flowers. When we got back inside, David was playing on Ryan's guitar. He started playing some familiar tunes, but then he made up songs for Lily. She was hooked after he sang a song about Dusty, her beloved rocking horse. She took the guitar and started "playing" her own songs...we each received our own special song written by Lily. She cracked me up too because after a few songs, she had her "big finish." She would throw her right hand up behind her and lean back a little as if expecting (and she received) a big round of applause! Here's a picture of her enjoying her new hobby.


After this we all enjoyed a delicious dinner at Zucca's, and then David and Jan returned to their hotel on the promise of seeing us tomorrow.

Lily was very excited this morning when we reminded her she would get to see Grandpops and Grandma Jan again today. She was even more excited when we told her we were all going to the Children's Museum. She loves that museum! We picked David and Jan up at the hotel and arrived shortly after the museum opened. I'm amazed that each time we go, Lily picks a different area to really concentrate on. Today, she was fascinated with fishing. I have to say too, she was awfully cute in the little yellow jacket rain jacket the museum supplies for the kids to wear. She wanted to fish a lot of the time we were there, but she also enjoyed playing in the market, "driving" the tractor and cranes, playing with the plastic balls in the water, running through the tree house and building a sand castle. They had changed their Bob the Builder construction exhibit to a cute fairy-tale exhibit. Lily had fun making horseshoes, putting together the magnetic puzzle and growing onions, carrots and garlic in the garden in this area. Here are some pictures from our 2.5 hours there...

Filling up her shopping cart...

and her shopping basket.
Driving the construction crane.

Hammering out the horseshoe.

Putting the shoe onto the horse.
Grandpops and Grandma Jan had fun spending time with Mia too.

Building a sandcastle with moon sand.

Coming down the tree house slide.

Mastering the rope ladder.

Running across the tree house bridge.

Grandpops enjoyed holding Mia.

Grandma Jan shares her fishing secrets with Lily.

Go fish!

With one of her many catches of the day!

After seeing how much fun Lily had with Ryan's guitar the night before, David and Jan asked if we could go to Toys R Us to get Lily a little guitar. So after a wonderfully fun time at the museum, we told Lily it was time to go because we were going to a special toy store. She and Mia both caught much needed mini-naps in the car until we got to the store. We found the cutest little guitar for her to play; it's red with hibiscus flowers and "Aloha!" on it. Lily loves it and calls it her "gar." She was also thrilled to get a pink Princess umbrella (or "underbrella" as she says). She has been carrying it around all afternoon, opening and closing it, and telling me its raining so she needs her "underbrella." After watching Lily have fun in the market and kitchen at the museum, Jan wanted to get her something to add to her kitchen at home. We found some cute little pink pots and tea kettle plus a kit filled with lots of different fruits, veggies, snack foods, cans and boxes. Another great find that Lily loves is a little drink thermos with a strap so she can wear it around her neck. We got a pink one that says "Lily" on it, and I was very excited to get a green one with "Mia" on it. It was very generous of David and Jan to get all these toys for Lily. I know she is going to have lots of fun with them. The best gift was getting to spend some great time with David and Jan. We don't get to see them nearly enough!