Toads-in-the-Hole

As all in Toadsland might be quick to guess, Marmee, D, and Erin are vacationing with us and have brought with them scads of smiles, plenty of that can-do spirit (e.g., our garden is weeded, the lawn is mowed, and the screen doors fixed), determination to puzzle through our newly acquired Nintendo DS games, and lots of snuggles for the wee ones. Still they're technically on vacation, so we're trying to spice up all the housework and parenting with little day trips, good food, good booze, and hearty laughs. Today, for example, after a tranquil sojourn to Amana for the express purpose of buying some homemade jam and old-fashioned saltwater taffy, everyone is presently tucked into a pretty serious game of Yahtzee. Last night, we stayed up too late after a decadent birthday supper for Big D laughing hysterically at Joel's cool find of the day (It's a good thing our second year resident is finding time to help the helpless at work).

But we always love it when people come from far and wide to visit, there's something about these guys that makes everyone's face light up.

I am positively, absolutely thankful that the Grands are here this week, especially to weather the storm of Adelaide's First Swimming Lessons. On Monday things started out serendipitously enough when we met one of Adelaide's schoolmates, Helenipa, at the pool, signed up for the same swimming lessons as Adelaide!

Just minutes after that happy photo was snapped, Adelaide realized that she was to go into the pool alone. Despite the presence of her friend, Adelaide seemed so upset that not a single one of her familial supporters was going to join her in the water. Her nerve was tested all week long as she was overwhelmed by her sudden singularness, but eventually the fun of bobbing up and down, leaping from the side, and blowing bubbles won her over. We're still working on that whole dunking-under idea.