Vacation time! Day 5!

In the morning, there was some relaxing outside.

What are they all looking at?

Kirsten on her phone?

No - must be Leighton, the Mad Libs master!

We went on a return trip to Jerrel's property.  We went back to the 'house' and 'seesaw' and also walked down another path we hadn't been on yet.

We also checked in on the bridge the kids had made over the creek.

In the heat of the day we walked down Grandma and Papa's driveway and then up the hill to Bair's.  He had an amazing garden and had offered up some lettuce, so we went to pick.

We also checked out the giant sunflowers.

He graciously offered for the kids to pick carrots, too.  They were VERY pleased about that.

And he brought some baskets so the kids could pick some raspberries for snacking.

I spotted some golden raspberry canes and knew that Leighton was going to be in heaven.  I'm sure he'd say it was one of the highlights of the trip for him - to actually get to pick his own golden raspberries!

And Bair let Riley choose flowers from all over the gardens so he could cut them and make her a bouquet.

It was a successful garden adventure!

As we were walking back home, we heard a car driving up to Grandma and Papa's and knew it must be John and Anna and Elise!  We were SO excited that they were not only going to be 4 hours away at the same time I was at my parents' but that they were excited to drive over to see us!  We haven't seen them in a year, since the days before they moved away from Houston to Sweden.

It takes a while to walk down and up driveways there, so by the time we got to the house, they were already settled in visiting with Roy and Papa and having a beer!  A few minutes later, John was up looking out the window and spotted a bear right on the edge of the woods near the picnic table and front porch.  The kids were excited - and happily went out on the porch to see.  It amazes me that they get paralyzed by fear of even tiny dogs, but have no issues being only a set of stairs and a piece of grass away from a wild black bear!

Since we figured it might not be the best day to play in the yard, we took John, Anna, and Elise down to the beach before dinner.

After dinner, there was some cousin technology time.

And some baseball playing.  This photo totally cracks me up because I have no idea what was going on, but it's like both John and Leighton are disgusted at a call the umpire made or something!!!

All back to smiles on the field!

Elise the little cheerleader.

The kids also showed John and Anna their bridge.  It just keeps growing!

Before they headed out, we gave Elise on of my Mom's famous taggie blankets.

And then we got some group photos.  Without me in them.  Why didn't I take a minute to grab someone to take the pictures for me?!?!

To end the night, Riley and Daddy had some goofy kissing time, as well.