The Cooks come to visit

Kelly, Dustin and Abbey came to visit and check out our new house. We get so used to seeing them most weekends all summer that it's strange when we go months without getting together. It was a fast weekend, but we had a great time hanging out and watching the kids play. Saturday night after putting the kids in bed, we bypassed our typical night at the lake activities (watching tv and napping on the couch) to read aloud bits from a childrearing book I'd bought and laugh. Scintillating stuff. But some of the suggestions to common problems were so unrealistic they were comical. One of my personal favorites? The parent decides when bedtime is. Yes, that's true, but you can't force a kid to fall asleep. Bedtime is all well and good, but bedtime does not equal sleep time. In fact, it usually causes wailing and gnashing of teeth.

This is the best picture we got of the three kids.

Saturday morning, Kelly and I took the kids to a playground while Ed and Dustin went to check out the brewery. Both Thomas and Abbey got in with some bigger kids and were doing up and down loops on the stairs and slide.

 The two little kids on the swings

TJ using an excavator

We met the guys at Bell's for lunch. It was a bit hectic with 3 little ones! Dustin ordered a flight of beers, which we all helped drink. I love how flights look!

 Abbey and Thomas relived their babyhood by trying out some of Jojo's things.

Jojo launched himself over the chair, taking a tumble. He keeps trying this move to get into the bathtub, too, but fortunately, he hasn't had success yet.

Later that day we took the kids out for a walk in 3 strollers. Look closely--you'll see Abbey and Thomas in the jogger. Abbey was done with her stroller, so we doubled them up. Probably closer than Dustin is comfortable with--he's very protective of his little Abbey around potential future boyfriend Thomas!