Sweet Friends!!!

Last Friday night about 9:00, our sweet friends the Murphys pulled into our driveway! We couldn't have been more excited! Deanna and I have been planning this visit since we moved from Indy, so I was THRILLED to see them!

Carter had been talking about Connor coming to visit ALL. WEEK. LONG., but he had already gone to bed by the time they made it here. We went upstairs to show Connor his bed and walked into Carter's room, and he woke up and immediately his face lit up and he said "Connor!" and jumped out of bed. It was absolutely precious! They played for another hour and a half or so and then went to bed, and the adults visited and got to catch up.

Saturday morning, we headed down to Orange Beach to stay at my parents' house for four days. {Thanks to Mom & Dad for having us all!} Although the oil had the gulf closed to swimming, we were not lacking for things to do.

The boys swam. and swam. and swam. The big boys played golf. And Deanna and I delighted in our little ones and LOVED spending time together. Honestly, the boys played wonderfully together! They had their moments {I mean, they are two, after all}, but in general, they shared well, they took turns and they enjoyed being together. It was delightful to watch them.

Connor and Carter swimming in the pool

Picnic lunches after swimming are great fun!

One day after swimming the boys got to enjoy a popsicle snack

Although we couldn't get in the water, we did venture to the beach one afternoon. The boys enjoyed playing in the sand. I couldn't get over how EMPTY the public beach was. There were probably fewer than six "groups" of folks out on the beach. Admittedly, it was late in the afternoon, but it is also mid-June. It really showed me the impact that the spill is having down there.

Callen was having fun in the sand, too

We took the boys out dinner one night...and they were exceptionally well-behaved.

It helped that there was a woman playing guitar {and, unfortunately, fewer patrons than usual due to the oil} who loved that the children were having a dance party while she sang.

They also got to enjoy story time with the Daddies.

And, before bed, while Connor was doing his breathing treatment, he and Carter watched Diego. What precious friends they are.

As I reviewed my pictures tonight, I could hardly believe that I had taken so few {and none of all of the adults together!}. Honestly, I think I was trying to soak in all of the Murphys that I could get, and while I took some pictures, I was focused on just enjoying our time together. We definitely miss all of our sweet friends in Indy, and we are so blessed to have gotten to visit with the Murphys this week! Before we know it, it will be our turn to travel back to Indy to visit after the newest Murphy makes her appearance this fall!