7QT Friday: Visitors, Anniversary, and Thankyous

Because all those things clearly go together right?

1. Breakfast guests

Last Saturday we had some dear friends (Chris' best man and his lovely wife) over for breakfast.  We broke out of the normal dinner guests, and it was a blast.  I made an egg casserole and a french toast casserole and Nic and Monica brought fruit and it was all yummy.  And then we just chatted and caught up on each other's lives and it was just wonderful.  

2. Thank Yous

(just a few photos of some of the sweet gifts we've received for little Kolbe)

I am slowly but surely working on actual thank yous to all the generous family members and friends who have poured love on us since Kolbe's birth.  We have received helpful household items, meals, diapers, wipes, and sweet little BOY clothes.  This is my official way of making sure that everyone gets thanked even if a thank you card somehow gets forgotten in the coming weeks.  We also had one sweet onesie ("Ladies, I have arrived!")  that came without a note, so we don't know who to thank.  So here is the blanket THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts in case we miss anyone.  You have all been so kind and supportive and generous as we transition to life with 5 kids.  

3. 8th Anniversary

We celebrated 8 years earlier this week, and for the second time in those 8 years we had babysitters on our actual anniversary.  Last year Chris' parents were in town and they watched the girls so we could go out and this year my parents were in town, so they watched the girls.  Kolbe was our third wheel/chaperone and what a sweet one.  He slept pretty much the entire time.   Chris found an amazing restaurant and we celebrated with delicious food and a wonderfully chosen bottle of wine. 

4. Nana and Granddaddy visit

 

My parents came into town for a few days to meet Kolbe.  Kayla, Elise, and Ava have been just about non-stop playing board games, reading books, and playing "hide the marble" around the house.  We've taken some lovely evening walks, gone to the nearby park and playground, and enjoyed s'mores at our fire pit tonight.  My mom helped out with cleaning and went shopping and picked up some helpful and useful household items for us.  The oldest 3 gals have gone to daily Mass with them each day and earlier today we all went to the library together to pick out new books.  My parents love reading as much as our kids do, so it was a pretty exciting excursion for everyone.  

5. Dinner guests

We invited the neighbor (who is recovering from a stroke) and her friend (who is visiting from New York) over for dinner yesterday.  It was so much fun and everyone had a really nice time.  My mom and our neighbor became fast friends and talked late into the night after we'd all gone to bed.  Kindred spirits, as Anne Shirley would put it.  

6. Ava's Early Birthday Celebration

Since my parents were here, and Ava rarely gets to celebrate her birthday with either set of grandparents, we decided to celebrate a little early.  Her 4th birthday is next Saturday, but we celebrated last night with my parents and Clare (our neighbor) and her friend (Carolyn).  Clare brought strawberry shortcake and we sang Happy Birthday, and Ava was in 7th heaven.  She told everyone excitedly the rest of the night that "I'm the BIRTHDAY girl!"

7. Four Weeks

Kolbe is 4 weeks old today, and we are loving his silly/cute faces, his amazing sleeping and napping abilities, and his hearty appetite.  He's a keeper.  ;)  

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