Best Friends

My dear friend Emily, who currently resides in Okinawa, Japan, came to visit today.  We were roommates our sophomore year through student teaching/subbing at our time in St Paul.  We've gone our separate ways since then, but like all true friends, when we do see one another it is like nothing's changed.  Except this time, we have both added a child to the mix.  Emily drove down from Virginia, MN where she was visiting grandparents to spend an evening and a day with us in Ashland.  Emily arrived Monday evening with her three-year-old daughter Ayla and nine-month-old son Caleb.  I took a personal day on Tuesday and we spent the day playing and catching up.  Here are a few photos from the day. 

Lilly swinging for the first time at the park - she likes it!

Pulling themselves up on the post for the swings.  There was quite a bit of parallel play going on.  Only tears happened when Caleb poked Lilly in the eye, Lilly retaliated by trying to pull Caleb's curly hair.

Ayla and I dug out carrots and Caleb held it.

Walking to the park.  Ayla was fabulous and walked the entire way.  She also looked out for our safety by making us stop for the stop sign.  However, she was under the impression that it would tell us when to go, so we had to let her know that once we looked for cars, it was okay to walk.

The Peterson Halls playing at the park.  Caleb is sporting a hat that I knit for Ayla when she was born.

Caleb, Emily, Megan and Lilly at Lake Superior.  Ayla was swinging, letting the wind push her.