The Pleasure of Our Company

We finally had some company.

Britta/Austin and Taylor/Lynnea have been to visit a couple times over the past year, and of course I consider them {company} - sort of (enough to wash sheets and towels and clean the house a bit). But it's been a while since anyone other than immediate family has been by. Bill's parents came for a day or two when he was called as a Bishop, but it wasn't really a relax-and-have-fun visit. We had all kinds of company when Taylor and Lynnea got married, but I'm not even sure who was here and if they even got breakfast, so it doesn't count.

So Bill's parents came (per our suggestion) just to hang out with the fam. They were here for ALMOST a whole week, overlapping some of the time Taylor and Lynnea were here too.
Double bonus.

There are lots of great things about having company, but a few of my favorites include
1) a clean house - at least for the first few days
2) someone to chat and play games with morning, noon and night
3) a menu plan - I can't get myself to get it together unless it's critical to have well balanced meals with enough to feed a large group
4) doing those {special} activities that we don't usually do unless we have company (which doesn't include things like family-yard-and-garden day, clean-the-bathroom day, or laundry day).

Like bowling.

This was our jumping picture. Shi and I were the only ones actually in the air (good timing, Shi!), and Lex wasn't going to jump, so she did a token Jack move and lifted her leg (caught you, Lex!). I seriously doubt Grandma and Grandpa were going to attempt a jump either.

I've decided that bowling just makes you happy.
(I'm so happy I'm still jumping.)

Another day we went to the park. Wash Park. (Last time I was there was way back HERE)

Bill has never been, evidenced by the scenic route we took to get there.

Then my MIL "accidentally" electrocuted me, but that's a story for another time.

(wink, wink)

It was HOT, so once we found a shady spot, we set a spell.

Then we decided to go out on the pond.

Here's a 2-second video, courtesy of a shore-sitter. Enjoy!

Grandpa was just trying to fake out Grandma, watching on the shore.

Even though the clouds helped to cool the heat, all that pedaling-while-sitting-on-plastic-wearing-life-vests got us pretty hot and sweaty.

We headed back to our shady spot and ate lunch while we people-watched.

Our favorite was a guy in dreads that was apparently either washing up or cooling down in the stream nearby. With his dog.

Some of the more energetic in the group played some frisbee. 

Before heading out, I couldn't resist taking a picture of Mar in the same place I took one three years ago.

(circa 2010)

In all, it was a great time.

We ate (alot), we shopped (alot), we stayed up late (alot), we watched movies (alot), and we played games (alot).

Just before heading home, a final round of Aggro was played. Grandma and Lex had wiped the floor with the competition in an earlier game, so this was the last chance to get even.

Grandma and Lex v Grandpa and Mar

The WINNERS:

The Losers:

It was so fun to have company here!

Thank you for coming!

Y'all come back now, ya hear?