Part Deux. . A Visit With The Hartys

So we arrive at Bethany's around 3:30pm and everyone gets and gives hugs. . we get the car unloaded. . and we start our visit. Bethany had a bbq planned for that first night, and needed to run a couple of errands first. . so Madi and I went with. . talk about HOT!!! Mercy, sitting in the back seat with all the windows down and the hot air blasting in on ya. . I'm too old for that kind of treatment!! hahaha It got later by the minute. . bbq time was getting closer way too fast. Beth texted her friends and gave them a new later time, and we finished up and headed home. Dogs, burgers, corn, salad. . Andrea's family, Lee's family and Leslie's family. Bethany has some nice friends. .we chatted with Andrea till she had to leave. . for good...to Idaho then Ft. Jackson. We talked religion with Leslie for over an hour after that. . she's pretty funny. Then we all hit the hay for the night. Still sleeping with babies. . still all good.

Thursday and Friday we went to lunch with Beth and then hit the pool. Lunch was too hot for me, sitting outside in that heat. . I didn't enjoy that part. But I loved the pool time. . sitting in the kiddy pool with Lily and Ella was right up my alley. Got a little burned first day. . not as bad as Madi..altho its still red now. . so maybe it was. We ate out for lunch a couple of times with all the children in A/C Burger Kings. . dinner out a couple of times with just the grown ups. . that was nice. .and uneventful! ha. . We watched children play on the slip and slid, the swing set, we went to the movie one night ( Madi and I and Jake took Lily home tho, she didnt do well at that. . and we watched our own movie)we went to the PX to see what was cool. . WalMart one time in the 100+ weather. . when most of Mexico was there too!! MERCY, that was insane. . but Steven needed church pants. Note to self, next time, send Beth alone!! haha. We attended church with everyone..it was a good meeting. Youth sang to us in third hour. . great group of young people. Jake has some good examples there. . little girls went to nursery. . Madi loved that!

Ella took to calling Bethany Miss Bethany( from her preschool attendance) and we found out that military protocol is to refer to adults by children by Miss and Mr. Who knew!!!! So she was fitting right in. . Miss Bethany and Mr. Brent. . too cool. And when she can't remember Beth's name, she calls her friend!! Just like she did to the neighbor kids here. HA Lily and Ella both were readily accepted by Bethany's children. . kinda like puppies. . everyone wanted to play with them, hold them, sit by them. . which was really nice. The girls have just slipped into the family and are riding in whichever car had room. . sitting where there was empty seats at dinner and for tv watching. . thanks kids!

Thomas was so gracious to us, always asking if we needed a soda or a drink of something. He was always telling us he loved us. . what a sweetheart. Jacob was willing to do whatever task we asked of him. . helping with the baby and giving us directions to get where we needed to be. . he's growing up . . Eme was sooo helpful with girl things, holding hands, letting Ella be her friend. . and the little boys are letting Ella boss them around. . and she is!

We had a nice visit and Sunday afternoon came pretty quickly for me. . Jake and Bethany took us to the airport. . I wanted to bring Lily home in the suitcase, and once, Madi offered that. . but I think she would have wanted her back sooner than later. . .what a total sweetface she is. I"m in need of a baby fix already. . and it's a long time till Christmas. . mercy.

Thanks to Bethany and Brent for their hospitality, to Joseph and Madi for letting us help move them..it was an adventure for sure.