Catching Up

November was a busy month with all the visitors we had. Soon after my mom left and the two hockey games in-between the visits our friends from Southern Ontario came to visit us. They arrived on the Wednesday before American Thanksgiving (in Canada we refer to it as American to distinguish from Canadian Thanksgiving in October). We were so excited to have them come down to see us!

Jari, Carol & Katarina 

The night they arrived it was hot and humid. We quickly headed over to their hotel with supper. After supper we spent the evening  hanging out at the hot-tub. Not a bad place to be. The kids loved having a big pool, instead of the ocean, to swim in. They swam for hours that first night. It gave us adults a lot of time for talking. Amy was thrilled to have her friend Katarina to hang out with instead of her brothers.

The next day was Thanksgiving and we had a full day planned. It was nice to have extra hands to help make Thanksgiving dinner. We went to the beach for the afternoon as it was hot. It was so strange to be on the beach on Thanksgiving Day. After the beach we came home and finished getting dinner ready. We were all so hungry from being at the beach either walking up and down the shore, swimming or just being in the fresh air. Once dinner was cleaned up we played games. It was nice to relax and visit with our friends. The girls kept to themselves, while Brandon played with us and Ethan watched a movie.

Jari, Carol, Me & Keith 

On Black Friday the adults headed out shopping. We haven't been around much for black Friday deals, so we were all curious as to what we would find. Unfortunately we didn't find much. We saw a few things, but nothing that spectacular. We didn't leave our home until around 9 or so. We could have missed everything. After shopping we ended up going to Jari and Carol's hotel and hanging out there for the evening. Again, it was great to relax by the ocean, hot tub and pool. Ethan got to fly his kite on the beach, so that was fun for him.

Amy was able to spend the night with Katarina. On Saturday they went to Clearwater Marina Aquarium where Winter, the dolphin lives. We had been there back in October, so we didn't join them. Afterwards we just hung out. We tried to meet up at the beach, but we missed each other, which way okay. We hung out for the evening at their place until late at night like we used to do when we were newly married and didn't have kids.

Katarina and Amy - outside our church. 

Sunday came too soon and they had to leave after church. It was wonderful having them come down here for a visit. Our time, as usual, wasn't long enough :( . We loved being able to show them our home away from home, talk with them and have them really listen to us, Listen to them share, playing cards, hanging out, eating together and just being with one another. Rarely in life do you find friends that stick together for so long. Carol was my first friend I made when I moved to Canada all those years ago. We only lived in the same city for 3 years, but that hasn't stopped a wonderful friendship that has spanned many years and the different stages of life.

Carol & Me

Thanks for taking the time to visit. Jari, Carol and Katarina!  MJ we missed having you here. Thank you for keeping Winston company while your family was down here.