Birthdays and Surprise Visits

This weekend took off with a bang and kept us running until just now!  It has been a weekend that has left my heart full and content.

Saturday was J's birthday so I decided to keep his birthday quiet and not make it a big deal but still make it special.  So I was ecstatic to find out that Slide the City would be near us for his birthday!  It was only $10 for a family so as soon as the girls were up I was getting them ready to go in swimsuits with their hair all dolled up and ready to go.  The girls woke J up with a Disney happy birthday song and then we took off running to get to Slide the City.  We got there and realized that it was going to be a fun packed day and also one where we would need to have patience as the lines for waiting were quite long.  The girls however were champs and took the sights all in as they waited!  The girls went down twice with J and then on our last time through I decided to brave it and go down; so we went as a family. At first I considered taking baby A with me but then decided against it when the sweet lady behind us offered to hold her so that we could go down together.  It was a little scary and not something I would do over and over again as the rest of our crew did!  I was more than happy to relish in their fun in watching them zip down the hill and capturing photos for great memories.

Sunday afternoon I got a text that my friend Melody and her family wanted to stop by that evening for a visit and so I was excited to have some precious time with her!  When she got here and we started talking I realized that it would be a longer visit than originally planned and they ended up staying the night.  However, Jess woke up at 4 in the morning and went looking for me.  I had been sleeping in the playroom with Annalina since we had come home from the hospital or with Dayday and so she went looking for me there  However, that is where our guests had been staying and so she woke up their 18 month old who refused to go back to sleep.  I got my girls back to sleep and at about 5 we went downstairs to visit.  Melody, Brennan and I.  We talked and talked and it was nice to fill my heart with her friendship and love.  They ended up staying for a late brunch and then leaving.

It was right after they left that I found out that we would be hosting some more guests as J's family had decided to surprise him and come for a visit.  We did a quick clean and pool set up so the kids could all play in the pool.  When they got here the kids were all quick to go in the pool.  It was Jordan's first time in the pool and he was delighted with a huge grin and giggles as he splashed around in the water.  His teeth were chattering the entire time and he was more than happy to be having so much fun.  It made me really grateful for my  background in early childhood and seeing the delight of a child not normally able to play so freely in water have that type of opportunity. I love that my girls play all day and leave my house in a disaster because I am learning that at the end of the day the memories made are more important than a house being clean all the time!  It reminds me of the quote "excuse the mess, my children are making memories"  Maybe I should make this sign as a reminder that messes are okay and definitely not the end of the world <3