A Fun, Full Day

After a good night's sleep, we were ready for another day. We went to church with Grandma and Grandpa, the church that I joined in high school. It's a very traditional church and like going to a foreign country for my kids, but I really loved seeing some old friends there that I haven't seen in a while.

Here's my mom, Grandma Epie, in the kitchen. She was given the name Epie by her nieces and nephews when one of them couldn't pronounce Aunt Ethel. She became Aunt Epie then, and it seemed like an easy way to distinguish between grandmas for us.


This is my dad, Papa JoJo. He's lost a lot of weight since the last time we saw him. He looks really good considering his medical challenges this past year. He gets around pretty well for an 80 year old!



Unbeknownst to them, we were expecting a surprise visitor, my BFF since the 5th grade, Kathy. She considers my mom and dad as her mom and dad as well. Her dad had already passed away before I met her, and her mom has been gone for 16 years now. We spent a lot of time at one another's houses over the years. She'd been wanting to get back to Belleville and the 80th birthdays spurred her to actually come.

While she was here, Chase and Carys got Grandma Epie into the hair salon.


Fabulous, huh? This is what inspired us to get the camera out.


Carys had been begging to "slide" since we stopped at a McDonald's yesterday but didn't have time. So, we headed to the nearby park. The weather was surprisingly nice.




Gerren decided to climb on TOP of the jungle gym.



Boys!


Greg and Grandma had a little chat.


Landon had his books along, of course, and enjoyed talking to Kathy who lives in the midst of Civil War history - Richmond, VA.


Greg took this montage of pictures of Kathy and me. They were so fun and expressed such a range of facial expressions that I just had to post them all!











We headed home for ice cream and some more chatting!


Gerren was going crazy with my camera!


Carys had not had a nap and was getting heavy eyed. She tried coloring to keep herself awake.


She kept spilling drinks, too. I think she was delirious.


Greg spent most of the day trying to get Grandma's computer working correctly. It's a long story. It's working fine for her now, but the wireless router doesn't work, so I can't get on the internet on my computer at her house.


Carys finally gave up the ghost and fell asleep. Mom looks rather tired, too!


Chase was exhausted herself.


It was a great day, and I enjoyed my time with Kathy SO much. It's been way too long since we had time to really talk. So, in honor of long-lasting friendships, I'm listing three things I love and admire about my childhood BFF:
1) She has an incredibly positive attitude and faces everything in life with that attitude.
2) She is, and always has been, a hard worker.
3) She loves her friends and family and her patients. She is the kind of healthcare worker anyone would be blessed to have.

I love you, girl! Thanks for making the trip to Belleville.