Fun with Visitors

This week brought some very welcome visitors to our neck of the woods.  We had long since know about my parents' travel plans from India (you can read about their perilous journey here) but we also had a surprise visit from Emily and Kai.  Emily and Kai arrived Tuesday night and my parents Wednesday night and life has been a whirlwind ever since.

Thursday, in addition to spending every free moment playing, (almost) all the cousins went to the bounce house for "lights out" bouncing.

Friday we made gingerbread houses.

Yesterday was full of shopping and we ended the day with something that I have wanted to do for years now, the Christmas Ships parade.  Every year (this was the 60th year) a fleet of ships decked out in Christmas lights traverses the Colombia and Willamette Rivers in a spectacular parade for onlookers along the river banks.  It was raining last night, but that didn't stop us from braving it, and having a really great time.

Today we had everyone over for dinner and a cousin Christmas gift exchange.

Tomorrow Emily and Kai go home.  We will really miss them (Merrick especially will miss Kai), but have had a really great time making the best of the short time we did have.