Back-tracking: Visit to Aunt Ashley's

i am attempting to back-blog about some of the great things that went on, even though they were long in the past. our summer was so busy that I just didn't have time to document our family very well. so here is the first of a series of posts (not sure when they will all get up here, still) that will encompass some fun times had a little while back.

we visited one of my sisters, Ashley, and her husband, Tommy, in april. it was a quick visit and really didn't get to see much of Tommy, but me and the kids had some good quality time with Sash.

it's an interesting dynamic, being grown-up sisters, as life changes so much from childhood to adulthood. Ashley and i are polar opposites. i don't think two people could be more different. which in the world of kids usually also means, lots and lots of fighting. i don't remember many days where we didn't fight, except when on vacation to maine (which you will see posts about that soon, too.), but I'm happy to say that all that is behind us. something switched when we were in college. when we didn't compete over silly things. when we embraced our differences. when we just kinda realized, as different as we were, how incredible the other one was. i have a friend now, not just a sister.

since our lives have taken us far apart, her in north carolina in her third year of pediatric residency and me, a missionary in the dominican republic, any chance at a visit is one i grab by the horns.

we went to a park near Ash and Tom's home and the weather was just right for going down slides, playing in sand and swinging on swings. there wasn't a bit of sun and the air was crisp, but it felt beautiful and comfortable just the same.

we discovered Nohemi's deep-rooted fear of swings, only to find her life's greatest joy on the next to-and-fro. as a side note: these three pictures were literally three frames right in a row. kinda funny to see an irrational fear become something of the past...in literally two seconds.

i see you baby girl.

the kids tired of the playground and we were ready to head back but Sash and Lando discovered a secret little spot.

this boy loves him some water. if i believed in reincarnation, i'd believe he was a fish or a turtle in his past life.

there's something so energizing about your family loving on your kids. when i was a kid i could hardly wait for the day i would be a mother. and its even sweeter to be a mom and watch Ashers be an aunt.