A Close Second

So, the second came first and the first came second...???  What I mean is, Ed's second brother Mike came first, and now, his first (oldest) brother Alan came second!  Yes, we've already had two siblings come for a visit!  Alan and Julie came after their work in Germany was finished.  We had a great 6 days with them!  As with all of our American visitors, we so enjoyed spending multiple days together, talking and laughing together, and exploring the town.  Like Mike and Rachael, Al and Julie came without their kids because of their work trip to Germany.  We again missed having the cousins around.  We're always thinking about how great it would be if the next trips included all the kids!

We took Al and Julie to a different castle that we had never been to before, and spent some time in our town too.  Shaylee always gets in on the daytime activities with our guests while the other kids are off at school, so she had a great week with four adults and her! Julie and I had some great times just chatting, in the kitchen, on the porch, or at the cafe in the square.  Alan and Ed bonded while fixing our 4-wheeler!  All in all, we agreed that spending a week together was really great for the family ties!

Thanks, Alan and Julie, for making the huge sacrifice to come visit us, taking time away from your busy family schedule, and from your great family, to extend your work trip to be with us!  We truly loved our time with you two...the late nights of talking were really fun!  Thanks also for the encouragement you were to us and to our kids!  They, too, loved you being here!  Our kids are so blessed to have such love and attention from their aunts and uncles!  It was fun to see them enjoying you and getting to know you better!  We miss you already, and are so thankful that you came!

Story time with Uncle Alan

Thanks, Debbi, for the clothes you sent with them for the girls!