The last two weeks have been rich with friends and family. Last weekend, we went to Athens to visit Trevor, Lauren and their two boys, Bryce and Dallin. We had so much fun playing soccer, visiting the farmer’s market, and going for a hike by a beautiful lake. We were delighted to see the progress that they have made in their house- the kitchen tile and paint looks great, as does the new bathroom paint and decor. Bryce is talking so much now, and Dallin was all smiles. I enjoyed reading Bryce’s favorite “froggie” book, going for walks to look for sticks, and just talking to him. On Sunday as we were preparing to leave, I asked Bryce if he wanted to come to our house. I spoke to him naturally, as if he were just another adult. He looked at me seriously, thought about it and nodded his head. I told him that we would have so much fun, that we would make Macaroni and Cheese, and go for walks. He listened intently and said “Go, Tom house, go.” I told him that he would come in three days. Lauren said he talked about going to “Tom house” all week. (He calls both of us Tom.) When they arrived Thursday night, he jumped up and down when we opened the door and came walking right in. He went from room to room to room, opening every door and every closet. It was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen- he literally charged through the whole house checking everything out. He really enjoyed sitting on the stairs inside to eat treats, and outside to rest from finding sticks. I guess they were just the right height for his short legs. He loved the lavendar scones Tom gave him when he asked for a treat, and thrilled as Tom showed him how to pull out a tape measure as long as the room and then snap it shut. I loved watching Tom play with him.

One funny moment was when I was preparing dinner on Friday and Bryce was sitting on the steps to the kitchen door outside. A neighbor a few doors down was yelling for her dog to come inside saying “Joey get inside!!, Joey Come on.” Bryce sat there, always observing and listening, and started yelling out “Go Home! Go Home!” He loved to run across the office and flop on our couch. He would run back to the door and say Watch, Me- with each word heavily accented, and would then run let his belly hit first and then flop his upper body over. He did it over and over each time saying “Watch, Me.”

Dallin has the most beautiful big eyes and a sweet flirtatious smile. He is a for the most part a very happy baby. I was so amazed by Lauren. She was up several times and night and yet she manages the boys so lovingly. They are luck to have such a good mom. We really enjoyed having her here. We went for a walk around the neighborhood and took them to the historic West Side market. We had fun showing here the gorgeous old homes around here, and sharing our plans for our own humble abode.

Friday we went to Oberlin for Mary Price’s 25th birthday party. It was great to be back in Oberlin and to see Erin, Brady, Steve, Brittany and James, and actually Charity and Marcus again. Lauren came with us and Dallin and Bryce charmed everyone.

Saturday after Lauren left I went shopping with Mary and Brittany, for Mary’s birthday. I hadn’t been clothing shopping in a long time, and I had forgotten how fun it is to try on beautiful clothes. I was really tempted to buy this gorgeous green wool coat. It was tailored and fit me perfectly. I have been wanting a coat to wear on days when it’s not cold enough to necessitate my long black down coat, but too cold to just wear one of the jackets I have. I’m still tempted to go back and buy it, but there are so many other things I would like to spend my money on right now. It has been strange for me to feel my environment change me. CIM is much more professional in dress than Oberlin was, and our ward is full of fashionable women. I have found myself pulling out my slacks more often and I rarely wear hoodies and old jeans- staples of my last year at Oberlin.