She Is Alive!!! And Well!!!!

Emmy called/text me today to ask what we had planned.  I responded with nothing except, laundry, quilting and reading.  I heard nothing else from her until she came home with a bunch of groceries.  This is not unusual.  But then she tells me that I might want to get out of my pj's because we were going to have some company.  Someone that I haven't seen for years.  But I was going to be really excited to see them.  And there was now way she was going to tell me.  Now mind you, all other family members knew and they were sworn to secrecy.  I couldn't even get a thing out of Michael...not even chocolate would make him spill his guts.

Emmy yelled for me to come up stairs because they had just pulled into the driveway.  There was no way that I was going to wait until they came to the front door.  And then I saw this wonderful smiling face...

Carly Himmelstein 

...was standing in our driveway.  We haven't seen or heard from her in 11 years.  She just dropped out of sight.  We consider her one of our daughters.  She did go on vacation with us one year while the girls were in Brazil visiting Andrea.  She knew our door was always open....any time day or night...and usually it was unlocked.  We have been wondering about her and her name comes up a lot when we check out the condiments in the fridge. (a little inside joke)

We got a few pictures.  I was too busy holding babies, crying, changing diapers, gathering up toys, crying, talking, crying, trying to catch her up on what all has happened in the last 11 years.  We even got to Skype with Cassie and her crew.  If you look really close you can see Cassie and Ellis in the bottom left of this pic.

 It all went by way too fast and I am kicking myself that I didn't take more pictures.  This will have to hold me over until she comes back.  It had better not be another 11 years!

Carly, Grace, Mike and Macy

Macy is four months old and a real little wad to hold in your arms.  I tried to talk them into just letting her stay with us.  We need one of these.

Carly has not change one single bit!

Grace and Emmy became buddies real quick.  She is  months 18 old.

Nothing in the world like a sleeping baby.

Grace is funny and into everything.  And she loved the dogs.  Carly couldn't believe that we still had Seau.

Love this family and they can come back anytime they want to.  they are in the process of moving to Canada.

It was like they were back in high school...didn't miss a beat!

This is the best you are going to get out of me.  The tears were flowing thru the smiles.  Tears of joy!

Mark even got home in time to visit for awhile.

Oh how we have missed that smile!  So glad Emmy ran into Joey last night.  And that Carly had some time to come to see us.  It was a great visit.  Wish it could have been longer.  So now there are plans for another reunion.  I can hardly wait!