[Seek] Surprises (Part 2)

Arriving in Naugatuck, we tried to make it not seem strange that all of our children had come - usually only two or three venture to Gramma and Papa's house on any given outing, unless there's a big event. We left a cooler full of burgers, hot dogs, and other necessities for a cookout, as well as a propane tank, just in case, in our van, only bringing in things necessary for swimming in my parents' neighbors' pool and cameras to record my mom doing readings for our church's worship video. Not too long after our arrival, just as we were recording the second reading, I received a message on my phone...

Alia announced she was going out to play, and to not record yet because she was going out the back door. Once the door closed, we got back to the business at hand. My camera was rolling as my sister and her two children walked into the living room, asking if there was room at the inn. 

It may have taken a moment or two for the surprise to sink in. We made sure to let Gramma and Papa know that dinner (the cookout) was taken care of, and that the Kays would take care of their sleeping arrangements upstairs. 

We chatted for a while, finished up recording, made a quick trip to the store, and, when my husband joined us from work, got ready for a cookout. There was a small hiccup with the functioning of the grill, but soon we settled in for a feast of burgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, Jere's dip, chips, and sidewalk cake.

On Wednesday, my husband took a half day from work and we went to Hammonassett Beach State Park for the evening. 

We had dinner on the beach, watched as gulls raided someone's beach blanket, stealing devouring a bag of Doritos and a bag of popcorn. 

Saturday came all too soon, and it was time for the Kays to return home. We had a Summer Birthdays / Austen's Graduation Party with a ton of food from Maggie McFly's and took some family photos before they were off on their two-day drive back home. 

It was wonderful to see the smiles on my parents' faces as they soaked in this time with my sister's family, and with all of us together under the same roof and doing activities we love, if ever-so-briefly. We all look forward to this Christmas, when we will be together again!