Off To College

Yesterday afternoon, my sister-in-law Darla and her friend Noel came over to see the kids.  This is the Aunt Darla who lived with us for over a month last summer to get us through the crazy bedrest/c-section recovery/NICU time during Micah’s birth. The Aunt Darla who helped with meals, housework, watching Mara. The Aunt Darla who taught Mara “Peanut Butter Jelly Time” and splashed with Mara and the kids on our block in puddles in the rain.  The “Aunt Darla” who is leaving for college in South Carolina (along with Noel) this week! They will be missed.

But yesterday, Mara and Micah enjoyed Darla and Noel’s company on the swings and the slide at Park with Seals.We had some serious trauma when Mara took off her shoes to run in the fountain, and instead stepped her little bare feet into some 90-degree gum, which insisted on following her around the park. We left pretty soon after that incident.

But when we got to Park with Benches, Mara was herself again–ready to feed nuts to the squirrels.

It was great fun to watch her running through the grass wildly screaming, “Nuuuuuuutts!!” at the squirrels as she hurled almonds their direction. Of course, the squirrels were busy running up the nearest tree, probably texting their squirrel friends, ‘Back to your nests! Two-year-old on the loose!’

Thankfully (from the squirrel’s perspective) Darla and Noel taught her a little about the approach.

And as you can see in this shot of Noel, Mara, and The Squirrel, Mara began to get the hang of it.

We got a few pics of Aunt Darla and Noel and the kids too, because they will be gone from now until Christmas . . .

That sounds soo far away! We will miss you!!

But on the flip side, what an exciting time of life!! I loved college! Have a great semester!!!!