...And then Grandma came for a few days too!

During Joe's second week here, we were blessed to have Mom Langemann join us for a crazy busy week. 

She watched the girls one day for us so Josh and I could go to my midwife appointment and run some much needed errands together. Mom had a yummy supper cooking for everyone when we got home, and even surprised me by baking Gluten Free chocolate zucchini muffins, which everyone thought tasted amazing!

The next day, my amazing Mother-in-Law helped me cook up a storm, and prepare meals for two families. Then, she blessed everyone here at our house by ordering pizza for supper, as there wasn't too much extra from all our cooking, and we were too pooped to make anything for ourselves. Pizza tasted great. We ate on styro plates, and went straight from the dinner table to the couches to finish watching a movie we had started when Joe first got here. :o) We indulged in some homemade ice cream, and then cleaned up everything while Josh put the girls to bed. :o)

Hope had fun being by Grandma's side as much as possible.

Ah, Joy... wonder what you have in mind?

Having a picnic with Uncle Joe on the new deck on his last day here. Grandma was away visiting friends, so that's why she's not in this picture.

With the end in sight, and warm temperatures outside, Joe took a break midday and when I went downstairs to change the laundry loads I noticed this beaming smile coming from his room, face-timing with Rachel. :o)

He was good enough to let me take his picture. :o) Thanks, bro! Can't wait for your wedding in just a few weeks!

The last board being screwed into place.

Joe and Lorrie left at a leisurely hour on Saturday morning to make the easy drive to Swift Current, where her parents live. Joy was "helping" me make their lunch for the road.

Last minutes with Grandma while the guys settled up receipts and got the van packed.

The girls were completely fascinated by a little video of their cousin Albert. They watched it over and over and over and over again on Grandma's itouch - so much so that she had to ask Uncle Joe about a van charger so she could use it while they drove, as the girls did a good job of draining the battery. ;o)

Joy kept saying "baby, baby!" The movie was of Albert, just moments after birth, crying away as the medical people checked him over. :o) For some reason, the girls couldn't get enough of it.
It's funny - when Joy wants to watch something on my new iphone she points to it and says "baby, baby!"

Finally - Joy's much cried for turn to have the itouch to herself.

So thankful for these two people!

And these two too!

This was an attempt at a goodbye shot of Uncle Joe and the girls, but it took a bit to catch Joy and get her inclined towards the idea.

As you can see, she was a little mad - she really wanted to hold on to that orange rake she was holding. :o)

Come on Joy....

Well, we'll call it good.

But then Uncle Joe started tickling her. :o)

They got along good, those two!

Bye-bye hug for Grandma. It's so cute how Joy gives hugs, wrapping her short little arms tight around you.

And one for Uncle Joe too.

My man and his Momma. :o) Love this picture of them. :o)

We are blessed.

Joe, thank you so much for coming all this distance and taking all this time to create a perfect deck for our backyard. We were grateful to have one last visit with you as "just Joe" and can't wait till you come in your forever changed state with your soon-to-be-bride!
Mom, thank you for coming and blessing us through your hard work and availability and peaceful spirit. You're one of the most amazing women I know, and I will always think that. :o)