Leif and Tanya, along with their four children, live in Canada. They stopped at our home during a recent trip to the U.S. We had such a great time with them! I have known Tanya for a year or so, but we had never met in person or talked on the phone. It was pleasant to discover that our families' beliefs and lifestyles were quite similar (moreso than we expected!). Their children were well-behaved, and they were very polite guests. Tanya is a sweet lady, and I could readily see Yeshua shining through her speech and actions. We didn't want them to leave! ;) Here is a partial group photo (I am missing) we took before they left our place. Joshua is holding Eliyahu, and Tanya is holding Benjamin. The children (left to right) are Sarah, Rebecca, Nathaniel, and Yehoshua (holding Rebecca's hand). Leif is standing beside Tanya.

Here are Tanya and I holding our babies. I had to stand on my tiptoes for this photo so I wouldn't look like a midget. ;) Leif, Tanya, and their children are all quite tall compared to us! :D

Nathaniel (3.5) and Yehoshua played together some. However, I think most of the time, Yehoshua was running around in circles, trying to play with everyone all at once! :D

Poor baby Benjamin didn't feel well during their second day at our house. Nothing would console him, but here is Yehoshua lying down beside him and patting his back in an effort to help him feel better. :D

Eliyahu (8 months) and Benjamin (almost 12 months) played ate together, too. ;)

This was the perpetual state of our living room! But we wouldn't have had it any other way! Nathaniel had set up a "store" in one corner, and Yehoshua used a small wagon to cart building blocks across the room to where the girls were building towers... what fun!!

We all had a grand time. The Luscombes arrived on a Tuesday evening, and I proceeded to serve them homemade tostadas, which didn't taste quite how I'd planned. ;) We stayed up until about 11 pm talking, and then went to bed. (The children went to bed earlier though!)

The next morning, we got up about 8 and had some Italian Scrambled Eggs (with toast). I love Italian Scrambled Eggs, but haven't taken a photo yet... eventually I will and then you'll get the recipe ;).

We spent the morning chatting together, and then had a lunch of stuffed shells, garlic bread, and some peas. In the afternoon, we took naps and then went for a walk down to a park to play. The children enjoyed that, especially! :D

We walked back home and had some of Tammy's Easy Pizza for dinner. After the children went to bed, Leif, Tanya, and I stayed up for a bit listening to some of my favorite music CDs on their laptop. It was a treat for me, since my CD player is broken, to get to listen to some of my music, and also a joy to get to share some of my favorite CDs with others who have similar tastes in music.

Here are links to some of my favorites (you can listen to sound clips at these websites!)

Night Heron Consort

Liberty

Appalachian Journey

Lewis and Clark Soundtrack

The Fiddle Concerto

I love music! Anyway, we went to sleep and then the next morning, we had scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, and bagels for breakfast. And then, after talking for a while longer, they had to leave! Our house seemed so quiet and empty! We hope they come back soon. :)