The Miles Clan: Mom and Daddy Visit Us!!

I begged, the boys begged, Greg told us all to beg Mom and Daddy! So, we did. Not knowing how long we'd be here, we begged and pleaded for a visit. The boys would call and text often, asking when they'd come. I brought it up every conversation. Greg would ask me if I had them talked into it yet. Finally, I did. We've spent every Christmas together for as long as I can remember. They came to NC while we lived there, or we'd go to Mobile. We haven't had to go longer than 6months without visiting, the boys weren't about to let that change, not yet at least!

After keeping it from Mike and Sean for months, Greg and I headed out to pick Mom and Daddy up from the airport. We walked in the door and the kids were stunned!

They stayed just shy of 3 weeks and it went by way too fast. We kept home or there about most of the time. We've learned our lesson with as many visits as we've had, that the kids (well everyone really) get more out of actually visiting than running the streets. Besides that, things like Mt St Helens and Mt Hood were out due to snow and icy roads. City life like Portland, isn't something they are interested in. Historical cities sure but not the typical things you'd come across around here. Sights are sadly blocked this time of year buy fog, cloud cover and rain. Really, the visit was just about that, actually visiting.

We showed them around Battle Ground and Vancouver, WA, where we live. Hit the theater to see Narnia in 3-D, took the kids ice skating and shopped Lloyd Center Mall, we even spent a while at Ripzu Indoor Skatepark. At home, we indulged in what we liked most. Mom and Sean played a lot of Checkers, Dad and the boys played some new PS3 games they got. We watched a lot of Christmas movies and just general family movies, and mom and I caught up on our reading. We went for Chinese (sushi) one night, as well as Five Guys and then YoCream (yummy) in Portland.

All in all, we did what we do and enjoyed every bit of it!

Goodbye was rough, the boys definitely not in an emotional state for school so while I planned on a late morning, we actually played hookie, hit StarBucks and curled up on the sofa.

Not sure how long till our next visit, so couldn't be more thankful for this one.

Mom and Daddy, you have NO idea what it meant to have you two here, for EVERYTHING!! Love you!!