Well, Grammie, Papa and Auntie Erin are officially back in CA after visiting our little Illinois town for a week. The week was filled with them embracing our new Illinois life as we toured campus, watched a marching band practice, went to church, walked to the park, and spent time together at home. They even got to come to one of Cole's hearing tests to see where we've spent a lot of time lately! The best of course was watching the boys interact with their beloved grandparents and auntie as they played, wrestled, talked, read and woke up each morning with bright eyes ready for a new day to be together.
One of the things I appreciate so much about the family my husband was raised in, is their desire to "do life" together. Since we've always lived a good distance apart from each other, our visits have been longer though separated by months in between. Each time we gather again though, it's as if we've never left. We pick up right from where we've left off, and enjoy the community that God has built into the design of "family." I appreciate my mother-in-law's ability to serve everyone around her while enduring constant back pain, my father-in-law's gift of loving through acts of service as he always asks "What needs to be done to lighten the load?" and my sister-in law's gift of playing with the boys in ways that make their eyes shine and belly's laugh! One time this weekend, Ryder walked up to Erin and said, "Hi Auntie Erin!" while giving her a big, unprompted hug around the waist. This action speaks volumes more than I could ever write about the way we all feel when visited by our family. We missed Uncle Michael and Aunt Emily as they were studying hard in Oxford but can't wait for the day we're all together again!
One of the amazing gifts that came from our week together that will be a constant reminder of Papa and his handiwork are bunk beds!!! Papa, Auntie Erin and Ryder built bunk beds together most of the day on Tuesday while John and I carted Cole around from one appointment to another to continue our journey toward cochlear implants. We're thankful for Papa and his willingness to work so hard so his grandson's can share a room, making room for our baby sister to arrive! (or "sissy" as Ryder calls her now :) We're leaving them detached (both low to the ground) until we feel more confident that Ryder can stay up there without falling of his new twin bed after he's gotten used to a queen sized for 2 years now!
The following pictures are of memories we made together this week, Most of them are at Curtis Orchard...the same place we picked out our pumpkin from the patch a month ago! Here we picked apples (that made delicious apple crisp later that night!) and Ryder even got a free ride on a combine (harvesting corn) as Steve, the driver stopped and asked if we wanted a ride! Him and Papa had a blast as the rest of us looked on from the side :) Enjoy the pictures of our day at the library for storytime, then the orchard! We can't wait for Gramma and Gramps to visit next week, Uncle Derek to come for Thanksgiving and anyone else to stop by when you can! What a blessing our family is to us!!!
We can't wait for more visitors to make memories with soon! 
Gosh I love your in-laws too! Those pics and your blog just remind me how great they are. And, Erin, totally my favorite cousin. I just love how those pictures of her w/ the boys show how engaged she is with everyone she touches. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Danice, just read through your blog. What an amazing journey. We are praying for you all, especially Cole.
Love to you all,
Linda