Call Day #161, 6/25/16, The LAST One!

The last swim meet of the season. Eleanor holds her time card, proud of a fast swim. She was excited to be picked to swim a relay with older swimmers on the team.

Claire has been really excelling in swimming this season after initially not wanting to compete. Her best strokes seem to be the ones that are tricky for others, breast and butterfly. She placed first in both today. Nanny and Papa took all the kids to the meet this morning while I was home with friends visiting on their way through town.

Our kids had never met each other but were immediately happy to play together. The boxes we have ready for packing were big hit with everyone. Doghouses and forts were made from them.

Our friends shared Magnatiles that they had brought with them. Oliver had never played with them before, but really enjoyed them and Mr. Jon.

Liam and Eleanor really hit it off and played together the whole time. I found them out in the garage "making weapons" out of rubber bands, rocks, and sticks.

We tried to get a group shot with the kids. Getting six kids to cooperate at once is asking a lot.

Oliver was the least cooperative of all.

We had dinner at Nanny and Papa's house, and the kids did Perler beads with Mimi afterwards.

Oliver works intently.

Reading with Mimi and Papa Jimmy.

Everyone gathers around when dessert is being served!

The girls have a job feeding a neighbor's cat while they're away. Oliver watches how it's done while wearing his new baseball mitt from Mimi and Papa Jimmy.

Thus ends our days missing Erik in Durham for today marks his last day not just of call but his last shift ever at Duke. Fellowship is complete! We look forward to what lies ahead in St. Louis!

Call Day #160, 6/17/16

We have a list of things we want to do before we leave Durham. We checked off two of those things today. First, we invited friends to play with us at the pool and at our house. It was the last time we see them because they're moving too and before we do. Eleanor helped the youngest in their family while his mom went to get something from the car.

All the girls play in the pool.

Thankful for these friends and the fun they've had together.

We went back to the pool in the evening for swim team practice. Nanny came and gave Oliver some tips on how to move his arms to swim.

One of Claire's requests before we move was to have dinner at the pool. Even better was dinner at the pool with Nanny and Papa from the food truck that came to our neighborhood tonight.

Oliver enjoyed riding around on Claire for a while, and we stayed at the pool til bedtime. 

Headed home after lots of swimming! Showing off ribbons from their last swim meet which were awarded today. We'll be up early tomorrow morning for another swim meet!