We're back...Again! I don't believe we're going out of town this coming weekend, and I'm very happy about the prospect of staying right here in Yankton for two weeks. I brought along our camera but didn't take a single picture. Oh well.

Accalia, Cole and I just got back inside from lying on a blanket outside in our front yard and looking at the stars. The stars aren't very bright tonight, but the moon is bright and beautiful. Cole is very excited about one day going to the moon and bouncing around.

We had another good visit to Mankato and once again saw lots of family. We saw sister-in-law Kathy, nephew Elijah and niece Lizzy for about an hour Friday evening. Then both of my brothers and their families, my parents and ourselves went to a park outside of Mankato - Seven Mile for those who live in the area - and spent a couple hours walking around on the trails, playing on the playground, etc. On Sunday we got together for a non potluck at my uncle Norman's house and saw lots of other relatives, including Rachel and her family. We don't get to see Norman and Elizabeth and their five boys (and families for two), so that was really nice. Then we had church in the evening. When we weren't visiting with family or at parks, Cole was very happy to be Grandpa's shadow. Accalia decided to spend a lot of time hanging out with Grandma, too, when Cory and I wanted to run a couple erands. Cole also has taken quite a liking to my parents' neighbors - mostly because of their dog - and when they're outside he'll stand on the fence just talking and talking and watching them.

Cory had three clients tonight from 6-9 p.m., so we didn't have much of an evening together. Tomorrow he'll be gone until around 7, and then he'll take Accalia to swimming lessons (she starts tomorrow and is very excited). Cory will be gone overnight on Wednesday for a staff meeting and be back on Thursday for clients in the evening. Since Accalia's swimming lessons are Tuesdays and Thursdays, that means I'll get to take Accalia and figure out what to do with Cole and Ella so that Ella in particular won't be heading to the pool every chance she gets. We'll have Chloe and Alexia over on Friday for the evening, and that'll bring us to the weekend.

So last Wednesday the neighbor girl Mercedes was still not home two hours after she was supposed to be, and her mom and stepdad took off looking for her. Tonight when I was sweeping out our front entry, she ran past after one of their dogs and stopped to say hello. After we talked for a few minutes, I told her that she'll have to come over tomorrow to play. She informed me that she can't play for five more days because she's grounded for a total of 10 days. Apparently last Wednesday she and another friend went all the way to the duck pond park, which is a couple miles from our house and along and across several very busy streets. So I guess Accalia and Cole won't have her to play with this week.

Tomorrow I'm not so sure what we'll do. I told Cole we could go to the aquarium since we didn't get to it last week when they wanted to because it was closed. Perhaps we'll do that.