This week has gone by way too fast, and this morning I sent my sister Holly on a plane to Idaho.  Even though I knew her husband and 3 older boys missed her terribly, I really did not want her to leave.  We had such an amazing time, and it was just the lift in my spirits that I needed. 

Holly was supposed to get here Tuesday evening, but got stuck in Atlanta for quite a while because of weather.  I was finally able to pick her up at 1 am, and got her settled in by 1:45 am.  Even though we were both exhausted, it was such a happy reunion.  And hey, I got to meet my nephew Isaac for the first time :). Our week was so much fun!!  We talked, played, went swimming, worked out, went shopping, made treats, played the tourist, remembered the old days, and laughed a lot.  Here are some of the highlights . . .

** On Thursday night, Kevin watched Lily and Derek, and Holly and I went out to eat at Bella's Italian Cafe – so yummy!  Afterward we had reservations for a ghost tour (Savannah is the most haunted city in the country, so I couldn't NOT go on a ghost tour.)  The tour itself didn't turn out to be what we expected, because although it was interesting, it was not scary.  We probably should have done the one in the hearse :).  We did have a really great time before the tour wandering through Colonial Park Cemetery.  We even had the adventure of going next door to the police station to ask if we could use the restroom – he he!

 ** Holly taught me how to make caramels, and what we thought would be really simple, turned into a pretty funny experience.  You see, I was all excited about it, and even bought a brand new candy thermometer to use for it.  Well, after our first batch turned into something other than caramel, we realized that my handy new tool was not accurate.  

It turned hard as a rock and was almost impossible to cut/break.  When I gave Kevin a piece to taste, he said, "This isn't caramel, this is toffee!!"  I decided that they were just like Werther's Originals.  Luckily, our second batch turned out perfect, and so Kevin got his caramel :), and yes, they are delicious.

** Continuing in my quest to get all my family and friends blogging, I helped Holly set up a blog, and it was so fun.  She was such a fast learner, and I know she'll so a great job.  You'll have to check it out :).

** My ward got to know Holly well, as not only was she at church with me on Sunday, but I took her to YW with me on Wed. and then to a ward party/pioneer day celebration on Saturday.  It was a lot of fun, they had wheelbarrow races (that I got roped into), a 3 legged race, singing around the "campfire," and the kids even got to make pioneer clothes.  It was really fun to introduce people to my sister.  (She even babysat for me so that I could go to the Bishop's Youth Discussion on Sunday night.)

** Monday was beach day!  We love going to the beach, but don't make it out as much as we should.  On our way we stopped at Waffle House for breakfast – yum!  They really do have the best waffles ever!  It was a gorgeous day, and the ocean was warm, and the kids loved it!  Isaac even loved the water and even loved the sand, eating quite a bit – he he!

The kids were even more excited, when we ran into two of their favorite people/babysitters – Cayman and Ariel.  Cayman, being the amazing boy that he is, took Lily off to play in the waves with him, leaving me free to play in the sand with Derek and play with Holly.  Cayman even got Derek to play in the ocean by taking him on the boogie board.  I guess Derek thought the ocean wasn't scary if he could play on a "surf board."

** Taking Holly to Bonaventure Cemetery was also really neat.  It is a massive cemetery with the most beautiful and interesting headstones and monuments.  We went on our way home from the beach, and so while the two boys slept and Lily ate her chicken nuggets, we drove around the cemetery and took turns hopping out and taking pictures.  I never get tired of taking pictures of this place – it is so intriguing.

** I also got to do a photo-shoot of Isaac while they were here, and it was so fun.  He is such an adorable baby!  We rigged a mini-studio in my bedroom, and then Holly put him down, and I kept snapping pictures as he rolled around.  (You can see a few more of my favorites on my photography blog.)

** On Holly's last day in town, we went to a restaurant I have been wanting to try forever, Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room.  It is very famous, and was part of a boarding house originally.  There are no reservations and they don't even take credit cards, you just wait in line outside the door, and at 11 am they open the doors and hope they let you in. 

We were one of the four last people to get in the first wave of people (they only have time to let in two groups before they close at 2pm).  You sit family style around a table that is LOADED with Southern food – good Southern food. We had the most fun people at our table, and had a blast, despite the fact I put a bowl of creamed corn too close to Isaac and he dumped it on himself.  Oh, and the food was to die for!  I can't believe I waited this long to go there.

* And I know this might seem silly, but one of my highlights was just driving around :).  Having Holly in there with me actually made driving in the traffic with the crazy Savannah drivers pleasant.  Holly, the kids and I would sing along to our CD's, especially the Wicked and Camp Rock soundtracks.  It was a blast!  The only one who didn't enjoy it was Isaac, but what 7 month old actually likes riding in a car?

It really was an amazing week, and just what I needed.  And although it was so depressing to drop her off at the airport this morning, I feel so much happier and ready to face my challenges than I did a week ago.  Thanks Holly!!  You are the best ever!