And no, I am not talking about Derek and Eli, but Kevin and his best friend Rob.  They are so funny together and are like long lost brothers, which is why when Angela called me earlier this week to see if they could visit this weekend, we jumped at the chance. 

Rob and his family only live 1 1/2 hours away, and after spending years with them all the way in Japan, we are definitely taking advantage of proximity.  We visited them last month, and so this month they came here.  (And they were the first to use our brand new sleeper couch, which Lily was so excited about it, that for our Family Home Evening activity last week, she had us put the sheets on it.  She was in heaven – he he!)

They arrived just in time for dinner, and after eating, we went out in the back yard to let the kids play and enjoy the gorgeous weather.  I had filled up the kiddie pool earlier that day, and Eli, their son, decided he had to try it out.  He was having so much fun, but his diaper got so full of water he couldn't walk.  Eventually he was set free and allowed to run naked – the benefits of being only 1 year old :).

Before long, the rest of the kids were in swimming suits and playing in the water as well.  They had so much fun, while us parents just laughed and laughed at the hilarious things they would do.  Soon they were racing and jumping in, but could only do it if the baby was out of the water, which meant they had to time it perfectly.  They would lure Eli out of the water, and then make a break for it, trying to dive in before he could.  The really funny side affect of the whole thing, was the show Eli was giving his parents of his little naked bum.  Fun times.

After that, we got the kids scrubbed up in the bathtub, had some delicious dessert that Angela made, and introduced Rob's family to I Survived a Japanese Game Show – so insane and yet so funny.  Then we got the kids in bed, and the real fun began.

The four of us adults stayed up until after 1 am talking, laughing, and wondering if our husbands would have survived their friendship if they hadn't found Angela and I.  They had some pretty crazy adventures in college. 

Tucked into all that fun, we played pinochle, boys against girls, like we always do.  I am sad to admit it, but the boys had all the luck and they completely destroyed us.  They shot the moon, had a few hands around 700 points, etc.  But it's all good – they enjoyed their victory so much, that it was almost fun to watch.  Rob even made up a cheer, "Yea Boys!" – original, I know.

The next day, Kevin and Rob squeezed in some Guitar Hero, we all went to lunch at On the Border, and were able to play one more game of pinochle (which the girls lost again) – all before Kevin had to leave for the airport and they headed home.  It was such a fun time and we are so glad that we live so close now.  I have a feeling that this may even become a monthly tradition :).  Good times.

PS. Thanks to all of you who responded to my last post.  If you couldn't tell, I have been feeling a little lonely lately, so thanks for making my day :).