A Wonderful Reunion and "Goodbye"

This last week Vivienne and I had a chance to travel down to Silver City and see lots of family.  In retrospect, it was worth the 1800-miles-in-4-days grueling road-warrior trip.

It's hard to describe the meeting with little "almost" 4-year old Jaklynn and Daphne and Pat.

We met on Saturday night at a restaurant in Silver City.  Jaklynn bolted out of the car and ran across the parking lot and into Nana's arm with the biggest hug and kiss you could imagine.  That alone was worth the trip.  We were worried that she wouldn't know who we were but that was not the case.

We then went to a great new playground park in Silver City called the Penny Park, so called because all the kids of the community saved and gathered pennies forever in order to build it.  

 Jaklynn was a blur of constant motion

 "Higher, Nana!"

 Having a meal in the train dining car

 Monkey bars. I'm not sure Nana enjoyed this part

 "Nana's turn.....I'll push"

 Hide and seek

 Nervous on the slide, but once down fear was gone

 Make believe short order cook serving the customers

 Teeter-Tawter.  Spring loaded, not like in the old days

Here we are on Monday at Carroll Hamilton's remodeled home and playhouse and playground

 Grandma Tiede and Daphne enjoying the kids

 Bubba's famous Three Little Pigs

 Grandma Tiede and Jaklynn under the playhouse

 Sandbox Solitude

 Bosom buddies.  Mikira and Jaklynn bonded so wonderfully, it was fun to watch.  Thanks, Michelle for making the long day trip from El Paso.

 "Singing in the Rain". and Dancing...and catching water on their tongues....

 Liyara in playhouse heaven....what to do next.......

 The Wild and Wonderful Wilkes'

 And finally our visit came to an end and it was time to say goodbye after getting Jaklynn some things at the only store in Silver City, so to speak: Walmart.  It was a fantastic time and really a dream come true to have such a great visit and reception from Jaklynn.  It will have to carry us from quite a while.  We hope to see her again after our mission