Indiana for a day

Yesterday we drove across the state of Indiana to visit Leah, my dear friend and former mission companion.  

After two hours of driving we stopped at the very big Indianapolis Children's Museum.  Mary had a great time practicing her jumping and climbing and sliding skills in the toddler area.  David liked pretty much everything.  (Except for the Batmobile.  Just the day before David had seen a Batmobile action sequence from The Dark Night--thank you, Best Buy--which he'd been excitedly talking about nonstop.  But when it came to facing that very Batmobile, which was on display, he opted to keep his distance.  A very long distance.  I like that he's sensitized--he's only three!--but I'm sure a few more trips to Best Buy will fix that.)  Greg and I liked the dinosaurs.

Here is a picture of David and Mary at the museum in a race car.  Very appropriate.  This was Indianapolis, after all.

After a stop at a yummy Bajio Grill (thank you for the tip, Leah), we drove the final hour.  

David couldn't wait to meet his new friend Noah.  (He'd looked carefully through the Christmas pictures on Leah's blog spying the toys he would want to play with.)  His expectations were fulfilled--fun toys and, even better, a new friend.  It was a beautiful day, and Leah and I spent the afternoon outside watching our children play.  (Isn't that what you always hope for with your friends?  To grow up and watch your children play together one day?)

Noah, David, and Mary in the wheelbarrow:

And Baby Ian:
Chris treated us to some great barbecue chicken and his famous perfect chocolate chip cookies. Double yum.   

Chris and Greg talked PhD stuff.

The kids played.

And the best part?  Catching up with Leah, of course.  We hadn't seen each other since I was pregnant with David.  But, despite four kids between the two of us, it was like no time had passed at all.  When two people spend months and months walking the streets of Villa Mella (and Higuey) together, they can't help but get to know each other really well.  And when one of those people is as awesome as Leah, it's impossible not to become life-long friends.  I consider myself very blessed to count Leah as one of my friends.  

It was good to see her.

When bed time rolled around, we dressed the children in pajamas, said our good-byes, and we were back on the road again, headed for Ohio--with a big bag of chocolate chip cookies.