New Friends...

Or better known as The Trio of Trouble!  :-))

Early start to the day.  Lola and D were up and out by 8.00am to meet up with Lola's doggy pal Molly the Boxer and her dad at the Cloan Estate.  D hasn't walked Lola there before  so it was good to have someone to walk with who knows the area well.  And of course Lola and Moly had a ball playing together.

Meanwhile I stayed home and made a proper Ragu sauce and homemade garlic bread in preparation for visits from niece Jennifer, nephew Andrew, his partner Nikki and little Esme, as well as Sharon and Lewa and their girls Anna and Faith.

Our lot (apart from Andrew who was working and arrived later) were here just after 4pm then Sharon and Lewa and the girls arrived just after 5.  

And then the fun began!

It's so lovely to watch children meet each other for the first time and see how they react to one another.  I can safely say Esme was as delighted to meet Anna and Faith as they were to meet her!  Within two minutes they were playing together, running about, and laughing.  Absolute mayhem as Lola wanted in on the fun too! 

The whole evening has been an absolute delight (exhausting too but in a good way :-)

Dinner went down well with everyone scoffing their food (including the kids!) although using a white tablecloth when serving spaghetti bol to 10 people, three of them children, was perhaps not my best idea!  lol

After dinner and re-energised by watermelon and some ice cream, the girls showed no sign of calming down.  I was sure it would all in in tears but no, when it was time for Esme to go home the three of them had a group hug followed by lots of blown kisses.  So cute.

My niece Jennifer proved once again that she has Pied Piper blood running through her veins as all three of them wanted her attention and were piling on top of her at one point.  She was a particular hit with Anna and they played rock, scissors, paper for ages, with much hilarity.  Jennifer is a Child Development Officer with a school play scheme and has such a natural affinity with children and young people of all ages.  It's as though she weaves a magic spell over them.

Once Jennifer, Andrew, Nikki and Esme had gone I thought Anna and Faith would collapse with tiredness but nope, it would appear they were running on Duracell batteries and more fun was to be had.

They were marched off to bed at 10.30pm, much to Faith's disgust.  That little lady is very sassy and makes me laugh so much.  She has really grown since we saw her in September.  I got a lovely cuddle from her and her big sister Anna as they headed to bed.  Made my heart swell.  It's so lovely to have them here again.  I think we are in for a fun few days.

More pics in extras.