....until the next hello.....

.....our home is a little crazy right now.....all good things are stirring, but just the kind of Thanksgiving day craze that occurs in the kitchen as you are trying to pull 15 dishes together and serve them hot and fresh for the big feast.....our family is running circles in our Thanksgiving day kitchen.....we are pulling together so many sides and condiments for our feast called life right now, that there are days I wonder how this month became so overwhelmingly chaotic......and in the middle of our mayhem, we threw in a trip to Dallas.....one that had been planned for months.......and although it took 10 hours to get there, lots of waiting for new aircraft updates, lots of sitting on runways with overly tired toddlers who finally hit the sheets at 3am eastern time, the visit with our family and friends was just the ingredient we Balderachs needed in our buzzing kitchen......
.....I got to watch these littles play for four days......tea anyone?....

.....and the ease of their play was so congenial....unlike usual toddler behavior, they all shared so well.....they were extremely thoughtful to one another, offering snacks first to others before serving themselves......there was no talk of things being mine....there was no crying over hurt feelings or frustration....it was unexpected since littles at such a young age are still learning to be courteous....but it made the quality time with the girls even sweeter because I have never seen three toddlers express such selfless love....

.....and Elsie and Callie absolutely adore their cousin Emerson....

.....she was a gracious hostess, sharing her crayons and sticker books....

.....she shared her princess dress up attire.....which was a big hit, several times over the course of the trip....

......she shared strollers, tea party sets, and all of her favorite snacks....

......and she opened up her home to more family and a house full of friends on Saturday......and it's moments like those that push pause on the buzz of life, the crazed days, the chaotic moments and give us something to look back on and things to look forward to in the midst of routine......

......and when the Texas sun set and our last night arrived, it was time for yet more friends and festivity.....and it's always a treat when you are at dinner with some of your best friends and the cell phone chimes to a picture of this.....

 ......the warm and fuzzies rush all over you because the night can't get much better.....the girls were having a ball with their cousins and their aunt and uncles had them bathed, cozy and tucked in....in the sheltered home of our family.....all while Stefan and I ate and drank with good friends.....

.....and that's what our family does....they all pitch in to make life more joyous, easier, more loving, more fun......they celebrate with you, laugh with you, encourage you and love you....and I try to inhale all of it in the short time span when we have it because it's the sweetest air to breath.....family and old friends.....it's all so mesmeric....

.....and memories are made.....pictures are snapped to look back on....funny things are said to talk about until future reunions.....and one of Elsie's favorite new sayings is that silly Uncle Markus.....

.....there is something about rough housing with an uncle.....it's hysterically funny.....and there is something to be said about quality time with family.....

.....and goodbyes are never easy.....next visits mean more grown up toddlers and introductions to soon to be here babies; all things that are exciting and new.....but the sad part about the goodbye is missing everything in between this visit and next visit.....it's missing the gentleness of family around, the ease of keeping company with one another, the laughter with friends.....and mostly, the uncertainty of when the next hello will arrive.....

.....and these girls learn young that goodbyes are never fun.....

.....but they are necessary......because without them, we wouldn't have the hellos that kicked off our visit.....and we wouldn't have the big, running toward each other, can't wait to hug you greeting that awaits us for the next trip.....

....so family, friends, all of our loved ones in Dallas....

....until next time....

....we love you all so....