Sherry and Doug Carver's Visit--October 3rd, 2009

I truly thought this day would never happen, and then the weekend finally arrived, and they were really here in Albuquerque! I was elated and happy to see Doug and Sherry Carver at the airport Saturday morning when Mike and I went to pick them up. It was a dream come true for me!
After a short drive through town on the freeway, we went to IHOP Restaurant for breakfast. Because of the Balloon Fiesta, the place was packed and there was a 25 minute wait for a table. So we put our names on the list and left to show the Carver's the little Seminary building where I work and took them inside. Our next stop was to the Albuquerque Temple where I used to work. We drove around to the back of the building where the entrance, parking lot, and fountain are located. I love our beautiful temple. Wish we could have taken Doug and Sherry inside!

Back at IHOP, Mike and I had a great visit with our Tennessee guests while we all waited for our breakfast to be served. After we finished our breakfast, it was already after noon. We went home and gave Sherry and Doug a tour of our house and let them get settled in--but not for long!
Sherry and Doug in our front yard the first day of their visit:

How do you break the ice with someone you just met? You take them out on a treacherous mountain biking experience! That's what Mike did with Doug, and Doug was a GREAT sport. He even wore an old t-shirt and shorts of Mike's and a pair of old running shoes of Sam's.

That afternoon while Doug and Mike were having their fun, Sherry and I stopped at the new Sunflower Market in our neighborhood and to Party City to pick up balloons for Jenny's 25th birthday. We were having a BBQ birthday party for her a few days early so that the Carver's could meet them and see the rest of the Hobbs/Dunlap clan during their short stay. Sherry helped me in the kitchen too.

HAPPY 25th BIRTHDAY JENNY!
Here are a few shots of Jenny hitting her piñata and blowing out the candles on her strawberry cheesecake:
I love this funny look on Sherry's face--I wonder what was going through her mind at the time:
Doug knew how to relax and take things in stride during the family party:
Worn out and tired, but having a great day. I loved having the Carver's with us, celebrating Jenny's birthday, and having all my children around. I love my family!
Jenny looking intoxicated while eating her strawberry cheesecake!
Despite the pensive look on my face, I'm doing what I like to do best--playing hostess at our family get-together:
The moment Jenny's been waiting for--her birthday presents!
Cute necklace (and earrings set) from Shauna and Jacob: