Friends, Fun, and Fate

Way back in the middle of August, we had our bi-yearly visit from the Robison clan!  Another perk to being back in Utah is that we won't miss their visits here.  Unfortunately, Justin had to stay home and keep learning how to be the most awesome doctor ever.  But we had a blast with Toshi and the kids!  Danny was eventually consoled, wiped his tears, and looks forward to when he'll see his bestie again.  You can hardly blame him for being bummed.  It's been two years since he's last seen Justin!

Toshi and I had so much fun catching up, and the kids had a great time playing together.  Well, by kids I mean Luke and Johnny.  For some reason, Sophie and Taija haven't figured out that by virtue of being born 2 days apart their destined to be best friends.  But Johnny and Luke, with their 2 month difference, are all over it.  

But Luke and Johnny weren't the only ones hitting it off.  Our Luke and little Mika were making quite the connection! ;)  As soon as we found out that Toshi was having a girl, and we were having a boy, and they would only be two months apart, we started planning a wedding.  We've even decided on a couple name for them.  Luka!  Move over, Brangelina! :)

We put these two babies down on the blanket to meet each other, and that's when I learned just how much like Danny our Luke really is.  He immediately starting making his move!  I've seen that exact face on his Daddy!

Here's the "Oh, I'm so tired so I'm going to nonchalantly stretch my muscularly-defined arms..."

This is where Luke thinks he's the smoothest 3 month old ever, and Mika's not quite sure she appreciates the gesture. 

She made her decision quickly.  Look closely...

Oh yeah, they're holding hands.  Introducing...Luka!

Toshi and I laughed and laughed!  We could hardly believe these two!  We both sincerely hope this makes it into a wedding video someday.  At the very least, it will make for some wonderfully uncomfortable get-togethers when these two are teenagers! :)  Luke and Mika's friendliness was contagious, and we were able to catch some hugs from the other pairs...

We had such a fun time that we knew we had to get together again before they left back to Florida.  So a week later, we had Toshi and the kids meet us at the pool for some swimming.  It was a little interesting having just Toshi and I with all 7 kids at the pool by ourselves, but we managed.  It became significantly easier when Justin's sister, Kate, showed up to help out.  

Eventually, the kids got sick of the water.  Danny had made it home from work and while visiting with us offered to take the kids to the raspberry patch out in the garden.  The kids were totally game for a nutritious snack!  

Then the kids discovered the sprinklers, and they had the time of their lives.  It's always funny to me to be reminded that really kids don't need much to be totally entertained.

Luke had too much fun controlling the sprinkler and spraying the screaming girls.  Toshi could definitely see he was his Daddy's boy!

But no matter how long we let them run and play, we couldn't keep from having to say goodbye.  For another few months, anyway.  The boys did their best to keep their emotions under control.  Hey, there's nothing wrong with a good hug!  (By the way, the matching swimming suits were total happenstance!)

We sure do miss the Robisons.  We can't wait until the hospitals here along the Wasatch front start begging Dr. Justin to come work for them so they can be close again.  How often do you have two guys from high school maintain their friendship, marry girls that turn out to be wonderful friends, and have a bunch of kids within months of each other that become fast friends themselves?  I'm telling you...there's a lot of fate between our two little families. ;)