Franklin + Friends = Fun

After we left Kearney we headed South to Franklin, Nebraska.

Franklin is where my family moved to after leaving Wauneta.

We went to visit my friend, Jen, and her family.  We were friends through Jr High, which everyone knows are some of the worst years of life. :)  I'm so glad our friendship has lasted so well.  Jen has four lovely little girls.

They were having a family gathering in the park (it was Labor Day)
and were nice enough to let us join them.

The kids had fun getting to know each other a little over dinner.

Us adults had fun catching up too.  Jen's sister is married to Shannon who lived across the street from my family while we lived there.  He was one of four boys who were about the same ages as each of us.  We had a lot of fun doing things like games of 500 (baseball) with Dad in our yard, games of PIG (basketball) in theirs, bike races and obstacle courses, archery competitions, sledding followed by hot chocolate and Nintendo Power Pad Tournaments and water fights.  I'm pretty sure Shannon could smell Mom's chocolate chip cookies baking all the way from his house...he always seemed to show up as they came out of the oven! :)  I saw him briefly at Jen's wedding 10 years ago, but really we haven't talked since my family moved away 14 years ago.

Miles got to know Jen's Dad.
"Grandpa" Scott took him to the swings and almost put him to sleep!

There were thirteen kids between all of us.

The kids had tons of fun running around and playing.

And the youngest of them was entertained too.


Miles tried out the merry-go-round with Daddy.

And even got to slide.

These guys were probably talking about the upcoming deer season.
Or hunting lions in the African bush.

It was tricky trying to get a shot of these three stooges. 

All the kids!

Again... it was so much fun to see everyone and catch up a little.
We'll plan to stay longer next time.  Time went too fast!