This past weekend was Parents Weekend at Walla Walla University. My younger sister, Danielle, is in her fourth and final year at Walla Walla and my older sister, Rachel, lives in town with her husband and their two adorable little girls. With all three of the children living in Walla Walla, my parents thought it the prefect opportunity to come spend some time with us.

They arrived on Friday and went to my cousin Chantel’s house for tacos that evening. Nicole and I had a friend’s birthday party to attend that evening, so we were busy all Friday afternoon making broccoli with pine nuts, Parmesan potatoes, and an apple-pear galette.

On Saturday Nicole and I went to the Walla Walla University church while Mom & Dad went to the Eastgate Church where Rachel regularly attends. Saturday afternoon Nicole and I met up with Mom & Dad at Lake Bennington for a brisk walk around the lake. That’s where I snapped these two photos with my iPhone. I really like the first one. The color isn’t that great (it’s much better on my iPhone) but the composition is pretty sweet for a quick, candid shot with a cell phone. Saturday night Mom & Dad and Danielle came over for games at our apartment. We played Nicole’s and my new favorite game: Ticket to Ride.

Sunday morning we hosted a family brunch at our apartment. We baked biscuits while Mom cooked up some delicious gravy for them. Rachel and her husband, Absalon, brought apple juice and orange juice, and Danielle brought a delectably colorful fruit salad. Chantel and her boyfriend Nic came over as well. We had a blast just hanging out and watching little Alyssa-the-beggar make her rounds. At around 11 or so, Mom & Dad had to begin their journey back to Portland. Danielle left at about the same time, but the rest of us got out Ticket to Ride. After a long and, at times, confusing game of Ticket to Ride, Rachel suggested Killer Bunnies so we had Absalon pick it up from their place. We must have played one game of that for 3 hours or more.

All in all we had a full week of family and fun.

Dallas