My nieces from California visited us this past weekend in Idaho, and the weather was glorious. The temperature was 15 degrees warmer than usual. We enjoyed sitting outside until 9 pm one night. Our first niece, Wu, and her boyfriend, J, arrived on Friday evening, marking a wonderful reunion after nearly two years. The following day, we took them for a scenic drive around the area and then stopped at a charming place for lunch. After a brief break at home, we headed downtown to show them the Capitol building. Lovie has taken on the task of bringing Flat Stanley along on our outings, a project for a coworker’s daughter. We ventured to a vibrant part of town that is lined with eateries. Dinner was delightful, and conversing with the young visitors was truly enjoyable.

Upon arriving first, Wu and her boyfriend were the initial guests in our newly decorated room on the second floor. However, her sister, Georgie, who arrived the following day, was less than thrilled about missing out on the upstairs room. While we have two guest rooms, the upstairs one offers a full-size bed, while the downstairs has two single beds. As soon as Wu and her boyfriend departed, Georgie and her girlfriend, E, swiftly claimed the upstairs room for the remainder of their stay. I was delighted with the room, we had just finished preparing the day before their arrival. It has been dubbed the Penthouse suite.

Both rooms have the same bathtub, yet the downstairs bathroom is larger than the upstairs one. Nevertheless, the upstairs room resembles a studio apartment, complete with a seating area, wall-mounted TV, and a balcony. Everyone adored the upstairs space, spending hours relaxing outside. We treated them to an outing with all four young people, and it was a lively change to have the house filled with chatter and laughter. My husband and I are typically more laid-back and quiet, in contrast to the spirited energy of Georgie and E, who had embarked on a road trip and were eager to explore.
The excitement peaked when they visited Dutch Bros, a coffee shop that draws many visitors due to its popularity. There was more than one visit for a coffee. While it was heartwarming to reunite with my nieces, I longed for our son and our other niece to be here as well. Hopefully, we can all gather for a family reunion in California later this year.