Our 24 hour playdate with Marina

Brenna's pal Marina's mommy, Keri (who has become one of my great friends) is a labor and delivery nurse who works 12 hour shifts from 7pm to 7am.  I am tired just thinking about how hard she works and the hours in which she does it.  Marina's dad is a firefighter who works 24 hour shifts.  So every once in a while when these shifts overlap, and when her grandparents are unavailable, Marina needs a 24 hour playdate with a pal and Brenna and I were happy to host :-)

Brenna had been giving me a lot of grief over the past week so I was a little nervous about how having 2 would be, but honestly Brenna was so much better behaved with Marina here.  They didn't fight at all.  They had so much fun playing and after having Marina for 24 hours, I think I might venture to say she's the easiest of everyone in the playgroup. 

Marina is like a little monkey and can climb in and out of Brenna's crib in 2 seconds.  She loved taking all of Brenna's stuffed animals, throwing them in the crib, then climbing in the crib, throwing them out, and climbing out.  She did this over and over again to Brenna's amuzement and delight.  Brenna just kept looking at her climb in and out and wanted so badly to be able to do it too.  She kept saying to me "I want to do it all myself...Momma help."  And I'd help her get in the crib with Marina.

We took the girls to the carousel at Downtown at the Gardens where we met up with Ella Kate and the girls had so much fun running around and playing. 

Marina didn't want to ride the animals.

Next was the wishing well/fish pond.

Round 2 Carousel Ride

After lunch, we were driving home and the girls were both looking really tired.  Just as Brenna nodded off, Marina yelled "WAKE UP!!!!" At which point Brenna woke up and thought that was hysterical and they had a shouting/giggling match for 5 minutes yelling "WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP" back and forth before Marina fell asleep. 

After perfect naps by both girls, we went to the park and then ended the night looking at Christmas lights.  Everytime we'd see a Santa, Marina and Brenna would go "HO, HO, HO"

In the morning, we made breakfast and played for a little while before Marina went home.

Later that day, Brenna woke up from her nap and said "Where's Rina?"  I want to go play with Rina." She obviously had fun with her buddy.