Flying Day...
We flew to Texas on Sunday in Papaw's airplane... It was a very looooong day! Papaw was so kind to fly us back with him. :) Because of the weight of all our luggage and 6 passengers, we could only carry a little bit of fuel... so we had to make three stops on the way home. THe kids did absolutely incredible sitting in the airplane ALL day!
Halee was reaallly nervous but she was working so hard to be brave... I told her that it was ok to feel scared but it wasn't ok to scream... and that she could hold my hand whenever she felt scared...
So she did... When we the flight got bumpy and when we were landing and taking off she would grab my hand and hold it super tight... It was actually real sweet.
But by the end of the day I think Josiah had had enough. We unloaded the plane and got into Papaw's car and just after we pulled out of the airport I heard Siah in the back see crying and saying, "Mama, I spitting, I spitting." It took me a few seconds but then I realized that he was throwing up. Bummer... I cleaned it up and we made it home... When we got to Papaw's house, Siah got out of the car and went inside to see Granny DeeDee and before I could get upstairs I heard him throwing up all over their leather couch. Big Bummer! Then he woke up the next morning with diarhea!!! Absolutely Mega Bummer!
Halee was reaallly nervous but she was working so hard to be brave... I told her that it was ok to feel scared but it wasn't ok to scream... and that she could hold my hand whenever she felt scared...
So she did... When we the flight got bumpy and when we were landing and taking off she would grab my hand and hold it super tight... It was actually real sweet.
But by the end of the day I think Josiah had had enough. We unloaded the plane and got into Papaw's car and just after we pulled out of the airport I heard Siah in the back see crying and saying, "Mama, I spitting, I spitting." It took me a few seconds but then I realized that he was throwing up. Bummer... I cleaned it up and we made it home... When we got to Papaw's house, Siah got out of the car and went inside to see Granny DeeDee and before I could get upstairs I heard him throwing up all over their leather couch. Big Bummer! Then he woke up the next morning with diarhea!!! Absolutely Mega Bummer!
Siah loves the plane...
For Hal the ride was a VERY serious event!Day One... the kids slept in ... we had breakfast around 10am then I got to go back to bed while Granny and Papaw watched all the kids... It was such a treat!!
Siah spent the afternoon with Papaw riding the mule around the ranch looking at the hay... .
Siah spent the afternoon with Papaw riding the mule around the ranch looking at the hay... .
My sweet Halee...I Had A Moment With Halee
Halee hung out with me while Papaw and Siah were together... In Papaw's "back yard" (He lives on several hundred acres so it feels funny to call his back yard a "back yard") he has a tire swing... Halee swung on it for awhile and then asked me if I could swing on it with her... So I sat down and put her on my lap... We just swung quietly for a little bit... then I started singing "Jesus loves me" to her... but not to the usual tune... My mom used to sing that same song with me to a different tune... So I was singing it to Halee and tears started streaming down my face as I was singing... I don't think I was really sad... I think I was just thinking of how wonderful it would have been if my mom could see me now.... see me with all my kiddos... if she could look in on "my moments" with them... It would bless my heart so much for her to see how wonderful they are... I like to think that even with all my faults, insecurities and doubts that she would smile at me...
It was a sweet moment...
Day 2... We drove down to Aunt Jennifer's house in Waco... Skyler had a rough day (check out skylerreese@blogspot.com for details on that :)... we played with cousin Hannah all afternoon... The kids were freaked out of the dog... the day ended with me asking the urgent care doctor if he would want to take Skyler for the night (since he was going to be up anyways :) so that I could get some rest...
Story Of The Day
On the drive down we stopped at a Sonic cuz Skyler was screaming in the back seat and the older kids were hungry... We don't have Sonic in CA so I didn't know how the whole thing worked... So I sat in my car for almost 20 minutes waiting for some one to come out and take my order when I realized that there was a button at the bottom of the menu that you're supposed to push when you're ready to order :) (lovely:) We finally got our food and then Siah had to go to the bathroom... SO I unloaded all the kids and found the bathroom... Then I realized I needed to go to but I had no where to set Skyler down so I just held her... I sat her on my lap and three seconds later she threw up all over my underwear and my shoe... (lovely again :) We made it back out to the car and twenty minutes later I had all three kids buckled in and ready to finish up the drive... (why does it take me so long, I'm not sure :) It felt like a huge accomplishment making it to Aunt Jen's house...
Day 3... We went to the children's museum in Waco... Our cousin Billy Ann came down to visit for a few hours and had dinner with us... CONGRATULATIONS Billy Ann on your pregnancy!!! We are so excited for you!!!
Siah dressed up as a fireman
Hal dressed up as an artist (is this a sign of the future??? who knows :)
We tried to play twinkle little star on the giant piano... we weren't really that successful :)
The giant water table...
We rode our cars around the "mini city"...Day 4... We drove back to Papaw's house... on the way we stopped to visit Great Grandmother Ann... She made chicken and dumplings and enjoyed playing with all her grand kids... We are so glad that we were able to visit with you for awhile Grandmother... we sure do love you...
Day 5... Our cousin Ava came to Papaw's house... Jen, Amy, and I got to take the afternoon off from our kiddos... Papaw and Granny DeeDee watched all 5 grandkids... It was such treat to get out... we went to Starbucks and Braums ice cream... I got a DOUBLE scoop!!!! Yes I did.. and it was delicious... Papaw got a picture of all 5 of the grandchildren and all the kids piled into Papaw and Granny's giant bath tub...
Papaw has a bounce house in the basement and all the kids played in it... SOOO FUN for them!!!!
Siah and I rode in the mule around the ranch... Siah rode on Papaw's tractor with him... Halee and Hannah played with their baby dolls...
Papaw has a bounce house in the basement and all the kids played in it... SOOO FUN for them!!!!
Siah and I rode in the mule around the ranch... Siah rode on Papaw's tractor with him... Halee and Hannah played with their baby dolls...
All five of Granny DeeDee and Papaw's grand kids... What a special day :)
All the kids (except Skyler :) piled into Granny and Papaw's mega bath tub!
Siah and Papaw riding around the ranch...Day 6... Skyler and I had a long night so Granny DeeDee and Jen took over the kids for me and I took a long morning nap... Then Great Papaw and Mamaw came up for lunch and to meet Skyler for the first time. We spent the afternoon watching college football and talking in the living room... That night we grabbed Taco Casa (So wonderful... if you've never had it you should try it on your next visit to Texas) and headed to the park in downtwon Gainesville. The kids enjoyed themselves...
The tire swing...
Mama and Skyler enjoying the shade of the giant trees in the back yard...We did a lot of resting today :)
Day 8... Skyler did much better last night... I woke up rested, feeling joyful and grateful (It's amazing how the small things make me feel so blessed!) Then this morning we got to watch deer running around in Papaw's front yard. They were chasing each other and frolicking (I love that word... "frolic":) just having a good old time and we got to watch the whole thing :0... It was really cool to watch my kids so enthralled with what they saw... That's one of the things that I love about coming out here... The kids get to see and do things that they don't get to experience back at home... Driving tractors to the hay; watching deer in the front yard; and today, Papaw took them to the airport to wash the airplane. I love how Papaw just includes them in the things that he's doing... He loves to teach them new things and they're all things that he loves, so he teaches them with such enthusiasim and joy... It really blesses my heart.
This afternoon I spent some time on the tire swing with Siah and Hal... we talked about the things of life... Siah was telling me how when he got big he was going to drive Papa's Scion... He told me some other things that he was going to do when he "got big", and he said to me, "Mama, when me's going to get small again like Skyler?" Then we were talking about his birthday (it's one of his favorite topics these days :) and how he's going to be four years old... He told me that Papa turned really old on his birthday. So I asked him how old Papa was and he said, "three." It's fun hearing all the things that are going on in his little mind...
In all honesty it has been a challenging week for me in some ways... I have missed Joey like crazy; I think I have had tears almost everyday thinking about how much I love him and miss him (I feel like a silly teenager crying over her boyfriend going away for the summer or something :)... It has been hard to be away from home with a new born; her sleeping, her schedule, her demenor, have all seemed out of wack...
But even with the challenges It was so worth it to bring the kids out and to be with family and to introduce Skyler to so many new people, to just enjoy being together, and to make more memories with my kids... Thank you Papaw for flying us out and flying us home and thank you Granny DeeDee for taking care of us and feeding us and letting me take naps when I was soo tired... And thank you both for loving on our kiddos and just cherishing them... Our time in Texas this year was a real treat!!!!
Day 9... We went to see Dorothy and Daniel today at their house in Keller... Sweet Dorothy made us a delicious lunch... While Daniel soaked up time with ALL THREE kiddos!!! My thought is... They sooooo need to have some kids!!! Daniel was awesome... He played soccer and baseball with the older kids and tired with all his might to keep Skyler awake (None of us were successful in that :) oh well).... Our time with them was short but super sweet... I love the friendship that God has given me in Dorothy... We don't see each other all that often but whenever I get together with her I feel as if no time has passed... She is so obviously passionate about her Savior and she loves her husband so much... Her life, the way she lives her life, is a testimony to so many!!! Thanks for being my friend Dorothy... I sure do love ya!!!
Siah was using all his might to try and hold up that bat :)
Daniel playing baseball with the kiddos.....
Dorothy and very tired SkylerTomorrow we are on our way home... what a great summer with Papaw and Granny DeeDee!!
PS.... a funny little moment on the way home...
We stopped at a restaurant at one of the airports and everyone had gotten up from the table to use the restroom except for Hal and I... I guess she hadn't noticed that everyone was gone until a few minutes after the fact cuz she looked around the table and then at me and asked, "Where did all my "peeps" go? (Like we were rappers or something and often referred to our friends as "peeps") It was hilarious! :) I think she meant to say " my people" which still would have been funny.. I don't know where she got the phrase but she was sure cute wondering where everyone had gone. :)
If you read all the way to the bottom of this blog you are a very sweet friend cuz I think this just might be the longest blog EVER!!
Toodles for now :)
