Coming home, again

Sweet Henners had his ear tag removal Monday morning, so I was on Mimi duty to get the boys to school. We had some time to color before we left and Carter was being weird with pictures again. 

See, everyone’s happy. 

Carter got dropped off first. We listened to Disney songs on YouTube and had fun seeing which song would come up next. These boys are so smart and loving, I’m so happy we get to see them again next month for Adi’s graduation. 

As soon as we dropped Carter off Emmett said “so sometimes when we drop Carter off, mommy and I get hashbrowns at McDonald’s. So what do you think?” 🤣 So then I asked him how many he usually gets and he said “ usually 1, but I could probably eat 2,” amd I said “could you?” and he very seriously answered “I am almost seven years old.” 🤣 And he was right, he ate those two right up. 

They brought home a very happy very sleepy baby boy right around 10. I had big plans for the morning, but ended up only making dinner (and brownies) and not going for a run or showering. I gave kisses when they got home and headed out when Henry went down for his 4 hour nap. Sweet baby. First stop, buccees, but only for gas and not goodies.

I hit traffic once and it happened to be while I was chatting with chris, so he looked it up for me and saw that it would only last 10 minutes. So it was a very easy drive. I’m just over driving for awhile. 28 hours solo driving spread over 8 days. I love road trips, I just need a lil break. 

I got home, got my shower, and got in bed. At like, 7. 🤣 It all caught up to me. I had planned to go to inklings Tuesday, but then Matt headed into work and I got busy with my teacher appreciation signup genius and unpacking so I stayed home. I resumed my driving duties both yesterday and today. Frankie has a friend that lives with her sister so we’ve been helping get her to drivers ed, which is such a pain. Drivers ed, not helping Frankie’s friend. 30% done today. 

I’ve been wanting to take apart my can organizer and clean it and reorganize the cans and today was the day. It’s been over 10 years, so I think it was time. 

Other tasks done today. Closer to ordering Adi’s grad announcements, Damian’s birthday present, and being prepared for teacher appreciation week. Bought airline tickets for Frankie and I to go to Portland for Educators Rising. Made crunchwraps for dinner. Dropped ballet carpool, picked up Airabella, and dropped the drivers ed girlies. Listened to some church communications calling stuff. General housework. And a nap because I’m still feeling pretty travel tired. The graduation announcement picture 👇🏻 

May is gonna start with a bang and I’m trying hard to be ready for it.

Zootopia

 I found these cool compartment containers for Mimi snack surprise and brought them with me to SC for the boys. I made them up to take to church and the boys were stoked!

Emmett initially was like for sure I’m going to church with Mimi, and then on Sunday morning Carter decided to come, and Emmett started getting cold feet. In the end they flipped a coin and came with me. They were so good during sacrament meeting and then so excited to see friends in their classes! Carter saw Parker while we walked down the hall and they hugged and Carter was like - peace out, mimi! Parker told their teacher “His name is Carter that starts with “car,” and my name is Parker that starts with “park,” so Park Car.”

We also ran into the kids of their piano teacher and they gave big hugs and loves and everyone was happy so I went to my own class. 

Then after church a million kids ran around the green outside the church. So many pregnant women, so many littles. It’s a military ward. And then they were connected to tell me about Moses and plagues and to talk about Jesus and the sacrament. 

I made our Disney dinner for lunch.

It was a delicious one! My pawsicles were more creamy than in the movie, but they were tasty!

I couldn’t fit “The Big Donut” on each one, so some said “The Donut,” and some said “Big Donut.” 🤣 Emmett’s a little perfectionistic, so I always point up when I do something dumb, like write “the donut,” and I ask if he’s mad at me because it’s not perfect and he always says no. Someday he’ll remember and be softer with himself. 

I had a lot of fun finding all the mini crackers for the Little Rodentia charcuterie board. 

I marinated the chicken and shrimp and Damian grilled them and everything was so good!

Savanna Skewers. 

Each skewer represents part of Zootopia. 

They loved the dinner. Emmett tried shrimp and loved it too, so yay!

We watched the movie, then Lu and Damian cleaned up while I bathed the boys. Then they read stories to me and headed to bed. 

And Ruby had fun with the cup at their hotel. They stayed a night at our house in Maryland and everyone was so happy to see her. 

The grands

It was so lovely to see all the grandbabies. They are so wonderful. On Saturday morning Jeanne and Christian left early again, but like 6:00 early instead of 4:00. We saw them off and then I went back to lay down but Lexi and Henry were awake so I don’t sleep. 

We had a busy Saturday planned! First up - baseball game!

Trying to keep Henry occupied by getting a picture together. ❤️

 Emmett got the best hit of the game, I think. It was past third base to the outfield when every other hit went smack dab between first and second. They let them try to hit their coaches pitches 3’ish times and then the T-ball it. 

Both our boys got pitch hits and then everyone gets to progress to home. 

We got through one and a half innings but then had to head out for our next activity. 

Emmett had the opportunity mid-year to switch over to the Liberty Charter School and it was such a good opportunity that the took it. 

Because of that, Carter will be able to start kindergarten there next year, so we got to go to their kindergarten roundup type event.

It’s the kind of school where the teachers line up out side to welcome the kids and there’s loud music and dancing, and tons of family involvement and school pride. 

Everyone kept calling him Emmett. 🤣 They do like alike and the glasses kinda seal the deal. 

Carter gets so shy!

He was very timid, but he went to his activity room happily enough. 

Too shy to smile. 

He got to make a really cool eagle and we got a less cool lecture on the ins and outs of Liberty. Then out to the courtyard for pictures and Kona Ice. 

We go to go to the cafeteria and sample burritos and chicken tetrazzini and then they got a book and a yard sign. 

They’re tasks are to take family pictures reading the book and with the yard sign and send them in to be displayed. 

It seems like an amazing school and I love that the boys get to be part of it. 

Back in Maryland Frankie and the cheerleaders volunteered at a 5k on Solomon’s. 

The next Saturday activity was a birthday party. I was happy to go with Lu or stay home with Henry, and so I stayed home. He played and I did some laundry and got some paper worky things done and the crew had a fun time without chasing a whiny baby that refuses to walk. At 15 months - still no walking. He’s wild!

I can’t remember what this unsure face was about. 

Damian made burgers for dinner and then Lu and I went Disney dinner shopping. 

Dirty Mountain Dew??? Sign me up! I always find fun flavors in the south!

This was not a stay up late kind of trip, so after we enjoyed our ice cream treats, we all headed to bed fairly early. 

Back to the SC

A funny billboard I saw on my drive. 🤣 

Bail bonds poppin locks 24/7

Idk why that made me laugh, but it did.

A few pics I missed from Thursday. That car he’s towing is the beater. It’s an old stick shift he bought when he was having work done on his truck. And since they’ll be in NY, a car without any rust is 🙌🏼 so they’ll sell it if they decide they don’t need it.

Thursday was wonderful Matt’s birthday and our wonderful girls made him a cake and cards and bought him gifts. He said to me “I’m pretty sure Adi bought my gifts with my credit card, but whatever.” I mean, she doesn’t have a job, soooo. 🤷‍♀️

Just a couple besties cuddling on the love seat. 

We all woke up crazy early Friday morning. Brian had some work meetings so he had planned stops along the way, so I guess that’s why he was up at 4:00. Jeanne thought Ruby would do better earlier, and I was just along to get along. The sun coming up is beautiful even though it’s early as heck. 

I actually didn’t feel tired for most of my trip. I did take the one good nap on that amazing bed, but otherwise I was great. And then today (got home yesterday) I’m exhausted. 

I drove through the *cutest* little town all lit up. 

I thought about stopping to walk around, but this wasn’t the trip for me that. Someday. 

All this cuteness is in Henry County. ❤️

I am my fathers daughter. 

Super easy drive and I only almost died once. 👀 We got to Lu’s in the early afternoon and the boys tried on uncle bubbas helicopter helmet. This was after Emmett tried it on, fell backwards, and knocked Henry over.

Jeanne and Christian bought everyone dinner with their moving per deim and I offered to sta with babes again, but they decided to order in. And somehow among all the suggestions they went with Emmett’s for McDonald’s. 🤷‍♀️

We held babies and played with the liars and enjoyed a very relaxed evening. We’d all been up since 4, Damian had worked all day, and Lexi is growing a person, so we called it an early night. I wish we’d had gotten a picture, whomp, whomp.