Missed Them BIG!

What a sight for sore eyes!  

Having your kids run into your arms at the airport is some kind of amazing!  It was beyond good to see my babies Tuesday afternoon when I flew into Nebraska to pick them up to take them home!  I missed them so BIG!

I am so lucky to have pretty amazing parents that took care of my babies for the week and had their lives flipped a little upside down. I know they were ready to say goodbye when we left on Friday (day 10 of kiddos, including a daughter for 4 of them), but I know that they miss them too, more than they thought they would.

Pretending to asleep. Cozy, cuddled and snuggled together on the couch!

 They might have the most comfortable couch/ottoman and at least one of them (or two) would sleep on it each night! In fact, our last night there, Lola woke up at 3am, crying to go sleep with grandpa (who we could hear snoring) on the couch. Up she went and slept until morning.

Wake up time!

 

Wrestling with grandpa!

When the kiddos were with grandpa and grandma Nebraska, a couple of new things were discovered:

• Animal Planet.  This is on 24/7, no joke.  Bigfoot is a favorite with both of the kids (how they aren't having nightmares I am not sure, that show is scary).   All of the dog shows that they have watched has also paid off, they have a new love for our dog Fletcher, who sad to say really doesn't get that much attention.  He is now spoiled with love and affection from both kids.  They constantly want Fletcher to lay with them or be by them or feed him or make sure he is doing okay.  It is adorable and very sweet to watch.  Fletcher now feels very loved.  Thank you Animal Planet.

• Baseball.  Kyan wants to play catch non-stop and begged anyone in his path to play with him or pitch the ball to him.  Thank you Auntie Marcia and cousin Carrie for the glove, bat, and ball!  

While the kids were in Wahoo, they went to the park almost every single day, usually after my parents got off of work.  The city park is really nice to play on and the equipment doesn't burn your fingers, a nice change from AZ.   Lola got a nice shiner the first night there from the race car. 

Wahoo also has a pretty cool little water park and we went two days in a row (the weather was finally nice enough for them to go for the first time when I got there)!  Kyan spent both days on the lily pads that stretch from one end of the pool to the other, one day for three hours, the next for two.

 We spent the two of the four days while I was there with the kids with cousin Lexi (my second cousin, I think?  Lexi is my cousin's daughter, making her my second cousin, making her the kids'?????)!  Whatever the relation, she plays awesome with both kids and was so helpful!  We loved hanging out with her all day!  

 Lola didn't swim the first day (she was napping), but the second day she made it to the pool!  She dipped her little feet in the water and splashed around, but that was about it!  We hung out on the chairs in the shade and watched the other two kids play.  It was nice bonding time for us!

A little sibling LOVE at the pool!  Lola was very proud of her brother for making it across the lily pads all by himself!  I love how she is looking at him!

With a full moon out one night, grandpa pulled out two pairs of binoculars and they got to take a closer look! 

 

 I am so excited that kids do so well on the airplane, because this little trip home reminded me of just how much I love to be around my family.  Yes, my parents come out to Arizona all of the time, but it was nice to be surrounded by family that doesn't make it out here quite as much.  I got to spend quite a bit of time with my cousin Carrie and we can't wait until she comes out to visit us!  Lola already told her she can sleep in her room and bring her dog, Chloe!  My aunt Sue and my aunt Marcia are too good to us and we loved hanging with them!  I even got to spend a few hours with a few high school friends (ones that I was inseparable from while I lived there) and their kids!  But most important, I got to be with my parents, who I am so grateful for and who I love so much.  I hope to get back sooner than 3 years from now.

Mom and Dad, I can't thank you enough for taking such wonderful care of our children while we could getaway to Jamaica (a post to come soon, I swear, I have so many pictures to go through). Thank you for taking care of me while I was there and providing those applesauce doughnuts each and every morning! Ones that I had to fight my kids for, I didn't think anyone could love them more than me, but I think I have met my match!

We love you and miss you.