Our Trip Home...Part One

So after almost a month in Waco, we loaded up the sedan (my parents extra car that they have given us...at least for now until we figure out what we're going to do about getting a new one) and headed home to Tempe, by way of Amarillo again.  So, a sedan, that mean three car seats across the back, that means each child can VERY easily touch, irritate, steal snacks/toys from, pinch, the other one.  Not that a 1,000 mile car ride is ever easy with three kids 3 and under, but not really ideal when you're in a sedan!  Thankfully our sweet friend Kristen (who has moved here to Arizona and is living with us!) flew in to Waco and made the trip with me.  Wow--she's amazing.  Glad she didn't really know what she was signing up for until after we were on the road...because I really needed her and had she known, she may have bailed (I would have!).

Ok, so the drive from Waco to Amarillo was fine.  No major meltdowns, made great time.  We actually drove straight to their new lake house, got there around 4 and had the rest of the day to let the kids run and play (and swim and boat and eat and roast marshmallows!).  Not just any old pit stop we'll say that! 

This is the view from their outdoor patio/kitchen/entertainment area.  So beautiful and relaxing!

Yes, the swim teachers DID put floaties on SG!

Kristen and E

Ok, this is a VERY familiar scene, Claire helping the little girls.

The brave ones: Kristen, Claire, and John David

The girls felt MUCH more comfortable holding hands while Uncle David was driving!

I've never been super brave, but getting ready to ride on this I felt like a total wimp!  The kids had to tell me it was going to be fine.  I mean, it's practically like riding on a couch out there...not scary, just one of those things where you're life is in the hands of the driver.  Uncle David!

I survived!

Smores after the babies were in bed!

Headed in after a full, fun evening.  Ellie on Uncle David's shoulders.

The Nances were so sweet to host us and make the afternoon and evening so fun for us.  They were actually in between dropping kids off at camps.  They dropped Caroline off that morning at the bus to go to Kanakuk and Claire was leaving the next afternoon for a week at Hidden Falls.  Thanks for dropping all you had, again, to be with us!

20 Minutes w/ Gigi, GranBear, Mimi, and Poppy

We were so blessed by a little visit from the girls grandparents AND great-grandparents.  They stopped by just for a few hugs, kisses, and pictures on their drive home from the ranch.  The girls call them Gigi and GranBear (the other great-grandkids call him Gan Gan, but E one day decided to call him GranBear.  Just like E to do that.)

Gigi and GrandBear and the girls

Gigi and Gracie

I LOVE these next two.  SG is such a sweet thing.  Loves to give kisses.

Poppy trying to wrangle 3 girls (Abby being the third!)

Mimi's always wanted girls...and she's gotten her prayer, three times over!

GranBear and sweet Emmy

The girls with Mimi and Poppy

Look at these fun girls!

Gigi with the youngest great-grandchild

Thanks for stopping by!  We were glad to be a pit stop!
We love you, Mimi and Poppy,
Gigi and GranBear

 

Sunglasses...

One day out shopping we somehow all ended up with new sunglasses (minus the little girls).

Maybe because while we were waiting for my sister we happened to be standing by the sunglasses...so we eventually all found a pair we liked!

Caroline and I ended up with the exact same ones.  Love how I look so much taller than her in this pic...we are actually the exactly the same height (5ft 3 1/2in).

SG and JD

Love. True Love.

A Date with C and C

Caroline and Claire

They are growing up.  They were my "babies" until I had babies...

and now they're becoming my buddies.

Things were so crazy in Waco but we were able to steal away and have a date.
Just the three of us.

It included "Soul Surfer",

3 Spoons fro-yo,

and lots of the new Bethel Live CD which the girls and I love!
Mostly "one thing remains".

I love time with them.  They are so fun to be with.

They are so sweet and helpful with my kids.  They love Jesus and are so open to learning more about Him.  I know they will be mighty women of God.   I'm so blessed to get to be a part of their lives.

Love you Caroline and Claire!  Thanks for hanging out with me!

More on Swimming Lessons...

(disclaimer: if you're not in the mood to read, scroll down for pictures...this is a long one!)

A typical day for me while I'm in Waco teaching swimming:

Wake up,
go for a run,
get time with God,
feed the baby,
put on my swimsuit,
go teach kids to swim all day,
come back inside in the late afternoon,
feed the baby,
get my kids in swimsuits and sunscreen,
go back outside for them to play til dinner,
bathe them up 

and put them to bed. 

(i left out my 30 min lunch break where i again, feed the baby!)

Wow. Long days.

Swimming lessons are always long, long days outside in the sun with lots and lots of kids.
Some that love to swim and some not so much.  But somehow I love it every year...but not because it's easy, but because... 

• It really is rewarding to see a kid overcome their fear and find something that they actually love and can be good at. 
• For part of the time I get hour after hour with my sister (quantity time at it's best!). 
• My kids get to stay at their grandparents house and play with their cousins who they don't get to see very often.
• I get time with my nieces and nephew...who I adore but are growing up so fast.

I'm not a working Mom the other 11 months of the year but in June, I very much am!!

But I honestly think I have the easier job during that month.  My  mom, on the other hand, has the harder.  She takes care of my three and my sister's three kids (ranging in age from 5 months to 11 yrs).  She helps with all the "traffic" of swim kids, parents, cars, etc coming and going.  People say it all the time about her, but she really is superwoman.  She sacrifices so much for all of us...she is the most selfless person I know.  She serves us tirelessly and asks for nothing in return.  She loves our kids so well...Emily I think knew Grandmommie more than Mommy during that month! 

I heard a sermon at Antioch in Waco by Chris Bennett while I was there about honor and was freshly convicted to do a better job of honoring my mom for who she is and all she does for me.  I take her for granted all to often.  I know she's not perfect, but perfection has nothing to do with honor.  Thank you, Mom for laying down your life for us over and over again.  I feel like these three words describe you--prayer, passion, and purpose.  Thank you for being such a powerful example in my life.

Ok...pics!

Staying occupied while stuck inside...

the itouch...thank you nance kids for sharing!

the ipad...thank you aunt allie for trusting them with it!

papa, we are so proud of how hard you have worked since your stroke.
thanks for reading to the kids, they love it!

pic by claire

pic by claire

And then, once they were free to go outside...they had a blast. The Ogdens were in town for Jayden to take lessons and they came over almost every afternoon.  Oh, that we lived in the same town all the time!!  The kids (and moms!) have so much fun together.

We also got some fun time with my sweet friend Marci Hartsock and her kids.  When they came over with Christy there were 9 kids altogether! 3 of mine, 4 of Marci's, and 2 of Christy's (Campbell was usually home!)

Ellie and Anna in matching swimsuits

Whoa...lots of fun in the sun.

(Jayden Ogden, Jade Hartsock, and Ellie were in the same class in swim lessons and Christy has a cute post of their "parents day".  I, of course, got no pics of that event!)