So while Travis was here...
the coliseum in Rome,
on the banks of the dead sea in Jordan,
doing dramas on the Corniche in Beirut, Lebanon
(in front of 200 people!)
meeting and talking with a Shake,
and hanging out in the cedars of Lebanon
the girls and I were not just sitting around twiddling our thumbs!
We had a lot going on in those two weeks...
starting with Ellie losing her first tooth in the
middle of the night!
She came to my bed with it in her hand!
No blood, no pulling, she just woke up in the night
and there it was!
The mercy of God on me while Trav was away...
I don't do lose teeth--pulling them, feeling them,
wiggling them...can't do it!
First toothless grin pic!
We then moved on to Emmy's first haircut--
so proud of her (surprised) for sitting perfectly still
She was a little nervous but her sweet sisters held her hand
through the whole thing.
Because we were heading to a wedding, they all got them!
A fun trip to the splash pad...
including a scary moment where Emmy helped save on of our little
14 month old friends because she saw him go under in a fountain
and started screaming for help!
Then off to the airport to fly to Waco and then
go on to Houston for Alicia's wedding!
Fun times flying solo with three!
On one leg these two had to sit in a row all by themselves...
felt like I was flying with teenagers
(fortunately this leg was only 30 minutes!)
Time at Grandmommie's on Mother's Day!
A flight back home
(the teenagers again!)
Just in time for Ellie's last day of preschool...
(last time walking her in as a preschooler)
Last time walking into Mrs. Neal's classroom...
Last good morning hug from Mrs. Neal...
she's had one of these every day since she started in August.
We're going to miss these hugs!
Creating and packaging end of the year gifts.
(homemade chocolate chip cookies in a bronze planter
with a sign that said,
"Thank you for all that you have planted in my heart!"
Just your run of the mill trip to Target
(this was the most recent Phillips girls configuration in the shopping cart...
they have to switch place throughout the trip but not a bad setup all together)
And just trying to make life fun while Daddy's away...
this night was swimming, In-and-Out, Yogurtland, and a late night
trip to...
Target, again!
And then towards the end I had the grand idea to try to
potty train Emmy...
maybe not my most genius mom move ever.
Not the best circumstances,
the end of a single parenting two weeks,
almost 8 months pregnant,
100+ degrees outside,
had to go down the street to the Salsky's because friends were mowing our yard,
only could stay home part of the day.
NOT how you want to go into potty training!
But she did fine that day...
drinking lots of drinks,
going tee tee in the potty most of the time all on her own,
getting lots of help and reminders from her big sisters
(who also got a treat every time she went!)
But by the afternoon I was kind of done and had to run errands and take
Ellie to a party that evening...
she was having more accidents and I was having less patience
so I made the call to be the better, kinder, more sane parent and I
totally aborted my mission.
Kind of a big deal for me because when I get my mind set on something I'm
usually pretty stubborn in seeing it through.
It was a gentle lesson from the Lord...and one that paid off in the long run.
We went back to diapers the next day and totally stopped talking about it.
(I kind of acted like it never happened)
Then about a week and a half later when she was at Mimi and Poppy's, she
kind of trained herself. They wouldn't be able to find her and would
eventually discover her sitting on the potty going!
So pretty much since then she's had it...very few accidents.
So proud of her.
She (and I) had to do it a different way this time around!
This is Gracie's end of the year soccer party at Peter Piper Pizza.
Not somewhere I personally enjoy that much, and for sure without Trav there!
So many kids, so many germs, so many games I think are creepy and don't want them
playing...just all around not my favorite.
But we did it for Gracie and it was totally fine!
An example of why Peter Piper with three kids and one parent is hard:
1) Emmy runs off while I'm waiting in a super long line
2) I send Ellie to go get her
3) She successfully brings her back!
SG and her coaches
Super excited about this trophy
(not super excited to smile.)
And last but not least...
preparations for Daddy to come home,
completely with Chilis chips and salsa!
He made it back to us!
Gifts from Lebanon!
We managed fine and there was so much grace to walk in peace and patience most of the time...
but we like life WITH Daddy much better than without!
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