Vacation Week and Recovery:)

We returned home from Illinois via the Atlanta Airport with Granny as our houseguest! She was heading up to spend some time with Jen and Dad, but we were excited to have her for a night:) She had not seen our new house and, of course, the boys wanted to show her all their toys! She spent the night with us and we met with Jen, Troy and the kids in Gadsen the next day for dinner to make the drop-off. Here are a few pictures of GGma with her great-grandchildren...

GGma...Look at our stuff!!



Playin' Checkers with GGma at Cracker Barrel...



GGma with the Greats...



Granny with the girls...


Sunday night after dinner we began our first Vacation Bible School. The boys weren't too sure the first night, but as the week went on they enjoyed it more and more. The boys really liked singing songs and dancing and learned to play duck-duck-goose...thanks Monica! The last 2 nights we took our neighbor Wyatt with us for the ride...it was kinda like having triplets!

Wednesday we had the pleasure of babysitting little Kerrigan while Leah went to the doctor. She slept most of the time, but when she woke up, the boys were sure to entertain her. They gave her lots of hugs and kisses (with their mom saying gentle, careful, easy...about 100 times each) and taught her about all the farm animals. They held up each one, about a centimeter from her nose, and named the animal and told her what sound it made. LeLe and Guncle...that tutoring session was free, but I'm going to start charging!



Thursday morning we boarded a plane in route to Anna Maria Island, Florida for our long awaited trip with the Aranda family. WoooHooo! The boys did great on the flight. Brad sat in one row with Parker and Carson and I sat behind them. We did some passing back and forth of many items and snacks, but got more compliments as we got off the plane! Go us again! When we arrived in Tampa, we weren't able to get our bags due to a lightning delay- so Brad waited near baggage claim while the boys and I ventured out to get some food!

I guess I was feeling confident after being in an airport last weekend--but this time I didn't have GGma or Brad. We headed up the escalator...to find that we had to go up another one. We then found a Burger King:( Oh well, it's food, right? As we waited in line, Parker did his acrobatics on the poles in the line...and Carson kept asking if we could get ketchup, louder and louder and louder...like 1000 times at least. Ok, maybe 10, but it feels like 1000 when you are trying to get my other child to quit doing flips- oh yea, and EVERYONE is staring at you. Come on people- it's two 3 year olds- give me a break! Or maybe they were just staring because they are so cute......yea, that's it:)

As we load up with the food and drinks...we head back to baggage claim. The boys were unable to help me carry anything....So picture this...I balance their bottle of milk (which they totally could have carried) on top of the Diet Coke that Brad and I will share (I was thinking ahead) and have the bag of food in the other hand. I figure I should stay between them, so I have Carson step on the escalator first, then me, and I am SURE that Parker will step right on behind me....WRONG. He freezes and immediately starts screaming, "Mama....don't leave me!!!" I tell Carson to sit down, he does (THANK GOD!), I set the drinks on the next step and then run back up to get Parker. Good thing we are the only people on the escalator because those things are quicker then you think! We end up getting back to Brad, who now has our bags, unscathed. Geez....can these escalators please give me a break!!

Soon after we finish eating, Mike Aranda, our limo driver, picks us up and we head to the island! We spent the rest of the evening getting set up at our vacation house. Jess and I headed to the store...$68 on groceries (thanks to all the stuff she brought from home!) and $98 on adult beverages....we had our priorities straight. We took the kids swimming in the pool in the backyard...that thing was HOT....and then grilled some steaks and spent some time catching up.

Our vacation was fabulous:) The kids played well together...yes there were some reminders to share and be nice, but that's everyday anyway! We spent time on Mike's boat- and even found a little island to spend the day on. We played on the beach and at the house, ate, drank, played games, including golf (Thanks Hokansons!) and spades...remember Brad, hearts, clubs, diamonds, spades....all the 2's count;). It was a great time with friends...lots of relaxing and laughing. Can't wait 'til next year!

Chillaxin at the Vacation House






Kids Eating...they have syrup in Florida!!



Beach time!!









We've spent this week unpacking and getting back into the routine....Brad was home most of the week...just a couple of nights in Georgia. We had an appointment with the physical therapist about Carson's AFOs. He is better, but not off those toes, so she recommended a few more months in them before looking at something like casting...so we'll be annoyed for a little while longer.

Cute story (NOW, I can say that)...Monday afternoon the boys refused to take a nap (imagine that, after being on vacation). I had pitching lessons and needed to leave by 3:00 to get them over to Bebe and Pop's house. From 1:00 until about 2:30 they just kept talking and getting up. I couldn't get them to close their eyes....I tried everything I could think of, but nothing was working. Finally I put them in separate rooms....still nothing...they both ended up in trouble, sitting in the corner, in separate rooms-which is where they fell asleep at 2:40...really? Come on guys! I couldn't help but take these pictures...





Looking forward to a relaxing weekend:)