6 Days to go

So I'm preparing for a bunch of guys to land at my house and then for me and the kids to take off - all on the same day. On Wednesday, I head out to Missouri and Iowa to visit family and friends and I'm taking the kiddos with me. Sean, on the other hand, is staying here and 5 of his friends are flying in. Thankfully, part of their time will be spent in Las Vegas, so they won't have quite as many days to tear apart my house. I guess they are older now and probably not as crazy as they were in college, but, ah, the memories still linger. So, a lot to do before we head out - clean house, pack up the kids, grocery shop for a bunch of guys. Plus we celebrate our 8 year anniversary on Tuesday, so we're headed to dinner and a movie with Aileen and John.

I am working on not becoming full-on sick. It's just been a cough so far, and now I'm losing my voice. I just always pray the kids don't get it too. We had better not be sick for the big trip! We have 6 days to get better.

Well, Grant is waiting for me to play with some toy pigs. Duty calls.

I love this picture of Lauren because it looks like she is trying to smile for the camera - like a fake smile. It's funny because she doesn't really know how to fake smile yet, being 1 and all.

And this one I love, although it's a bit blurry.

It's HOT in the AZ

Yep, it's hot. We can't complain though - no earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, just that dry dry heat. We'll manage through it just like all of the other years. I know once August comes around though, we will wonder if it will ever end, and yes, in late October, it finally does.

My birthday was Sunday and I was able to share it with Father's Day and someone else who is brand new and special in our lives...... I think after you hit 30, birthdays just aren't a big deal anymore. Yes, I'm glad I have them, otherwise I wouldn't be alive, you know? But I'd rather just have a nice dinner and have them be uneventful. We celebrated with Sean's mom Lois last Wednesday, since her birthday was the 9th. Then we went out to dinner with our friends, the Severas, to Kona Grill on Saturday night. We had a great time talking and relaxing - it was a perfect evening.

We celebrated Father's Day at the Weber's place in Gold Canyon. The kids got to do some swimming, while the fathers watched some golf and others played games. Then I had an indoor soccer game that evening, which we lost. Oh well.

I've got a countdown going until I head to Missouri with the kids. Only 2 weeks to go! I'm excited to meet my new little niece there and also worried about heading to Cedar Rapids, IA and seeing the devestation there. It's overwhelming to hear my friends talk about all of the destruction by the water. It will be interesting to see how everything looks, and of course fun to see all of my childhood friends again!

A ride across the country

Well, they're gone. Sunday we set off for a 2 day trek across the SW and Midwest and landed in Grain Valley, MO (KC suburb). Overall, the journey was an easy one. Just a truck and a car and 3 of us to drive, so we were each able to rest some too. Dad let me drive the truck awhile. At first it was scary but then you get used to it I guess. What I don't know if I'll get used to is that they're gone. Not for good, but at least for awhile. I keep expecting dad to knock on the front door and come right in, or to come home and find my backyard mowed. It's sad and I want to cry. I did cry the night I flew back home - poor Sean. I think he just wanted to go to sleep, but instead he had to cradle me as I cried. What a great husband I have. There are a lot of emotions to sort through. I'm sincerely happy for my brothers and their families as they will get to spend more time with their parents and receive all the ready help they have to give. I'm saddened that they will miss out on things the kids do - especially Lauren. I will miss dad just coming over and sitting around to talk and chase the kids. I'll miss my babysitters too! Guess I'm just more on my own now. But they will be back to visit, maybe for the winter, who knows. I will be ready for them; they always have a place here.