Catching Up 3.1

So to continue with my backlog of posts that needed to actually get posted, here is the next set and then we're almost done!!!

On October 13th we flew home to Spokane, WA for my grandfather's funeral. I know - it is a sad occasion, but I just had a hard time being too sad. I loved going home. I was surprised by how much I loved it and I can't wait to go back for Christmas. The trip was a sudden surprise paid for generously by someone else, thank goodness. It was so expensive and we wouldn't have been able to even think about Christmas.

So we arrived in Spokane at around midnight which, for those of you counting, put our family at about 3am. We never really adjusted and I didn't work too hard to get it that way due to the fact that we were leaving within the next five days. It wasn't worth it to move the kids' internal clocks. So we were pretty much exhausted every day and night. The rest of both our families didn't make a time change. It felt like they kind of forgot how much a change it really was for our family because they kept wanting to do things long after we were toast, but what can you do, it's family!

chillin' after breakfast at Grama's

Anyway, we arrived the 13th, a Wednesday, and slept until about noon their time (3pm ours) before we even dragged ourselves out of bed. It was really hard. Thankfully, we stayed with the Fosburgs and they love to get up early. They got up with JC and Evie every morning. I don't have to tell you how nice that was. They fed them, played with them, entertained, and disciplined them. They have visited us twice since we got to South Carolina so my kids actually listen to them in general. It was a special treat for me since Chris deployed a day and a half after we got home from the funeral and sleeping in is not an option when you're an only parent.

kids table at Grama and Grampa's - great set up

So Thursday, 14th, was very relaxed or at least it was going to be. We lounged and ate and watched the kids play and really basked in the Fosburg's new home.

{They had moved since we had and it was our first time there. So beautiful and so them. I actually got lost once, not kidding, at night when Lizzy woke up for a pacifier. It was a bit disconcerting. All that kept coming up in my mind's eye was their old house. I don't have to tell you, that wasn't very helpful in the house that never ends.}

carriage ride - go figure - one of his favorites!

We enjoyed ourselves and both Katie and Renee's visits. It was so nice to see my sisters. Katie had just visited the month before due to her sister-in-law's wedding only 2hrs from us in Charlotte, NC. I missed Renee' so much! She really had become one of my best friends while we lived in Spokane and then we moved! It was terrible. Now that I have texting, we are reconnecting better.

caged Evie - sometimes, how I wish!!!

In the evening, we had dinner with everyone from both families at Chuck E. Cheese! I had mentioned that it would be nice to do a little something for JC's birthday while we were in town since the stress of the travelling prevented me from doing much for his special day. She loved the idea and had it moved up in the plans to the day after we got there. I loved seeing all my nieces and nephews, and of course, their parents. What a beautiful family we belong to! The kids had a great time and wonderfully surprising for me, mom and dad sat with me at my table the whole time! I loved the little extra attention, especially with all my siblings there. I really had missed them a lot. We talk pretty much every Sunday, but it's not the same as a mom-hug.

aren't I so blessed!?

So that was our first full day in Spokane. It was long!!!! I'm sure it didn't feel it to anyone else, but for our family it was a lot so quickly. We understood the rush; we weren't going to be in town long, but it was hard not getting to bed until 12/1 am every night. It was so late for us! But so much fun, how do you say, "no, I've got to get to bed" ?