Back to Life, Back to Reality

We're home.  Now it's back to the good old routine. 

Back to laundry.
Back to cooking meals.
Back to familiar areas and freeways.
Back to school (Luke starts First Grade tomorrow).
Back to stuffy noses.
Back to no humidity.
Back to 100 degree weather.
Back to the doggy's kisses.
Back to my soft bed.
Back to my friends and family.

Ah, yes, it's good to be back!

Jealous?

We just got gas for $3.75/gallon! Isn't it sad that these days we think that's cheap?

What's the price at home?

---later--
$3.66 here

Nighttime Adventures

Last night we caught fireflies, tonight we stalked frogs.

I hope my kids will someday remember how their awesome mom grabbed lightening bugs out of the night and chased frogs in the dark with them.

Playtime

Bet you thought you'd get a break from me! Nope, I've found that I can blog via Jason's blackberry!


Last night the kids were playing outside with their cousin Ryan and Luke propsed they go "fight the Lamanites in ancient history!"


What an imagination!

Leaving On a Jet Plane

I have never been able to sleep the night before a vacation.  I'm always worried that I will  forget something important (and I'm a little excited to be leaving the routine behind).  But this time, I've been kinda panicky all week.  Last night I got home from GNO and watched a little Shear Genius and fell asleep.  After 2 1/2 hours I woke up and couldn't fall back to sleep. 

I should have gotten up and blogged, read or watched t.v., but I was giving it my all trying to fall back to sleep.  I don't know when I finally fell back to sleep, but I do know that I woke up at 6:30 panicking about printing off our boarding passes, so I just got up then and dealt with it.

My tummy has been doing flip flops for 2 days now and I'm fighting to stay calm.  I think the biggest reason this is starting so early is because we are flying.  I've never flown with 2 small children before.  I'm the type of person who likes to travel with just a carry-on bag when flying.  Now I have to carry all the stuff to keep a kid entertained - food, DVDs, iPods, stuffed animals, booster seats... 

How does a worrywort plan for a vacation you ask?  Well, I'm planning the shoes the kids get to wear - sandals, not flip flop (so they don't fall off if we have to run in the airport).  I'm wondering if they should have backpacks, or if I should.  They can't be heavy in case I have to carry them too, and they can't have anything important (like an iPod) in them in case they are left behind.  I've put address labels on the boosters in case I leave one on the plane (or airport).  I'm even debating whether or not to take pictures of my packed bags in case someone likes what they see when they are searching our stuff.  I keep reminding myself that my father-in-law has a washing machine, so I don't need to take our entire wardrobes.  I did remember to go buy replacement space bags for wet swimwear and dirty laundry.

Breathe, breathe...I keep reminding myself that there is a Walmart on the other end of this flight. I keep reminding myself that Jason will be there too.  And I just keep reminding myself that at the end of the flight I will be rewarded with a lovely Steak-n-Shake Side-By-Side™ Milk Shake (or perhaps a Sippable Sundae™ Milk Shake). 

Dear Mitchell

Dear Mitchell,

I just want to thank you for being Luke's friend. I'm grateful that you come over and play with him everyday. I'm especially grateful that you forgive him whenever he has a tantrum. You are patient with him when he gets frustrated and pouts.  You always try to get him back into a good mood.

I’m thankful when you try to let him win at games because he doesn’t understand very well that you can’t win at everything. I’m thankful you invited him to your baptism and showed him that it’s not scary. He now talks about getting baptized too.

He really looks up to you and you are a good example to him. You always encourage him to choose the right. You teach him lots of things and you always try to be the very best friend you can.

THANK YOU!!!!!

Love,

Luke’s mom

*********************************

Dear Mitchell’s Mom,

I just want to thank you for the special little boy you are raising. I feel safe with him as Luke’s friend. I hope their friendship will last a long time and that Mitchell won’t get too tired of Luke’s “growing pains”.

Thank you too for the hand you have had in teaching my children. I know that Luke had a good year in Kindergarten because of what he learned from you and your mom.

You are a great example to me. I must say that I feel honored to serve with you. I’m always impressed with how you deal with things. I hope that I am supportive enough for you. I’m always like “What? She’s asking MY opinion? She’s so together and I’m not!”

Thanks for being my friend!

Love,

Heather

Wheeler Farm Fun

Today I left my little bubble again and caravaned to Wheeler Farm with some friends. We forced the kids to pose for photos so someday we can prove to them that we did do fun things together (well, at least that's MY plan...).

Jaqui brought bread and shared with everyone. I didn't know they had geese and ducks, or I would have brought some old cereal to share. Luke loved feeding the geese and he was laughing (thank goodness) when one goose got his fingers.
Brooke liked the ponies, but they just wouldn't come when she called them...


Brooke got brave and "pet" the sheep.
After lunch the kids played in the creek and the mommies just chatted in the shade. It was perfect. As I watched the kids playing, I realized that this was the first time my kids had ever waded in a creek. It made me think of a creek not too far away that I used to wade in as a child. I was a little sad remembering my grandparents and the fact that said creek no longer exists as I remember it. There were pigs and chickens and a creek....we were in the "neighborhood"...there were old tractors everywhere...The whole visit reminded me of summers with Grandpa Walker. Next time I go, I plan on being brave and wading too!