Wow - it's weird that so much time has passed between posts even though SO MUCH has happened in my life. I'll try to give you a quick run down (without boring you too much) and then I promise to post some new pictures of the grandbabies and kiddos by the end of the week.
Okay on the work side - My responsibilities have GROWN and become more than I can handle most of the time. My company bought a new company and placed all the new company into the leadership roles leaving us worker bees to adjust to lots of changes. I know change is inevitable but sometimes you have to know when to hold up and know when to fold up and I am still on the fence as to what I want/need to do.
Family side - I have seen all of my family in the last few weeks, which living with a bazillion states in between us that is AWESOME! Randy and I went to Texas to attend our Grandson's first birthday and our Granddaughter's third birthday parties. Excluding the travel delays the trip was GREAT! Lots of fun time with the grandbabies over the birthday weekend. My parents, sister, neice and her two boys made the 7+ hour drive to come see us - Arriving late evening Sunday and having to leave Monday early evening which is never long enough but was a GREAT visit anyway. Randy worked the whole week we were in Texas so did I but only quick little things except for Tuesday which I worked all day in the hotel room preparing for a conference call on Wednesday morning which I had to attend also. Randy had to go to Houston for a couple of days so Nyki, Rylee, Jakob and I loaded up in the rental car following my conference call and drove the 8 hours to go see Uncle Shawn and Aunt Tasha - it was the first time I have stayed with them. They are lovely gracious host & hostess, they live in a WONDERFUL house and lovely little town (I could get used to the small town life!)
Thursday night we drove the hour to (which seemed much longer with Jakob who was sick and tired of his car seat by this time!)and surprised my parents, something I have never done before just showed up on the doorstep ringing the bell. Spent some time with them before my sister, brother-in-law, nephew, very pregnant neice-in-law, their son, neice, nephew-in-law, and their two sons (plus their nephew on the other side of the family) showed up to visit. My family can get loud and crazy but that is what I love!!! Tasha drove in after her babysitting charges were picked up and everyone but Britt and her family, Randy (who was sitting at the airport waiting on his delayed flight to finally take off) and Shawn who was working were all together for a while. When it was time for me to go get Randy from the airport (almost 3.5 hours late) Tasha and Nyki took Rylee and Jakob back to T's house to put them in bed. Shawn took a late supper that night so Randy got to see him in uniform - I have to say he is very Handsome in his uniform (remember those pictures I promised - I just might include one of him in Uniform).
Friday we went to a water park - fun fun fun! Again pictures to come. Got sunburned (well Randy and I did anyway) and had a wonderful time. Got back to Tasha's to help her get ready for a trip to Iowa with her parents and siblings (keep her family in prayer the trip was taken to attend a Family Reunion - Celebrate Life party for her grandmother who has cancer and requested to see the family one last time. That would be a hard visit to make!) Tasha's parents picked her up and they drove all night. We played games and I went to bed early only to get up with Jakob who had been a sleep and was startled awake by Rylee (who didn't want to go to bed yet) and then he wouldn't/couldn't settle back down. I sent Nyki to bed and walked the floor, snuggled on the couch and tried to comfort him until after Midnight. He would relax and be okay and then scream out like he was dying of pain then smile at you and settle back down, this grandma who isn't around him that much tried every trick in her book and nothing worked so I woke up his mommy. Nyki tried everything after I went to bed and nothing was working. Shawn got up and nobody ever said he walks softly or opens doors quietly but from the room I was in it sounded like a kid hit the floor and I thought oh gosh Nyki fell asleep and Jakob roled off the couch, Jakob screamed like he had been all night long and I hit the floor running. He hadn't fallen just wanted Uncle Shawn - so I was asking Nyki what she would try at home. She said before he was weaned from the bottle a warm bottle usually did the trick. So she suggested we heat some milk and give it to him in his sippy cup - worked like a charm within 15 minutes he was out for the night (ummm morning because it was after 1:30 by this time.)
Saturday: I got up with a Migraine - a just kill me NOW Migraine! We were suppose to go to my parents that morning but ended up not going until early afternoon thanks to my headache. Which was kind of nice because it allowed Randy and Shawn some more one on one visit time. We got to mom's and spent some time with Jakob taking a nap with her (while the guys went to exchange the rental car that was having battery issues). We gathered up the kids and went to my sisters to swim (Randy and I didn't get in the pool - remember our sunburn) Went shopping with my preg NIL and Neice and mom and got the coolest new purse. Ate some of the best bbq brisket ever for supper played on the 4 wheelers, visited and the evening ended WAY TO SOON! Even if it was after 10 I just didn't want it to end.
Sunday: Got up at 4 a.m. for a the trip back to Nyki's House. At least this time Randy was there to drive but I felt every mile on the way. Dropped Nyki and kids off at about 1:30 headed for the airport stopping to eat lunch on the way and do a little shopping. Got to the airport to find out our flight was delayed due to all the storms Dallas & Atlanta were having. Took off from DFW about 3 hours late, landed in Atlanta after our connecting flight was scheduled to take off but found it to also be delayed. Finally got home and in my OWN BED after 3 a.m. - Called in to work taking the morning off to sleep (remember I worked a bunch while on vacation so they were very understanding!)
Skip to 4th of JULY - Britt's older boys spent the night on Tuesday staying up until after 11 watching "CARS" then they were up at 6:30 excited to start their day. We went to the Lutz Parade meeting our friends the Laneys, home to have a cook out and naps (not that anyone but Andrew got a good one) then to the fireworks where we hooked up with the Laneys plus Julie's grandmother who turned 85 on the 4th of July (what a cool birthday that would be!) Fireworks started at about 9:15, which Andrew clapped for and loved! So it was a GREAT holiday.
But alas it is back to work :) luckily this week will consist of Monday & Friday (yes I know it is actually Thursday but boy does it feel like a MONDAY!!!!).