The Final Summer Adventure!

 After returning from our MN trip the kids were home for only about 16 hours before hitting the road for adventures in MO!  They were so excited to spend time with cousins.  

While the drive to the meet up spot was fairly uneventful, the hand off was a little tricky.  M suddenly had lots of anxiety and I almost didn't think that the hand off would happen.  The kids were in MO from August 19th-August 30th which is 12 days (or 10 plus travel days).  This is the longest they have been away from us and M was not at all sure about it.  After a long time and at least three attempts to peel him off of me I was successful and they departed. 

I am sure as you read this you might be thinking that Brandon and I must have had a pretty incredible vacation during that time.  We surely did enjoy our time of freedom from kid responsibilities.  Up until that point the kids had been with us much of the time for a long time!  Sadly, I can't report that we took much of a vacation, we actually worked the entire time.   We did enjoy a movie many of the nights and we ate some nicer meals and had a few treats, but mainly, we worked!  Usually I get through bins and boxes and toys and books and school work during this time.  This year I didn't touch a thing at home besides washing bedding.  While the kids were gone I prepped trainings and scope and sequences for iGnite and Sunday School, prepped nursery training and made the nursery schedule, held all three trainings, ordered supplies and decor, and countless other things.  It was so wonderful to get things checked off the list.  Thankfully, the trainings are created and hopefully the prep for next fall will be much easier! 

Here are some highlights of the kids time in MO and a few pics of our not so exciting time without kids. 

Culver's lunch is the perfect recipe to help with a rough transition!

They were off to the races!

Fun adventures with cousins!

It is such a blessing that so much family lives near Grandpa Tom and Grandma Judy.  It was great fun for the kids to see everyone and also provided many social opportunities for the kids.

T: Uncle Curtis and I built a tall tower.

T: Then we rested.

T: We found a good tree at church.

Ready for church!

T: Can I keep this toad friend?

Lake Day!!!

Brave Tubers!

T: Boat naps are the best naps!

I am not sure why the next two pictures are joined together.  The kids were able to watch a caterpillar turn into a butterfly!!  Clearly one picture comes before the other and blogger will not let me switch the order to separate them. 

T: This home will keep it safe.

They went back to the lack to swim which ended up not being a favorite activity.

T: I love playing in the creek!

A little ping pong in the evening!

A Birthday celebration!

Cousins and besties!

The last day for the pool!

The whole crew!

Pancakes every single day!

T: We got to feed the cows!

Loving farm life!

I spy a butterfly!

Time to release!

T: Tire swings are great!

M: Dad's aunt and uncle got a Tesla!

Meanwhile, back at home these random things were happening... 

Buttercup:  I know this has been up for 3 years, but suddenly I want to attack it.

I was going crazy looking for my van key.  I knew it had to be at our house because I drove home using it.  We searched everywhere for weeks.  When the kids were gone I suggested we move the fridge because I keep the key in a basket near it and I remembered seeing T digging in the basket.  Sure enough, the key was there.  We also found old photos and parts of toys and crumbs and memories from all parts of life between 2013 and present time!  It was like a time capsule. 

Found!!!

When the kids are away... we take pictures of the cats.

And of tasty Porterhouse Steak dinners!

So this cart is impressive because I managed with only one cart!  In my mind it was a sign that the worst of the pandemic was behind us... little did I know of Omicron haha.

There is a lot of strategy in this cart.

Who knew a blueberry crumble would have 47 steps and take all morning to make.  I would set the timer and run back and forth from my office.  Thankfully it was tasty!

I am so thankful for my mama friends and all the chaos that brings us close!

T's bedding is extensive!

The kids returned home on August 30th.  We drove directly to Walgreens for M's second dose of the covid vaccine.  T also "NEEDED" some fake nails and other random things.  We were all spent when we arrived home.

This greeted me when I came downstairs on the 31st.  Fun!

T started school on the 1st, so we knew we had to get her haircut on the 31st.  She was very excited about her big haircut!

Before!

And After!  I LOVE this cut.  She was thrilled to be able to donate her hair!

For an unknown reason M took 60 pictures of this.  I saved one.

 

Hard to believe summer vacation was coming to an end...