We are alive...

Just thought I'd let you know, in spite of the blogging evidence to the contrary, we ARE still alive!  It's been a busy few months with Owen's 2nd birthday, a trip to Utah for Thanksgiving, Eli's 4th birthday, Christmas, and a trip to AZ ... the kids and I are actually still in Tucson for another week.  When all is said and done it will have been close to a month long visit... we drove out here with Brad and waited until we got here to decide how long the boys and I would stay after he drove home. My Dad has been going through quite the health crisis, and both parents really needed my help getting some things straightened out, so here we still are.  They both could use your prayers if you have any extra you could send their way! =)

We've enjoyed the warm weather and spending time with Grandma and Grandpa and other relatives, but we MISS Brad and will be glad to get home.  I brought pictures on disk with me thinking I'd have all this time to blog while I was down here, but it hasn't happened... On top of everything going on I've been sick with one thing after another for close to two months... it's been hard to find the energy to be helpful, much less do anything creative... but I'm finally feeling better, so hopefully I'll catch up a little this week!

Bittersweet

Heading home after a long visit with family is always bitter sweet. On the one hand, it's nice to get back to our routine, but being together is so wonderful that parting always brings tears. It brings me joy to see how much my boys love my parents, and how much they love them. Eli thinks anything that Grandma or Grandpa does is cool, and it didn't take long for Owen to buddy up with them either. We sure miss you guys and wish we could visit more often!

I felt like we got a little gypped on our last week there, because Owen ended up getting sick with a runny nose and fever of 103 - 104 for three days straight! I did nothing but rock him and watch movies during that time (Knowing, Becoming Jane, and Mozart and the Whale were my favs). At least Eli got some good one on one time in with Grandma. She sewed up some much needed PJ's and soft shoes for the boys - Eli "helped."

Now we are back in MO, enjoying the perfect nearly-fall weather. It was a LONG travel day back home, but the boys flipped with excitement to see Daddy again. They haven't been able to get enough of him since we got back. And I have to say, my flight from AZ to Denver (layover) had the NICEST people on it. I got more help from the flight crew and fellow passengers than I have ever known to be offered to a mom traveling alone. I can't say the same for other legs of the journey.

Here are a "few" (come on, we all know by now I have a photo addiction, lol) pics of the end of our trip.

The "Owen Walking Harness"

Eli was feeling a lack of attention and insisted "I want to wrap!"

Catching Goldfish

Owen and Great Grandma Maxine

Grandpa's Boat!

ALL Shopping Carts Need Twin Slots

Owen Loving Lemon Wedges at Red Lobster

At the Airport With Our Pile

2nd Leg of the Flight with "Gueewana" (iguana)

Better Together

I love my two boys more than life. Together, they seem to have the power to drive me absolutely batty at times, and to melt my heart completely at others. Spending a day with them is like a wild roller coaster ride of emotions: joy, exhaustion, laughter, and frustration. If you have kids, and especially more than one kid, you know the insanity of which I speak. They are getting into the stage of enjoying each other's company one minute, and fighting over something the next. I never feel like I have enough "me" to give either of them the complete attention that they deserve. And yet somehow I realize that the time is ticking and they are growing up all too quickly!

Here are a few more recent photo worthy moments:

Swimming in Horse Trough

Sleeping in the YMCA Pool

Early Morning

Morning Walk

Tangled

The boys and I have all been sharing a king sized bed here at my parents' house. It really is a comfortable bed with plenty of room for the three of us. I sleep on one edge with Owen tucked next to me towards the middle, and Eli on the opposite edge with a giant body pillow wedged against him so he doesn't roll out. So far it's been a decent arrangement. A few mornings Eli has woken up and asked to "cuddle mommy too" so I have to hoist him over Owen's slumbering body and cuddle him over on the edge.

I usually just lay down with the boys to get them asleep (since we've been here) and then just go to sleep myself. I've been itching for some quiet alone time though, so last night I snuck out of bed after they were asleep and stayed up to watch a movie (Nights in Rodanthe - I hated it!). I had the monitor on and heard Owen squawk a couple of times, but he quieted back down so I just stayed where I was. When I finally came to bed, this is what I saw:

Eli must have been looking for me to cuddle up to as he's laying in my spot. At first I just had to giggle and take a picture. Then as I moved Eli over, I realized how dangerous it probably is for a sleeping baby to have a leg draped over his neck. "Like a boa constrictor!" my mom pointed out to me. So, I guess I won't be leaving them alone in the bed together to sneak in alone time anymore....

Desert Museum

My parents and I took the kids to the Desert Museum on Monday - for future reference we will NOT be doing this again in the summertime! There were lots of fun and creepy things to see, but once again it was really TOO HOT to be out there. We quit halfway through the walking circuit, but I think Eli really enjoyed all the critters. We got to sit in a nice airconditioned auditorium for a presentation on animals and saw a live Coati, Porcupine, Skunk, Lizard, Snake, and Parrots. When the Skunk came walking out on the platform Eli yells, "Oh, a 'tinky snuck!" (stinky skunk). That cracked me up. I also couldn't believe how brave he was about touching the snake. He was fascinated and would have held it if they let him! Since then we've been trying to brainwash him that snakes are mean and scary, because my parents actually get rattlers in their yard and my mom especially is scared Eli will find one and try to pick it up. The beaver exhibit was awesome - we watched the beaver swimming through the glass - they are a lot bigger than i realized. Overall, a fun day, and both kids promptly passed out from heat exhaustion within minutes of being strapped in their carseats =).

Tucson and Casa Grande

I had to post a few more pictures for Brad's sake... we sure miss you honey! Wish you were here having fun with us!

Mmmm... Dog Bones

Vrooooom!

Mmmm... Chocolate!
Swimming in Casa Grande:
Water Baby
Decked Out in our Gear

Hilarious Diving Cousins!

The "boat ride"Babyfat Floats!

Ride 'em Cowboy!

Here, Puppy Puppy...

Tucson Fun

Really, how can you NOT love Tucson??? The city itself is getting too big for my taste, but as far as the desert goes, Tucson is unparalelled in natural beauty. It surpases Phoenix BY FAR in my opinion - especially the North/Foothills part of town. Sure, it's HOT, but it's a DRY HEAT right? =)

Other than the schedule shake-up and resulting tired/crankiness, we're having a good time. I'm pretty worn out from taking care of the boys night and day without Brad, and I MISS my Honey, but we're making some fun memories with the grandparents! Eli is so in love with my mom that most nights he won't even go to sleep unless he cuddles in her bed with her or she comes and reads stories in our room. He's a big fan of grandpa too - they've been playing trains all morning to both of their delights. We were able to spend some time with the extended family in Casa Grande as well - it's so wonderful to see your children bond with family you know and love, but don't get to see often enough!

I also made a trip up to Surprise with the boys to see some old friends and check on the house. It was great to reconnect with such wonderful people! The drive itself gave me butterflies and misty eyes - seeing the area evoked a feeling of homesickness and nostalgia. It was nice to see the house in better repair, though it's still not quite to my own personal standards of cleanliness, which got me ticked off all over again. We stopped by after the get together and my kids were already worn out and cranky, it was 115 degrees out, and I was trying to clean up a few things that caught my eye while sweating to death with sobbing kids hanging on me. I'll be glad when we're through with the rental business, though that may not be for some years to come.

Silverbell Lake

Playing with thorny sticks.

Chasing Ducks
Hot enough for ya?

Peter Piper Pizza - Our Fav!

Sleeping with Grandma

Playing in the Wash

Barbies!

Flight

Well, I survived a plane trip alone with two kids on Saturday! The boys and I flew to Tucson to visit my parents for a couple of weeks. I tend to get airsick and am not a huge fan of flying - I would much rather make a 12 hour road trip than fly - no kidding! Especially when you consider the fact that the airport was over a two hour drive, then we waited in the airport for nearly three hours because our plane was delayed, then the flight, layover, and another flight for a nearly four hour total, then getting baggage and carseats into my dad's truck and a 45 minute drive home... it all makes for a 10+ hour day anyway. Not that I'm complaining =). The kids really did well considering. I just kept the candy and crackers freely flowing, all while trying to keep my eyes glued to the window so I got sick as little as possible. Of course there was the inevitable poopy diaper change MID flight, and the dropped snacks and toys, and the tired Owen tantrum, and the bruises on my forearms from carrying the carseat on and off the plane, but really, I'm not complaining! =) When we finally arrived in Tucson and I walked off the plane with Owen on my back, bags and carseat in my arms and Eli clinging to my legs, another mother on the flight made a comment about "mother of the year award." Ha ha. We were a sight, but THANKFULLY I was able to use Owen's carseat on the plane (especially since the second leg of the flight was FULL) because it made all the difference. If I'd had to hold a squirmy, crying baby I probably would have ended up puking for sure.

Now we're here enjoying the sunshine, the grandparents, the dogs, and jetlag and schedule upset. Traveling with kids is an olympic event!

Waiting with Daddy

Ready to Fly!

Awesome Toy Area Courtesy of Grandma

Early Morning Walk with Grandpa - Who needs a double stroller?

Beautiful Tucson Morning