So Far So Good

So far, it's been a nice trip home. Sunday I got back while everyone was at church, but I had time to blog and cool down and relax before everyone came. By relax, I don't mean sleep, because as soon as I went for a little nappy-poo on the couch, Kim blows through the door, and marches up stairs. Roman comes in and says "Hi Aunt Brookie" and then Ben comes in and mocks him. Man, so much for that nap. Teasing of course, I would much rather play with the kiddies than nap. Pillious Isaac wouldn't give me a hug. I warned him I wouldn't put him down until I got one and he says "I already did" and then throws his hands up on my shoulders (but still not a hug). I had to carry the punk around for a little bit before he finally gave me a non-lame hug. Roman is always full of love, so I didn't have to worry about a hug and kiss from that little angel. Aaron didn't nap for very long, so not too long after the gang got there, he was brought down. He is A-dorable!!! He is always so smiley and he has the CUTEST giggle. And he'll do it on command, all you have to do is do a fake laugh at him and then he'll echo you. I hear he has some other tricks up his sleeve, like waving and saying "cat" but all I saw was the giggle and the frog crawl :o) Both worth seeing.

Dana and Josh were there too, of course, but I didn't interact with them so much as I pawned my fabric off on Dana so she could make me some pillow cases and then I ran off to play with the boys. Oops, I'm pretty much a terrible sister. But Dana is the one that I talk to the most on the phone, so we have less catching up to do (I guess).

We had shish-ca-bobs for dinner, and it was a little later than we had planned. We were all sitting around the table ready to eat when Ben picked up the first skewer and asked if the meat was cooked, then actually poked it to realize that it was NOT. So after the effort of grilling the ca bobs, we finished them off in the oven. Once they were finally done, they were good, and dinner was enjoyable.

Kim and I went for a run/jog after dinner and Kim just about killed me when I asked if she wanted to take the longer way home. By time we got back from the run, Dana and Josh had already left -without a goodbye :o( And Kim and Ben followed suit not too long after that. So I watched a movie, showered, and headed off to bed.

Monday I woke up, found and rinsed off the snorkeling gear for Mom and me, and headed up to Kim's. Sunday she had told me to be at her house no later than 9am so that we could go to the beach. I got there at 8:30am and she had just put the baby down for a nap. An hour and a half long nap. The boys didn't mind staying home a little longer, because they got to show me everything they could build with legos (Roman) and how to go up and down the bunk beds (Isaac) and their new toothbrushes, and anything else they could think of that I hadn't seen yet. Oh frick, they are so adorable!!!!!

Since the baby was sleeping, I had time to run down to the store to pick up stuff for sandwiches for a picnic on the beach. I also made all the sandwiches while Kim, I don't know what. (Teasing, please don't let Kim murder me for that comment, she was very busy all morning doing dishes and chasing her kids down.) Grandma Kerby also stopped by and we chatted for a while. That was nice, and it wasn't until then that I realized how short my visit home is going to be- I've got Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, leave Wednesday, get back the next Thursday, recoup Friday, and leave Saturday. So my trip is a pretty good length, but the actual time at home is not so long.

Anyway, the baby finally woke up and it was time to head out to the beach. We were super lucky to find a perfect parking spot right away. We were driving down by the beach and someone popped out of a spot right in front of us, no waiting, no nothing. And, it was right in front of a ramp that lead to the beach, we didn't even have to walk far to get down. Kim attributes that to Ben paying his tithing Sunday. Yay for obedience :o) Hehehe

When we first got there, it was overcast and the water was a little cold, which was fine because the boys just play in the sand, and not so much in the water anyway. Freaking gracious. Aaron LOVES the beach. He's crazy. Kim set him up in the tent area to keep him out of the sun and sand, and immediately he crawls into the sand to see what his brothers are digging. Not only that, but when Roman, Isaac, and I went down to play in the sand closer to the water, Kim brought Aaron down and plopped him next to us. He started crawling straight toward the water. I was right beside him and Kim told me to let him go. He did, he went and crawled into the water. Instead of crying when the water came up and got his arms and legs wet, he let out the biggest squeal of delight. Oh, he was a disaster by time the day was over. He had sand everywhere, he was sucking on a smooth rock he had found, he was soaking wet, and loving every minute of it. The only time he was fussy was when it was time to go and he had to be wrapped in a towel and put in the car.

I've been to the beach with the boys before, but never have I seen them really play in the water, it's always them on the beach in the sand (they're true builders). But yesterday they were jumping in the waves, rolling around in the shallow area just letting the tide take them in and out. They were having a blast. It was so much fun and of course, like I've said a thousand times and more.... they were so cute! Oh, yeah, and the water was warmer than when we first got there because about an hour after we came, the sun came out and it was PERFECT beach weather. The only negative thing about the day at the beach was that my back got red. I put sun tan lotion everywhere else, but by time Kim helped me put it on my back, it was too late. I was sure I had enough of a base from Florida, last trip home, and going to the pool. But apparently I was wrong. I'm not in too much pain though, and this morning it's already looking better so let's hope it's tan by tomorrow so that I don't have to be packing luggage on sun burned shoulders and a red back.

After the beach the boys took naps and Kim was sad that I didn't stay, but I wanted to get home and clean the house a little, do my laundry, and clean my car. Yeah, only some of that happened. I did clean up the house, but I gave up the car aspirations, and I did my laundry, but not until late o'clock at night.

Then today, I'm done choosing what stuff to pack, but still unsure about what I'm packing it all in. I can get it into two carry-ons, but Dad thinks I should check in a bigger bag and that technically I'm not supposed to have two carry-ons, I'm supposed to have one carry-on and a personal bag (which I call a second carry-on). So I'll figure that out soon. Whenever Mom gets back from the temple, we're supposed to go car shopping. I think I've done all the online stuff that I can, and I finally do have to actually get out there and talk to dealers, but I still don't want to. I'm a pansy, I know. And I'm secretly hoping that I get a super, can't turn this down offer so that I can buy the car and not have to drive my sable back. (The no air conditioning thing really was not that much fun- then again, that's how we did trips growing up, so I should stop acting spoiled and just suck it up.)

And then we take off for Hawaii tomorrow!!!!! Oh the roughness of my life ;o)