Party of Five

My mom asked if I wanted to come up to her house while the kids were on vacation and I was hesitant to agree to drive up without Adam. Although I have done it before, it is a time that I realize that I do depend on him. I enjoy his company, I feel safe in his presence with us driving, as well as it makes bathroom brakes much easier. I love you, Adam.

I thought about how my sister does not get to go up much for time with just the girls and the kids and how it would be nice for the kids to get some time together. So I invited her. The only catch was that I had to leave a day later since she works third shift. We left at 9am on Tuesday with our party of five children squeezed into the back of my minivan. Not too bad. The ride was going well and we hadn't even been asked to stop for a potty break yet. An hour and a half and 3 minutes away from the exit for the bathroom stop we usually make, and I hear, "PJ is throwing up!!!" "What!?" I zoom over to the side of the highway and the child seated in the farthest seat from the door is throwing up in the back seat of my van! Never said a word and would not move. Those of you who have seem my van know I pack for all occasions. The freezing wind whipping through the van, I grabbed the blue sand bucket, the pack of wipes, beach towel and cleared the mess as best I could amongst the tears of Dustin crying, "I just want daddy."

We get back in the van after changing the pants of a 7 year old on the side of the highway and headed for the exit. All said and done, we think he was just car sick from the van swerving in the rushing wind. Now if that was one of my kids, you know I would have taken a picture just to remember the moment. But I spared you, PJ.

We spent Tuesday and Wednesday night. The visit was nice. I do have to learn that sleep, however, is overrated. Once I learn that I will be better. I like my sleep but did not get much this visit. Kamden has somewhere come up with a dislike for the dark. I did not figure that out till the second night.And sleeping with a wiggly 4 year old is not as much fun as the snuggle time sounds. Though she looks like an angel, she sleeps like a octopus, arms all over the place.

The big seller on the visit for the kids is the sledding. Down the big hill right onto the frozen pond. I will admit, I am a big kid myself when we get up there. And it is so nice to hear Dustin call for me to join him.

Auntie Brandi joined Kamden in some snuggle time since each of them had not slept the couple of days before. Brandi due to the third shift and Kamden due to the dark. Notice the fog covered lens. It is not just a special effect, it was freezing and even my camera took some time to adjust.

These children surely did not get their love for dogs from me. All three dogs surely got some love from the kids. We headed back on Thursday, New Year's Eve, early to try to beat the incoming storm and the partiers. We got an hour in and the snow started. It was a bit nerve racking to drive in that mess. We saw SUV's and cars down in ditched, hit trees and swerve down the on-ramps. Fortunately, the Lord was with us. No one was hurt in our car or the others, as near as we could tell. It only took us an extra hour to get home which was not bad.

New Hampshire is such a nice place to spend time with family. There are no commitments to tend to or real chores to do.