Our trips to Nashville and Seattle were very much the rest we needed after a busy winter and spring. Although it was enjoyable to have our students, it was alot of work, and it's been nice to cook for fun, or not at all!!
All about our trip to Nashville...
Amos and I had a great drive down with my dad, starting Thursday, may 21st. We packed up his little car and drove south. The trip went smoothly and soon we were ready to see my mom andbrother Jesse. Of course, Amos was delighted to be there and had fun dumping out his toys, throwing the ball for the dogs, driving his Grrdada's truck and playing on the newly enclosed porch. I enjoyed sleeping in, as my mom would graciously come up and rescue him from his big boy bed!
Speaking of which, Amos advanced his big boy status by sleeping in a little toddler bed, with rails. Each night, I would tell him that he was to stay in bed and not get out or that he would be disciplined. He understood this well and obeyed by calling for help. Aunt Abby was home too, for a wedding and we enjoyed seeing her!
"ROAD TRIP!!!"
On Saturday, we invited old friends of ours over to play. I have known Jennifer for quite a long time and it was good to introduce our kids to each other as the last time we saw each other was early July of 2006--we were both really pregnant! That night I took Amos to Pinkerton Park, another place that was familiar and part of my teen years in Franklin. Since it had just rained, Amos and I had a run of the place for awhile, enjoying the giant children's park. After a stop at Goodwill with GrrMama and GrrDada, it was time to call it a night.
On Sunday, we enjoyed going to church with my parents and then eagerly awaited Dada's arrival. Amos did really well with being away from Nathan, mentioning him a few times and then being reassured when I told him that Dada would come soon.On Monday, we rested well, some more and enjoyed being outside, as the weather was not too hot orhumid yet. Amos planted a tree with his GrrDada and I again enjoyed the company of my family. My brother Joel came over and it was really good to see him. Later that day, we went to have dinner with my closest childhood friend, Megan, her husband Paul and their sons. Sadly there are no pictures but the boys all had a fun time playing together and it was good to catch up with them. On Tuesday we played at the park with GrrMe, Nathan's mom. We went to Dragon park, a place that we visited from time to time as kids and now, found to be really really nice. That night we had sushi with Nathan's sister Christen, and her husband Aaron. It was really really good! That night, my mom had a moment that made us pause as we thought about leaving Amos for five days. He woke up crying, asking for us and we started to really worry that we had maybe made the wrong choice.
All day Wednesday was spent packing and preparing for our trip out west and it was a really difficultday. We had to fight back the emotion and sadness we felt at the thought of being away from Amos for so long. We also had to fight the worry that seemed to be popping up, worried that he would have a really hard time and that we had made the wrong decision. We even thought about buying him a ticket to take him with us, scrapping the whole get away idea!
Alas, we didn't; we woke up early Thursday morning, packed the car and went to the airport, explainingto him that we were going on a trip but that we would be back and that he would get to stay and play with GrrDada, GrrMama, Pixie, Finn (the dogs) and Bam (the cat). He could even come home andwatch Wall-E! That helped and we made it to the airport and our flight fine, all the while, fighting back tears.While we were gone, Amos had a blast. He was unequivocally the center of attention!! GrrDada got to harken back to his child rearing days and use his skills on Thursday, as my mom wascalled to a birth shortly after they returned from the airport. He even got Amos to go pee on the potty three times, all with the reward of driving the truck down to the pasture!He went to bed exhausted from giving such care (as I was in Seattle, reckoning with my sudden freedom from Amos!!) and we were thankful for such a great day for our little guy.GrrMama returned and spent all of the weekend with Amos, something she extremely enjoyed. Abby drove back home and also spent the weekend with Amos, giving him lots of care and love.They did lots of fun things: swimming, driving the truck, blowing bubbles, singing, bathing, movie watching, cuddling and quality time. Nathan's mom, GrrMe, also visited and Amos again had that great gift of quality time, love and care. Amos was also well-cared for, which was no surprise. He ate and slept well and they even got him goingon the potty regularly. We kept joking that we would return to a potty trained child. We were joking, but it was partially true! By the time we landed on Monday night, we were aching to see him. He had not cried or had any meltdowns while we were gone, but we would ask for us a few times a day and each time, my parents would say that we would be back on Monday. This answer was always sufficient for him(thank goodness) and thankfully we made it back before we would see how long he could take it!On Tuesday morning, as we ate one last breakfast together and sat outside and played. Amos drove the truck down to the front pasture with GrrDada one more time. He went in and sat on the potty and bathed for one last time with GrrMama and then he had one last wrestling match with a "sleeping" GrrDada as we packed the car. It was sad, as it usually is, to leave my parents' house, a place of such fun and respite, a place of such beauty and peace, to return to the city. Thanks Mom and Dad, Abby and GrrMe for your care for us and for Amos!!
Alas, we didn't; we woke up early Thursday morning, packed the car and went to the airport, explainingto him that we were going on a trip but that we would be back and that he would get to stay and play with GrrDada, GrrMama, Pixie, Finn (the dogs) and Bam (the cat). He could even come home andwatch Wall-E! That helped and we made it to the airport and our flight fine, all the while, fighting back tears.While we were gone, Amos had a blast. He was unequivocally the center of attention!! GrrDada got to harken back to his child rearing days and use his skills on Thursday, as my mom wascalled to a birth shortly after they returned from the airport. He even got Amos to go pee on the potty three times, all with the reward of driving the truck down to the pasture!He went to bed exhausted from giving such care (as I was in Seattle, reckoning with my sudden freedom from Amos!!) and we were thankful for such a great day for our little guy.GrrMama returned and spent all of the weekend with Amos, something she extremely enjoyed. Abby drove back home and also spent the weekend with Amos, giving him lots of care and love.They did lots of fun things: swimming, driving the truck, blowing bubbles, singing, bathing, movie watching, cuddling and quality time. Nathan's mom, GrrMe, also visited and Amos again had that great gift of quality time, love and care. Amos was also well-cared for, which was no surprise. He ate and slept well and they even got him goingon the potty regularly. We kept joking that we would return to a potty trained child. We were joking, but it was partially true! By the time we landed on Monday night, we were aching to see him. He had not cried or had any meltdowns while we were gone, but we would ask for us a few times a day and each time, my parents would say that we would be back on Monday. This answer was always sufficient for him(thank goodness) and thankfully we made it back before we would see how long he could take it!On Tuesday morning, as we ate one last breakfast together and sat outside and played. Amos drove the truck down to the front pasture with GrrDada one more time. He went in and sat on the potty and bathed for one last time with GrrMama and then he had one last wrestling match with a "sleeping" GrrDada as we packed the car. It was sad, as it usually is, to leave my parents' house, a place of such fun and respite, a place of such beauty and peace, to return to the city. Thanks Mom and Dad, Abby and GrrMe for your care for us and for Amos!!
Reunited and it feels so good!
Yes, I cried when I saw Amos! I don't think he knew what to make of it all, but he was definitely feeling something, by the look on his face and tight hugs. We were so glad to see him!
What a great vacation and special time.
1 comment:
this post made me sooo incredibly home sick. i miss everyone so much. i miss the front porch and the creek and the endless options of chips in the basket on the fridge. can't wait to be with you all in three weeks!!!
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