St. George's House

We finally broke-free from house projects, school, and regular life for a little get-away as a family of 4.  We headed down to St. George for Mother's Day, and as an added bonus, everyone else decided to fully commit at sorta the last minute, making it extra sweet.

Seat belt fully buckled after taking this pic--whoops!  In my defense, he was insistent on doing that one himself.  I had him all set with it in place, just needing the click.  Poor follow through on both accounts.

We stayed at my grandparents condo, and although so much had changed about St. George since I last stayed there, we eventually found it...Jude kept saying, "Mom, Dad, but are we lost?  But where is St. George's?"  When we got there, he said, "Mom, is this St. George's house?  But...but...where is he??"  So, hence the title of this post.

Leland all slap happy to be at St. George's (11:00 at night) and Jude alllllready talking about the pool.

This was such a fun, and cheap trip.  And I hope, hope, hope we make it down again in the early fall.  The kids were like fishes in the pool.  We all wondered if we swam that much when we were little.  They swam for hours and hours straight.  And with Leland not yet mobile and still a content little guy and then Jude being able to kick and float around wearing his floatie--it was a pretty chill time at the pool (minus the water squirters my mom bought the kids...grrrr).

We woke up in the mornings and had smoothies.  Then Leland and Dave stayed and went down for mid-morning naps, while Jude and I ventured out for walks to the parks.  Then pool time.  Then dinner out at Gram's house.  Repeat.  Repeat.  And then throw in a visit to the sand dunes.

The scenery down there is striking, and I love my grandma's house.  This time a year all the cacti were in full bloom, and even the air smelled sweet.  At night, we had dance parties out on the veranda, played horseshoes, went on walks, ate s'mores.  It. was. perfect.  Dave kept saying, "I didn't realize how much I missed the desert."  But, it's true.  There is something so calming about red rocks.  And it's just so, so quiet.

Leland was a champ--sleeping wherever--in the stroller in the shade by the pool, in the pack n' play, in Gram's closet in his car seat.  He even stayed up til 10 with all of us one night.  A little slap happy, but none worse for the wear.

If you ask Jude what his favorite thing was about St. George's house he says this: "umm. ice cream, and grahams, and chocolate....and, and Cruz, and Rachel, and Slade, and Ava, and ice cream.  And the poooooooool." 

MVP award goes to Uncle Chris--just about the coolest, funnest guy around. 

Rach carried this child back and forth across the Sahara with no complaints.

Hello, twins!

Arms-a-flutter.  Bouncing and havin' fun way past bedtime

He's not attention starved in the least!

This kids did awesome on the way down, but on the way back Leland wasn't having any of it (aheam, Jude however slept 3.5 hours!!).  After graham cracker rations ran out, I ended up in the back seat.  And wouldn't you know it, that sweet child just wanted someone to smile at.  

...Until next time St. George's...

Lately

You know those times when you are so busy, so stressed, so exhausted?

This past month has been one of those times for us.

But I keep thinking of all these great things we are learning and experiencing, and I know that if I don't document...I won't ever get to it...

Because once this sweet babe arrives, I plan to fully soak up some serious family time!

A before pic...

Lately: we closed on our house August 13th, and pretty much wrecked the place 4 days later.  I'm talking complete bathroom demolition.  I've learned that remodels are stressful!  Trying to coordinate contractors, trying to manage the budget (wait, what budget??), trying to get all the materials ordered and in on time, trying not to stress out, trying (and failing!) not to bug Dave too much about it.

Much love and extra TLC went into getting the kid's room ready in time for move! 

Lately: so much love and help from friends and family that I'm not sure how to ever repay?  

Hall Bath: before and during pics

Lately: feeling like a caged animal not being able to get down to the new house and really help out.  Some mornings I've gone down there early, early to paint or prime or shopvac the mess.  Those have been good days when I have felt productive and useful!  

36 week belly

Lately: realizing though that my main number 1 job is to keep this peanut growing and happy...in my belly!  Due to this and that we've delayed the big move 2 weeks now.  And everytime I see the house, I get sooooo anxious.  I need to nest, people!!  Because, well, I'm due in 2 weeks??  Crunch time, folks!  So as much as I hate it, I pack and clean in small bursts, and then lounge and hang while everyone else slaves away...

Lately: cracking up at Jude singing in the car, constantly sayin, "Waaatch this, Mom." and then doing some silly trick, like rolling his eyes back in his head or spinning around and falling down.  Playing LOTS of trains, by request and demand.  Apparently, I'm really fun to play trains with. ;)

Lately:  trying to take some of sissy's advice, and just slow down and enjoy my last few weeks of being pregnant.  Little peanut is always on the move!!  I've gone through and washed all the gender neutral newbie clothes we have.  Found some receiving blankets and the burp clothes.  On the docket still:  get that bassinet and car seat out of storage and clean them up.  It's amazing the difference of what I consider "necessary" between Jude and now this little one.  If baby comes before we're ready, ready--I still know that really, we'll be ready.  If that makes sense!

Yep, that's us. 

Lately.