Road Traveled Too Long! Part 1

Well, we finally made it back! It kinda went a little like this over the past 17 days:

*Shocks went out in Vegas...must repair
*Rotator cuff injury for Suzanne was a nightmare...intense pain, could not lift babies!
*Okay, who ordered the winter weather? Nothing like watching a 4 year old catch snowflakes in his mouth for the first time.
*Note to self: must buy stock in the ibuprofen industry...love whoever invented it!
*9450 foot summit at Rabbit Ears Pass in Colorado...AWESOME! Never saw so much snow in my life and more started falling as we were going through. Did anyone tell the weather god it's the end of MAY??
* Notice DH has golf-ball sized lump on his face...bad-tooth abscessed...no whining from him...REALLY! Refer to ibuprofen comment above!
*Meet my nieces girls and visit with her hubby, see a happy, healthy, beautiful Candice.
*Get to see Wendy, Adam, and meet little James (what a cute, cuddly grandson I have!) FINALLY! Introduce Makenna to her awesome, beautiful big sister.
*Load my kids and grandkid on Uncle Herb and take TONS of pictures. He BBQ'd us some yummy steak too!
*Visit with Aunt Judy, Uncle Mike and David...Andrew ran his first official 1/2 mile fun run and loved it!
*Drive down US 89 in UT and encounter more of the fluffy white stuff...what the heck???

More details will follow over the next few days. I really wanted to share some of my favorite pictures so far...so here they are!

Andrew admiring the Welcome to Colorado sign
My handsome 4 year old experiencing unabashed joy in the snow!
I love pictures like this! My DH shares his warmth with our babies!
Rabbit Ears Pass in Colorado between Winter Park and Steamboat Springs
My beautiful niece, Candice, with my little Baby Mak!

I will share more in the days to follow, like watching James snuggle with Grandpa the first time, Wendy seeing Makenna and watching the two younger boys go NUTZ seeing she and Adam, witnessing hero-worship blossom in Andrew for his "cousin" David. Watching my children climb all over Uncle Herb and I think he really liked it!

Thoughts from my Uterus...oops I mean Heart!

Grandson James 5 months old

Future QB or Rhodes Scholar!

Wendy and James

Adam, Wendy and James

Makenna is 15 weeks on Monday!

Her personality is really starting to blossom.

Okay, this is an official "I miss Wendy" post. I have been thinking a lot about my children the past couple of days (BIG surprise!) and how different they are from each other. That led me to thinking about when Wendy and I first became mother/daughter and the looks we would get and some comments. Reminded me of an article I read months ago and loved! So, hopefully this link will work...I'm still kind of new at this

http://www.parenting.com/article/Mom/Relationships/Where-I-Got-Daisy-Parenting-a-Biracial-Child/1

We went into a Babies R Us last November when we were both pregnant...CUT the hysterical laughter...we know the jokes! The lady behind the counter asked how we were related. Picture this: Me (pasty white, green eyes, brown hair, she could actually tell I was pregnant--not just overly self-indulgent!), pushing a 13 month old boy who is very dark skinned, light brown hair and dark brown eyes. We are with a beautiful very pregnant young woman with black hair and dark brown eyes who is accompanied by her husband who is blond, blue eyed and not as pasty as me! When I said she was my daughter (I LOVE doing that!) she said "Oh?" Then I explained how Wendy was a gift, that I bore her in my heart. No physical pain with her, so I was exceedingly blessed to have her.

I have been the receiver of a few comments about Sam. He's much darker than my other children. Wendy was a close match after her summer of lifeguarding at Disney World. The above-mentioned article gave me a good comeback for those comments. I've been thinking about the relationships I have with my children and each one is different. They'll never be the same at the same time as each child is at a different phase in his/her life. I guess different levels of need. Well, I began to ponder all of this yesterday when I was on the phone with Wendy. She casually mentioned they were going to Georgia in the fall. And then some plans for grad school back East. I experienced a MAJOR stab in the chest while saying "Oh, wow." We talked for a bit more before we hung up.

Later, after everyone else was in bed, I had an opportunity to consider what Wendy's move would mean to me. I wanted to jump up and down and shout "No, you can't do it!" I miss her so much already and now she has a son and we'll barely get to see him before they may go. So, I will pose this question to the masses...how fair is it to experience the "empty nest syndrome" while my hair falls out from the hormonal adjustments my body is making after having had the "empty nestee's" baby sister?? I knew the Good Lord had a sense of humor when I found out I was carrying #4, but now He may just be toying with me! AAAHHHH!!!

At least she is with her good husband and his wonderful family. I trust them to make good, informed decisions. Oh, one more thing, since I am whining and I said I would try not to do so much of it anymore...I just should get this out since I'm doing it anyway....What about me???WAHHHHH!!!

This leads me to the wrap and how I got here in the first place. When someone asks me where I got my children the answer has to be....a gift from Heavenly Father. Aren't we all?

Little Baby James

Happy James! Gotta love that smile!
I have yet to meet a guy (let alone a baby!) that is happy in a suit and tie!

I was thinkin' this afternoon while trying desperately to take a nap that Wendy and Adam needed to send more pictures of James because they change so quickly at this age. Then, lo and behold, I go to my email and Adam has sent more pictures~so I had to post some here. I believe he is 3 months old tomorrow! Geez, time flies when life is happening. There is a story behind the suit. I got it for ATC and all of the boys have worn it. I'm glad they were able to have him wear it before he outgrew it!

I can hardly wait for Adam, Wendy and James to visit or for us to get up to Utah to see them.
They are doing an amazing job between work, school, and parenthood. It'll be fun to get the kids together...especially for Andrew I think. He is the caretaker of the family and loves to see the pictures of James when they come.

We are blessing Makenna at church on Sunday and I wish so much that they could be here with us. But, when we do get together, it'll be good food and fun! And noisy...and smell like baby diapers....hmmm....