Papa & Nanny - oh what fun!

Well, we made the LOOOOOONG trip to Michigan. Once we get there it is worth the effort, but oh, how we dread the drive. We went to Matt's niece, Savannah's kindergarten graduation on Thursday night.(see photo). We decided to leave after her graduation. (we figured the kiddos would sleep all the way up.) Savannah is Matt's brother Greg's daughter and she got to come with us to Michigan. Greg is in the National Guard and had duty this weekend, so we got to keep Savannah. The boys were so excited that Savannah got to go to Papa and Nanny's house with them.

We only got about 10 minutes down the road, and Micah started coughing, got choked and vomited. (very nice in a car with 5 people.) Fortunately, we were only a mile from the exit that "Issac & Becca" live on so we called to see if we could stop by and clean up. What wonderfully gracious friends to let us barge in at 11pm and bathe Micah and lend us a fresh car seat and cleaning supplies. They are dear friends, and our heroes that night.

We got to MI Friday morning and Matt and I spent the day trying to recover from an "all-nighter". (this was much easier to do in college) Saturday morning, Mom, Savannah and I went shopping. When we got home Dad and our family went kite flying. It is amazing how much fun you can have with $1 kites.

Savannah enjoyed chasing her kite's tail while Aunt Julia flew it. But nothing doing for the boys, they wanted to pilot their own crafts. It brought back so many memories. I spent many hours as a kid chasing down fallen kites. My Dad always made special tails for the kites and parachute "men" to send up the kite line. As always, Dad was faithful to create a "parachute" to send up our kite lines this time too. (it doesn't work so well with $1 kites) :)

Daddy & Siah

Too Fun!

That evening we went back to Dad and Mom's and played with Nanny in the yard and ordered pizza. For 6, 4, and 2 year olds it doesn't get any better than that. (not too bad at 34 either!)

I realize as I get older, that I appreciate my parent's more with each passing year. They didn't do everything perfectly. In fact, I can see many things in my own life that are the result of lack of training. However, I never doubt that they did the best they could for us. I know they have regrets, because they're not afraid to tell us what they wish they could go back and change. In the end, that's what makes me admire them so much. We all are bound to make mistakes, but my parents are big enough to not excuse their mistakes, but own them, and that makes them good parents. They haven't stopped parenting us, by their admission of mess ups, they continue to train me to not make the same mistakes and they keep me humble. I know as hard as I am trying right now to train our boys to be the best they can be, to give them the tools they will need to be prepared for whatever God has for them, I know in spite of all that, I am missing some stuff. I don't know what it is, but they will, once they are adults. I hope and pray they will know that we, like our parents, did the best we could and they will stand on our shoulders, learn from our mistakes and give their kids something even better. (I really didn't mean to get all serious, I just want to honor my folks)

Well, we're home now. It feels good to be in our own beds, back to routine. (Can you believe I ever traveled full-time?) I hear Micah waking from his nap, so I suppose I should close this post and sit him on the potty. (No accidents today....yet!) :)