Home Again!

We are finally home after 24 days away!  Oh, it is always so good to get back to your own stuff, sleep in your own bed, eat your own food, hug your spouse, etc...  Husband did a pretty good job holding down the fort - hard to do while holding down his crazy job in addition!  He did build a cool bar for his 'man room' which doubles as the garage, storage, and workout room.  Here's the photo:

He used pieces from a cedar door that the previous owners left in our garage and an old teak table they left outside.  Pretty good - I think he deserves to sit and enjoy a beer there soon!

He did not do a great job with Clara... he has her sleeping in our bed at night, jumping in the pond, digging holes, and jumping on the furniture!  You can see why - she is just too cute.  But look out Clara, Mommy is home!

Here's what I did for most of my 24 days - drove, packed boxes, drove some more, packed more boxes, cleaned, and drove again!

Here I am amidst one room of boxes!

We did have some fun while away.  M- joined mom and I in Kansas while E- finished her writing camp.  We had burnt ends at a BBQ place.

Here are E- and M- at the summer workshop.  The first thing M- wanted to do after getting off the plane was to see his sister.  We hoped to surprise her at the conference - and succeeded.  I got a little teary at how sweet they were running and hugging eachother:)  Lucky boy, it was Doctor Who day (hence the pic with the Tardis) and Open Mic Night.  

We spent a lot of time with my niece, D-, who also celebrated her 2nd birthday.  She's super cute, but you can't see her face as my brother doesn't want it blogged!  But, she is a fun one - loves to pretend and talk with her animals and babies and repeats every word you say.

Mom and M- getting in the Birthday spirit!

Kids had many walks around the lake finding at least 10 baby turtles, avoiding a few snakes, catching lightening bugs in the evening, and kayaking on the last day.  Hard for them to leave my parents TN home for the last time, but they held it together.

Next up, my husband will be packing up the house and driving a truck back with some of their stuff.  Mom and Dad will be in their new home - 5 minutes from us - by the end of August.  Definitely hard to leave 30 years of memories behind, but we look forward to making more with them in New Mexico:)