It has been a whirlwind since Christmas. Shane and Jess left on December 27th to head back home to Lexington, Kentucky. Gary and I had a flight out of Branson, Missouri the next day to go to Josh and Katie's wedding in Baltimore. We were in Baltimore until January 1st. We arrive back home to Rogers, Arkansas the afternoon of January 1st and then leave the next morning for Norman, Oklahoma by 8:00 a.m. We were in Norman until Friday, January 6th.
It wasn't until yesterday that I was able to take down my Christmas! To me, that's unheard of. I put my Christmas decorations up early and take them down as soon as I can.
Brent and the family leave tomorrow for Pune, India. I know it's for a good reason...the best...but I still don't want them to go. It's all for selfish reasons, very selfish reasons. I don't know how other people are able to go for a long period of time without seeing their children or grandchildren. I'm not cut out for that.
We tried to pack in everything we could for the week. We started out going to the Museum of Natural History.
Anna Claire and Bennett were able to dig for fossils. They really enjoyed that.
The other side of this bulldog shows the inside of a dog. Pretty gross to me so I couldn't take a picture of that side.
This is another fake dog that Bennett had fun playing with.
The next day we went to my favorite, the Science Museum. It is next to the zoo in Oklahoma City.
Anna Claire had school one day. We asked Bennett what he wanted to do. He said "Go to Bass Pro and Academy Sports." We did. I thought this picture was so cute of Gary and Bennett walking around. Since it was only the three of us we let Bennett stay as long as he wanted. We stayed two hours.
This was taken at the science museum but the pictures got out of order.
Again, at the Science Museum. Bennett stayed on the John Deere tractor for a long time.
Bennett and Ma played hide and seek while Anna Claire was doing school work. I took my camera because Bennett is so funny. He will yell "Hear I am" and then when I find him he just doubles over with laughter. He's in the bathtub here.
Behind the chair in his parent's bedroom.
Sutton.
I let Bennett take as many pictures with my camera as he wanted to.
Sutton as a little front tooth.
Gary (Granddad) and I picked Anna Claire up from school. We had just gotten home.
Anna Claire got an award for having the best attitude!
The night before we left to go home Gary (Granddad) and I gave the kids their going away present. I told them to close their eyes. Of course, Anna Claire did. Bennett is peeping.
They both got a Melissa & Doug Trunksi. Bennett is not sure what to think of it. It is a carry on for children. It has a strap where a parent can pull you through the airport and if you get tired you can also just sit on top. Inside has little compartments to put toys, books, crafts, etc.
I told Bennett and Anna Claire to find a special treasure to put in their Trunksi. Bennett chose a rubber snake.
Anna Claire chose a little stuffed dog.
We also went to the park in Norman.
We were playing follow the leader. Anna Claire was the leader. She had me climbing all over that park!
Racing down the slide!
Friday morning, January 6th, was much harder than I thought it would be. The kids were very sad. I had to turn my head several times so that they would not see me crying. I know I will go visit in March but I want to see them several times a month. Sutton was just getting to warm up to me and now he probably will not remember me when I see him in a couple of months.
I am squeezing Brent so hard.
I know I am fortunate that I am not saying goodbyes for a year, or even 6 months. It's still so hard. Even though I am so sad it's not as emotionally and mentally hard as telling Shane goodbye twice. At least with Brent and his family we can talk by Skype and I know no one is trying to harm them.
No comments:
Post a Comment