Packing for 2 kids is so much work! I laid out all the clothes I was bring for Emmalyn the night before and took a picture so I could remember what went with what... And girls...sheesh... it's not just a shirt and pants that need to match but also tights and bows. Traveling is certainly not simple right now.
We had tons of time before our flight so we walked around the airport and got some lunch. Emmalyn was so excited to be in the baby bjorn. She was smiling and cooing as we walked which of course attracted some attention to her. It was fun watching people's expressions as she caught their eye and they'd break into smiles at this cute little girl. She certainly has a magnetic energy and spirit.
When we were booking tickets, the cost to upgrade to first class wasn't that much after you factored in the cost to check all our bags if we flew coach. So, we booked it! I was looking forward to having the extra space for Maxwell to wiggle just a little bit more and to also make it easier to nurse the baby. It ended up being so nice and worth it. The food helped entertain Maxwell and the extra space helped all of us be happier.
The seat next to me was empty so Emmalyn got her own seat too (for short bits anyway when the skies were calm and she wanted some space).
Enjoying the airplane food (which was yummy)
Wish she would have fallen asleep in "her" seat but it didn't happen.
She did fall asleep on Momma though
Max, however, did NOT fall asleep on the plane so when we made it into the rental car, he crashed. We headed to Grandma Nelsons and Peter stayed in the car with Maxwell so he could sleep a little bit longer while I went inside with Emmalyn.
Emmalyn meeting her Great Grandma Nelson
Maxwell and Great Grandma
After Grandma's we went to visit Katherine and her girls.
My niece Ari was really excited about Emmalyn and Adi was really interested too.
After a full day, we crashed at my Aunt Tammy's house. From the very first day, it was a busy schedule!
Brittany and I were excited to go see Derek and Julianne's show - Move! Live on tour. The show was at a casino in OK about 1 1/2 hours away from home so I brought my pump because I knew I couldn't go that long...
We stopped on the way for a quick snack and some ice cream. (I don't usually care much for ice cream but ever since I had Emmalyn it's been a post-pregnancy craving. I want ice cream or shakes all the time!!) I enjoyed getting to spend that much time with Brittany, alone with no kids or husbands.
We are here!!! It was really cool to see all the people and feel all the excitement in the crowd and realize that all these people were here to see Derek and Julianne.
My friend Andrea met us there (Jeff came too but he didn't go to the show - he enjoyed the casino instead).
When they came on stage and everyone started cheering, I teared up because I was so excited for them to be realizing their dreams like this and also because I was so proud of them.
Not only was the dancing PHENOMENAL but they both sang and did a great job. It was such an entertaining show - blew my expectations out of the water. Jules hooked us up with some really great seats. (Although we were surrounded by some serious super fans of Derek who were basically losing their minds. It's a little awkward/weird/creepy to have a 50 year old woman behind you screaming in glee when your step brother takes his shirt off and talking about how he's just perfect.)
After the show we hung out in the green room
While they showered after the show, we stayed in the room and pumped (another "odd" place to add to my list of weird places I've pumped/nursed). Then after we were done we went to the bus and hung out more with D, Jules, her assistant, and Andrea. It was so nice to just sit and talk and catch up.
Andrea left after a while and Britt and I stayed until about 11:00 pm and then drove home the hour and a half. It was a late night and a lot of time to be away but it was really fantastic to be able to visit with Derek and Julianne. It's been a few years since I've seen them and they have grown into such great adults. The conversation flowed so easily and I couldn't have asked for a better night.
While we were at the show, Peter and Alex took care of the two kids AND built the step in the media room.
Peter gave Emmalyn her first bottle (breast milk). He said she did an awesome job taking it.
He sent me a video...
Video - Max's message to his momma
Wasn't that so sweet? The next day, he showed me this video that he took after the first one...
Video - Max doesn't need his momma
Ouch - glad he didn't send that one to me while I was out! :(
The title of this post has you completely curious, right? I bet! Well...you will have to wait for the story behind the title...
Peter got up EARLY (in the dark - yuck) this morning 4/28/12 to go run up/down some mountain in Ogden with Nathan. This was some serious hike - it was like 6 miles and they climbed 8,000 feet. When they stopped their ascent, they had hit snow! Anyway, I was a little worried because while Peter has improved his health, I didn't know how his body would react to the elevation change plus he hadn't gone that far in his normal runs at home. I told myself that it would be okay, Nathan is a doctor and would make sure Peter didn't die. I wouldn't have worried so much before Max was born but I certainly don't want to be a single parent!
Video - Peter took this to show me what I was missing. I hate that we don't get this type of outdoor beauty in Texas!
That morning we went over to my step-sister Sharee's house for breakfast and to visit. Randall made us some yummy pancakes with strawberries, bananas, and whip cream. We enjoyed visiting with both of them and playing a little with Star and Bronson. Max enjoyed playing with Quaid's toys (who was sleeping). It was a really nice visit. I look forward to our next visit with their family.
Aunt Sharee and Maxwell
We were having a BBQ lunch at Alex's with his siblings so our next stop was the grocery store to pick stuff up. Alex ended up being there right at the same time. So we shopped together. When we got back to the car, I realized that I had forgotten to buy jalapenos. I have been forever changed by living in Texas. I now like jalapenos on nearly everything - food should have a kick! So Peter took Max and said he'd load the groceries in our rental van (we wanted a sedan but the van was all they had so they upgraded us. Originally I was irritated but it ended up being perfect! Although we did take a little friendly heat from a few people because the last time we were in town we had a Camero and now we had the family friendly mini-van.).
When I get back out with my jalapenos, I notice that Max is in his car seat by the side of the car and not in the car. I started to chastise Peter for leaving him out in the sun and not putting him in the car. Peter goes, "I locked the keys in the car." HUH!? You did what?! My mind flashed back to the rental car counter where the employee tried to upsale us on every possible thing including insurance and road side assistance. I had declined because all those upgrades are a waste of money. CRAP! Was I going to be kicking myself for that?!
Anyway, so I immediately go into solution mode. I noticed there was a dry cleaners inside the grocery story so I went and begged a wire hanger off them to try and break into the car.
Peter and Alex trying to make the wire hanger work.
In the grocery store, Peter wasn't looking so good. He was looking pale and his lips were pale. I was worried that the hike was going to come back and bite him so I made him buy some Gatorade. Luckily he had that outside of the car so he could drink it.
Max and I got into the back seat of Alex's car so we could enjoy the AC and I kept Max entertained while Peter and Alex worked diligently to get into the car.
Happily oblivious to the drama unfolding around him
Well, the wire hanger was a bust. So I walked over to some policemen that were assisting on a old prescription/medicine disposal drop off drive. One of the officers got his kit out of his car and kindly came over to help. He tried and tried and tried and it just didn't work either. We couldn't get that dang van unlocked! But, Max DID get to meet his first policeman ever! We documented it with a picture... :)
At this point we are stuck, so we call a locksmith and Alex takes me, Max, and the groceries in his car to his house and then goes back to help Peter.
About 20 minutes later I get a call from Peter. He asks me to look in the diaper bag because he believes the keys may be in there. I look and they aren't there. So he tells me to look in the car seat and everywhere because the keys aren't in the car! WHAT!? So I'm quickly told that they got into the car but the keys are no where to be found. Oh man...if those stinkin keys were in the diaper bag the entire time I am going to... But nope, I thoroughly scour through everything at Alex's and there are NO KEYS! So now my mind flashes back to the lady at the rental counter talking about how the charge is 200.00 to replace lost keys. Oh man, I should have said yes to all her stupid upgrades...
About a half an hour to an hour later, Peter finally shows up at Alex's and I learn about what happened after Alex took me to his house. Here's the story...(and I wish I was a good written story teller so that you could really envision this)
The locksmith gets there and gets into the car. But at soon as the car is opened up, the alarm starts going off because apparently when the car is locked, the alarm is activated and if a door is opened without the use of the key/fob then the alarm will be set off. So the alarm is going off and the boys are looking through the van to find the keys. No keys... Keep looking... No keys... Alarm going off... Keep looking... Everyone staring... No keys... etc. etc. etc. The alarm keeps going off, they are tearing the van apart and the keys are no where to be found. This is the point Peter called me to look through the stuff to see if the keys were with me. Of course they weren't. So they are looking through the manual trying to figure out how to get the alarm to stop going off. Eventually they pop the hood and disconnect the battery. Alarm finally goes off but still no keys and the van is torn apart.
At one point Peter is in the back part of the van, looking toward the back hatch and sees there's a little bit of a gap there, so he bends down and sees the keys trapped between the hatch and the bumper. Easy to solve...pop the hatch, right? AHAHAHAHAHA WRONG! The only way to pop the hatch is with the keys, which are unreachable. :) Peter tried to wiggle them free but his manly fingers wouldn't fit. Alex tried and luckily his fingers were a little more slender and eventually he wiggled them out enough that he could push the button on the fob and pop the hatch. SUCH DRAMA! So evidently what had happened is that Peter popped the back to put the groceries in but didn't unlock the car. He didn't realize the keys were sitting on the bumper when he shut the hatch and trapped them, with the car still locked.
I am sure this was extremely stressful for Peter. I know the part that I was a part of was stressful, although I wasn't completed bothered or worried. I just LOVE LOVE LOVE that Peter locked the keys in the car. I have done it multiple times (although not anytime in the last 3 years at least) and Peter has had to save me. He didn't fail to remind me that he had never locked the keys in the car. UNTIL TODAY! WAHOO! :) Sometimes that massive ego needs to be knocked down just a little bit. LOVE YOU PETER.
Anyway, back at Alex's we were getting everything ready for a yummy BBQ with the Millar siblings and their kids. It was a lot of fun!
Showing off their dance moves - Morgan, Lola, and Mariah
Auntie Aja is the best - she willingly tackled a dirty diaper
Tawny's Mom, Kerry, and Max
Uncle Mark and Mariah
Aja and her gang. I love Harleigh's face! Morgan, Aja, Korben, Madison, and Harleigh
Morgan, Max, Peter, and Mariah (Man! Our nieces are getting so old!!!)
Siblings and a handsome baby Alex, Mark, Max, Peter, and Aja
Peter, Max, and Lola
Jaxton showing us his awesome hiphop dance moves. We had been planning on attending one of his competitions but he had an asthma attack and wasn't healthy enough to compete. We were bummed but luckily he felt good enough later to give us a private performance.
The boys love it when Uncle Peter plays video games with them.
Payton and Max
Lola did a great job of playing with Max and keeping him happy.
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"Who's that handsome guy? I should investigate!"
Video - An update on how Max is coming along in his crawling.
For the record he is wearing a white onesie under his shirt. He isn't crawling around in only a diaper.
Lola keeping Max happy and fed -keep those puffs coming!
Max was WIPED out when we finally got home to Tammy's. He was asleep before we even got him all swaddled up.
There's those lips I love
Turning toward the darkness of the blanket.
Fear not, within seconds we had moved him to the pack-n-play and he was happily zonked out.
Wife, Mom, and Career Woman. Trying to succeed at all three. Enjoy cruising, time with friends and family, and sleeping. Busy life doesn't leave time for as much fun as in the past but that's okay, it's still a good life.
