a day of nothing

“After all," Anne had said to Marilla once, "I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.” 

― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea

In the crazy....go...go...go...days we have....we came across a day where the calendar was open...it was a miracle...and the most wonderful day of....nothing planned. I cleaned and organized and the littles were...well...little. My heart was happy.

They made forts......

 hammered nails on the deck.....

 played pretend and make believe for hours with a bamboo stick they found in the yard.....

 loved a lot.....

 and of course....got out the rainbow loom.

It was a wonderful...simple day....and I think we need it more than we even realized.....

home

AFter 16 hours we landed in Louisville.....we were so close to home...so close to sweet hugs....and kisses.....

we arrived to home made signs.......

and happy, sweet, precious, babies.......

Rollins made us a scavenger hunt to welcome us home.....

It felt so good to be home.....and to be able to reach over and scoop one up for a hug at any time....oh how I missed that.....

We gave gifts......

and could not wait to see Riggs who was at the lake with  his buddies!

Tomorrow we will all be back together and I can't wait!

reunited

We left at 5 am for the 12 hour car ride home....

I rocked the drive out but the kids should get an award for the best road trippers ever!

We stopped for breakfast at McDonalds to go...and gas one time...that's it....

They rock!

When we finally pulled into the drive way...Riggs was home waiting for us!

I was so happy to get him back in my arms and my sight!

Just me? or did he get bigger in 5 days?

 He did....he definitely did...... :(

 

But oh I am so glad that we are all back in the same place....everyone is home!

little moments

“Sometimes it's the same moments that take your breath away that breathe purpose and love back into your life.” 
― Steve Marabol

I love to blog about the big moments...the birthdays...the celebrations..but I never want to forget the little moments...the ones that over time add up to be the sweetest ones.

Like nights...after bath....rolling around...jumping...and playing on our bed.

 I love these little moments......they fill me with such contentment.....to have this time all together with my littles.

Clark

Every year my husband...we will call him Clark Griswald for this post...fights with the lights outside. It's just never easy. Some don't work from the get go...some go out after he already gets them on...it's just always a battle for him. The tree out front is his tree....he chose it...he planted it...he gets to put colored lights on it at Christmas. We have had the never ending colored lights vs white lights battle since our first Christmas together! His tree has gotten so tall...putting his lights on it was extra hard this year!

 But he did it!!!! Clark was victorious!

 and, even as a lover of white Christmas lights, I will admit it is beautiful!

After our Christmas lights were up we got baths and Christmas pajamas on, grabbed some blankets and Jack and got in the family truckster to go look at Christmas lights in the neighborhood!

 We saw some beautiful ones...like this tree that all 3 of my boys were crazy about...Jeremy said it was "magical"

 and this beautiful gem...all lit up to perfection.....

But to me this one was the best...the most beautiful to my eyes.

The light from inside this one was full of love....I could see... and I could feel it as we pulled back into our own court. This is home.....

and home is where the heart is......

amazing Monday

Monday was amazing...it was MLK day and there was no school...but better yet...no plans! It was amazing for no other reason than we spent the day together doing whatever we wanted at home. Electronic Monopoly was opened and played....puzzles were put together...there was a Barbie wedding and a basketball tournament in the basement. I fought the urge to make plans so hard....to go do something adventurous...but suppressed that and opted for a day at home...just chillin with my littles! We did venture out for a late breakfast at Waffle House.

Monopoly Hardy

I feel like we have a new family member right now...world meet Monopoly Hardy! 

 The boys especially are practically obsessed with it...if they have down time it is a revolving door of bike riding in the court and monopoly....bike riding in the court and more monopoly .....

 I do love flitting around in the kitchen...going from mess to mess...and having them all together at the kitchen table...talking...laughing....playing...

 Busy but busy at home...and I just love our time at home together...it is so precious. Welcome to the family Monopoly...you are a welcome addition!

the way home

I make the 25 minute trek to Creasy Mahan Nature preserve 3 times a week for XC practice. I go to Goshen to the kids school at least 5 times every week...sometimes 5 times a day!  so I travel this road a lot...and I know it by heart.  But every time I see this spot on my journey home...I know I am close and a feeling of happy comes over me! It's funny how your body and your mind just know the way home. I can be lost in a song...talking to the kids...or a million other things...and when I pass through these trees I always smile....just a few more minutes until I get home.

headed home

 We loaded sleepy littles in the truck for an early start to the trip home.....

 It was a ten hour trip...but the littles, as usual..came through with flying colors...we stopped for a quick breakfast at McDonalds and once for gas...and that was it....not even one extra potty break...

We stopped on the way home to pick up our Jack-Jack....the littles were so cute pressed up against the glass...just waiting for the first glimpse of him!

 He was so happy to see us...and we were so happy to see him....

 and this reunion was precious!

 Finally back at home....we said goodbye to Gran-Gran and thanked her for such a wonderful vacation! Truly I can't thank her enough for the memories I made....every precious one...

 We unloaded the truckster.....

 Visited the garden.....

 welcomed Jack back to is yard.....and soon we settled right back into the routine of home....

 There are dolls on the counter....

 I Carly on the TV.....

 Sweet tea on the stove....

 and a tricycle in the court....yep..the Hardys are home!

 Riggs has a Gulf shores shark tooth necklace around his neck as a souvenir of his vacation...as for my sourvenir .....I have gulf shores and this vacation in my heart...and I always will.