To Idaho!

We've left Bama and the southeast behind for the summer.

After the Color Run, I did a made rush of packing up.  Got everything together, including the kids, and headed over to Atlanta--which is like a 2ish hour drive from B'ham.  My mom came with me, driving our 4runner, and we stayed the night at a hotel.  Which the boys LOVED!  They love hotel rooms, guys.

In the morning we woke up, like at 5am eastern time, and headed out the door at 5:35ish.  It was a little panicky getting to our flight--seeing that the ATL airport is amazing huge, and we should have arrived there at 5, instead of 5:40.  Mom and I were running through the airport!  And I was basically in tears when we got to our gate!  Which was empty, and ready to shut the door.  We said a goodbye to Grammie, and headed to the plane.

On the plane there were not very many seats.  I few people were moved around, and the three boys sat together.  I sat by myself, two rows back, eyes on them always.  Once we were in the air I was able to move to a seat next to the boys.

We had two flights that day.  One from Atlanta to Denver, the other Denver to Boise.
An over view:  Isaac got motion sickness, Eli was afraid of looking out the window, and Titus would only sleep on the decent of each plane.  Imagine talking to Titus, then in mid sentence he conks out because of the cabin pressure!  Hilarious!  Isaac didn't sleep at all on any flights, and Eli took a good long nap on the last flight.
Over all it was a good flight trip.  First time flying with kids not needed a diaper, bottles, baby toys, etc.  Totally dreamy.

Rad Run in B'ham

Though there aren't very many members of the church (the Mormon church) in Bama, those that do belong are pretty freakin' awesome.  My mom happens to be friends with lots of very cool ladies, who have happily taken me in as a friend too.

They all signed up for a Color Me Rad run, and me and mom were all about it!  Because, 1) cool people, and 2) this Rad Run's money went towards the Ronald McDonald House.  Holla' to the Ron McDon House!  Happen to love the RMHC, if ya didn't know.  Matt and I stayed in the SLC (Salt Lake City) RMHC (Ronald McDonald House Charities) during Eli's surgeries... I still dream of that house, thinking how wonderful it would be to go back... But not for a heart surgery--just to stay.  The SLC RMHC is that great.

BACK TO THE RUN>>>  Before it all went down, an actual real life movie star came up on stage and talked.  You know the guy who plays Rudy?  Samwise on TheLofR?  Let's just say it, the Goonies?!  Yup, Sean Astin was there to kick it off.  Remember how I said that we couldn't go to the first bowling alley on that Wednesday because of a movie being shot?  Wow, what the heck is going on in Bama?!  Movies and movie stars.

BACK TO THE RUN, for realz >>>  Me and mom stayed together and ran the whole thing.  It was actually really hilly.  (Cause B'ham is hilly, fyi.)  A pretty good work out.  Plus lots of color being splashed on the runners.   Fun times!

PS, Mom and I drove the boys to Atlanta that day, for our flight to Boise.  THAT will be the next post. Oh geez.

That Wednesday in May

We're continuing our discussion on the Bama Trip, during the last week of May.   And that Wednesday was one epic day.

Frist,  we were supposed to meet up at a bowling alley for a play group.  However, when we arrived there was no play group--instead the whole lot was filled with movie production vans... to shoot a movie?!  In Bama?!  Really?!

Since the drive to the bowling alley was 30 minutes away, and the boys were so upset that they couldn't bowl, I headed over to the next closest alley--15 minutes away on a complete different highway system.  And of course when we arrived, that alley wasn't open for another 35 minutes.   So we then decided to was a good idea to check out the Chick-Fil-A, get some drinks/early lunch, and play for a bit till the alley opened.   And that's what we did!

After 45 minutes of play and eat, we went to the bowling alley, strapped on some shoes, and bowled to our hearts content!  The first 4 to 7 frames were not toucher, but then it all started to get really old.  Luckily Grammie (my mom) showed up to help us out for the last bit.

After bowling we packed up, and tried to met up with a friend to go swimming!  I got a little lost in the back rounds of Bama, but she was able to find me and then led us where to go.   The swimming play-date was great.  It's so nice to catch up with a LONG time friend--one who has known you since you were 5, and she was 3.   It was also pretty hilarious watching our sons play together:  5 total.  We'll have to catch up again, for sure!

I honestly don't remember what we did after we came home.  Probably watched a movie and chilled out.

Eli wanted to take a picture, but not look at the camera.  Crazy. 

Takes for ever for their balls to get down the lane.  

And when the ball gets there, sometimes it's disappointing the lack of a boom!

High five!  

 

Magnolia--An Obsession

My parents have two huge magnolia trees outside in their front yard.  Me and the boys arrived in Bama just as the bloom started to begin.  

The smell is intoxicating, the flower is gorgeous, and Shannon becomes hypnotized by it all.  

So Memorial Day Happened

And we were invited to a pool party with some long time family friends.  It really was a great day.  Good, good, good hamburgers (thanks to my forming skill, and Dad's grill skill), good company, good pool fun.  Just a good day.

However, at one point, Titus decided to go and explore an inclosed play house.
Then there was much terror screaming!  Mom (Grammie) and Dad (Gramps) rushed to get him, and he came out scared and hurt.  Poor thing got--not one--TWO bites/stings from a wasp... On his lips!  One on the top, then one on the bottom.  Broke our hearts.  We didn't have really anything for him, except an adult Benadryl.  He took it, then promptly passed out.  The next morning his lip was normal size once again!

Poor baby:

Intro to Bama Week

On Isaac's last day of Kindergarten, we hit the road to Bama!  Hooray for some good 'ol family time. 

Before I go into all the festivities, I'll just talk about a major theme which I tend to be obsessed with:  the great doors!  

These were some pictures I took back in Georgia, before leaving for Bama.  A rain storm.  An freashly edged sidewalk.  And of course a severed extension cord, done during my hedging of the hedges.  

Then we arrived in my hometown.  Hello, beautiful! 

 I'm also a bit obsessed with my parent's ancient home:

My parents have a bee hive in their cedar tree.  It's amazing!  They never sting us, but are super busy and super loud! 

Poem of the Month

I got this Amazon gift card for participating in a survey about Eli and his stay in Primary Children's Medical Center.  [My post about these surveys HERE]

What in the world to buy?! 

Then I heard this interview with Caroline Kennedy, and her new poetry book for children.  Solid.  I'm getting that.  Plus another one of her books!

The pictures are gorgeous, the poems are fun, and the boys will actually want to read a few each night (when I remember to bring them down).  

Books on my lap.  And yes, I am wearing a blue bathrobe.  It's my "Matt's Deployed Uniform"!  

So I'm going to pick one from the Poems to Learn by Heart by Langston Hughes called "Bad Morning."
It's pretty much about misplacing things, which happens to me all the time!  Even as I type I don't know where my wedding ring is, nor where my spare 4runner key is located.  Oh, I'll find them, know worries.  But there is defiantly daily frustration when dealing with my brain.  


Bad Morning 
by Langston Hughes 

Here I sit
With my shoes mismated.
Lawdy-mercy!
I's frustrated!