Hotel Grandpa

  I could hardly talk about the lovely time that Carl and I had together without giving props to my dad for watching the girls for us.  This summer my dad finished building a new house and this trip was the first that we would get to stay there.  We spent one night with my dad and the girls before leaving them the next day.  Yes, I cried.  Yes, it was only for one night.  Yes, my dad had to shove me out the door.  Yes, my husband was pulling me at the same time.  Do you wanna make something of it?  I can count the number of times that I have been away from my children overnight on ONE hand (that is in 7 years!)  It is always a bit rough at first...but then it gets much easier.  Too easy.

I am so grateful for my dad's care for the kids and his encouragement to "go and have fun".  The girls are absolutely in love with him, and we counted down the days until our time with him for a month! I just wanted to share a few pictures from his house and have a little fun at his expense. Shall we? (keep in mind that my dad lives alone.)

  

First off, here is his bedroom.  What you are looking at is the biggest "princess and the pea" mattress you have ever seen. He said so himself.  It is as least 24 inches thick!  Pretty sure that I counted at least 6 pillows too!  What you cannot see is the large flat screen TV mounted to the wall just opposite of the the TV. This girls slept on the floor in there and were happy to crawl in bed with him in the morning to catch some cartoons.

Moving onto the closet.  This is where it gets good.  I cannot fully represent the vastness of this space, but just try and wrap your mind around approximately 500-600 square feet of wall-to-wall, color-coded shirts (I cropped out the sleeveless, frayed, denim Harley Davidson shirt just to preserve his dignity)...

 

shoes, (just the dress shoes, tennis shoes and boots were in another space)

 

pants, (also take note of the 15 gray hooded sweatshirts)

 

and more shirts,

I was pretty impressed by his decorating ability.  Everything was shiny stainless steel, dark chocolate leather, or rich maple wood.  The walls were painted with earthy tones of butter, sienna, and sage green- not "builder's white."  Nowhere were there piles of dirty clothes, muddy shoes, or even dirty dishes to be found.

In all seriousness, it was almost unnecessary for Carl and I to leave for a luxury getaway...we were perfectly comfortable just lounging at Hotel Grandpa.  He made so many efforts in the planning of this house to accommodate us.  Most everything is kid-proof.  There is not much to worry about- just relaxing,

 

that- and some movie watching on a surround sound stereo system.  Oh, and trail mix with M&Ms!  Thanks Dad!  Your new house rocks!

present

Taking a little time each day just to be present with the kids.  No worrying about the next moment or thinking about the last. I am just being with them- available to them.

Getting outside helps me.  Away from all the distractions indoors I feel like I can really listen to them.  I can really answer them.  I can really be wholehearted with them.

Being a real "thinker" this takes a conscious choice on my part. It is also not of my nature to do one thing at a time.  I don't really enjoy just sitting around for very long (okay maybe every now and then).  I have to tell myself, "okay don't go anywhere, stay on track, we are right here now."  Oh my that sounds quacky.  I suppose with practice it will get easier for me, but for now- I struggle a bit.

Our little nature walks have been wonderful opportunities for this time together.  We have been going down by the river to explore.  I try to not rush them along, but instead let them dawdle and wander. I don't bring a book, or a knitting project and only answer my cell phone if I am on call.

At first, my intention was that these devoted moments would benefit the children.  That this time would be me giving and them taking.  It turns out that this could not be further from the truth.

 

I have come to appreciate the way they see the world around them,  the way the notice the tiniest intricacies in creation. (Look closely above and you'll see the ant trail that Hannah discovered.) Their thoughts are valuable and analytical.  They make new discoveries and deep connections minute by minute.

They are little people with big hearts and very real emotions.  They are my children and I their mother.  I have cared for them.  I have prayed for them.  I have loved them...but now it seems I am really getting to know them.   I am sure that this relationship building can be attributed to the fact that they are getting better at articulating themselves, and that we are less hurried with school being out.  But mostly I think that it has everything to do with me just making a simple (or not so simple) choice to be present. It feels nice.

(so sick of technical issues with typepad. am I the only one losing posts? it is so slow now, and the photo spacing is horrible- no wrapping! UGH!)

Trading off

We started the summer off right with some good old fashioned sleeping over.

 

Our best little friends came over on Friday night while their parents had some much need fun- alone. These 6 monkeys watched this riveting tale and munched on some black licorice, junior mints and kettle corn in my bed (after they were evicted to their own sleeping quarters I just changed the sheets- too many snack remnants :)  I think the last one held out until 11:00pm- not bad.  By 6:48am the next morning all were awake and pleading for pancakes.

We had a little deal worked out you see.  The first night the kids were at our house, the next night we traded with our friends.  I think that we scored the better end of the deal because keeping 6 girls happy and at ease with one another after the night before (they were all pretty toasted) cannot be an easy gig.

No matter, they were on their own.  And so were we. Do not be deceived by my fake flippant tone. It was very hard leaving them. Laurel had never spent the night away from us and I can count the number of times that the other two have slept away from us on one hand.  Thankfully I was forced into it.  Good friends are fierce like that.

 

So here is my date.  Isn't he cute?  He told me that this was his pensive pose.  Funny, cute and clever- he's all mine.

 

Here we are together.  I would like to point out several details concerning this picture.  First of all, please notice my triple chin- precious.  Next, I want you to know that my husband is rolling his eyes under those rad glasses of his.  (I know you can't see that...but trust me they are rolling as they often do when I take photos for my blog.  Also, he was worried that I might displace his review mirror with my camera while posing.  Safety first in the new car.)  Thirdly, I wore some hurkin earrings which were not the best choice for a 60mph windyish evening.  All night they were flapping and jingling about.

 

We traveled back to the town where we lived when we were first married (attended a graduation party). We saw old houses and old friends...all have changed and we were reminded how the years have changed us too. Several moments throughout the night made us feel older. Much older.  Halfway through the party- we stole away to the movies.  It was a lavish luxury- to sit through the entire movie without someone on your lap, or telling you that they had to go to the bathroom part way through the show.

I love my children.  They bring so much fullness and sweetness to our lives (and popcorn kernels to our bed) but sheesh its great to get a way once and a bit.  There is always a brief period of awkwardness when we find ourselves without those three little people. After a while we find that we start calling each other by our real names- not "Mom" or "Dad".  The conversation gets easier and before you know it we are "us" again.  It takes practice to be Man and Wife when the day to day grind keeps you in parent mode. 

  

It's true, there are times when I wish for more romance.  You know, the moments when you nervously wondered, "Is he going to kiss me? Is my breath okay? Will he call me tomorrow?"  But I don't think that I would want to go back.  So much better it is to have a comfortable companion, a trustworthy friend, someone who you can be your true self with.  The newness has worn off...but that is how you know it is real.  I am still in love, and the best part is that he still loves me back!