I haven't had any free time to blog, but Scott and Bradley went on a duck hunting trip and Andrew is at the varsity football game, so I am FREEEEEEE.
I have been really busy at work because of the week I took off last week, but it was worth it!
I flew to Texas last Saturday (it was actually LATE Friday night, the red eye flight). I arrived in Texas sometime in the morning, early afternoon. We had some delays in Houston because a food truck hit the plane and made a dent, so the FAA had to come check it out. After deliberating for quite a while, they decided we probably shouldn't take that plane, so they found us a new one. I had already been given a boarding pass, so I didn't really have to worry about not getting on, but I did have to worry the whole 3 hours between flights because I was flying stand by and the terminal was CROWDED and the plane was SMALL. So nerve racking! I was lucky and blessed to get on, so I wasn't too upset about the delay, but the people around me were missing connecting flights and work and all kinds of stuff. I made lots of friends talking to the people around me, though! Houston has a huge airport, but we were stuck way down at the end of one of the far away terminals, so not that exciting. I saw an official looking person who was wearing a Blackhawks polo and typing away on a lap top, so I asked him if he worked for the Blackhawks, but he said, "No". I also saw lots of people in college shirts traveling to watch their teams play, I suppose. I saw some old ladies with tennis rackets on their way to a tennis tournament. People watching at airports is fun. There was a guy with a skateboard. I think he had to pay a bunch extra to bring that because we researched it when Bradley flew to Utah. I saw so much, but it would take forever to detail it all here! By time we got a new plane and waited for our turn to go on the runway, HUGH black clouds formed right in the direction we were headed at takeoff and I guess if there was any lightning, they wouldnt let the plane take off, so we were facing more delays. When we finally did take off, we headed right into that black storm....and got lots of rain, but we traveled through it pretty fast and got above it, so the rest of the flight was smooth sailing.
Melanee picked me up with Miles and Theo. I sent them a text when I landed, but my phone was on airplane mode, so the text didn't send until I was outside waiting. I could have seen them sooner! But when I finally did see them, I was so happy!
We drove to Melanee's new town, which was about an hour away from the airport (she used to live 5 minutes). Dax had lunch hot and waiting for us. I was starving! Their new house looked great. (I had never seen it with furniture and lived in before.)
I was tired the rest of the day, but I got to go to a dinner at the church with Melanee and got to watch the Quakes game, but fell asleep during both!
Sunday was church and I like their ward, but no one introduced me or talked to me much in any of the classes, which was weird, but they may have all just met me the night before at the dinner or just could tell I was Melanee's mom??? I dont know, but it's ok!
On Monday we went into San Antonio (after we watched Dancing with the Stars). We took Theo to the doctor for a check up and immunizations. Afterwards we got some McDonalds and went to the temple to walk around and take photos. Miles liked splashing in the fountain and enjoyed doing Andrew's tradition of jumping off the bench.
We also went to a few stores to try to find some clothes for Miles, Theo, and Dax to match a dress Melanee had with blues, yellow, and white. We found a shirt for Dax at the first store and a super cute outfit for Theo at the second. Just when we were about to give up on finding anything for Miles (the store really did not have a section between baby clothes and boys clothes) we found a perfect polo shirt in his exact size!!! He wasn't too happy about trying it on, but we also found a clearance priced fire truck shirt, so he was thrilled with that! He loves trucks!!! All trucks!
On Monday evening we went to a park that had a pecan orchard and took family photos. It was a great idea and I had an empty memory card....but, it was just a small memory card (the kind that come with cameras) and I was only able to take about 15 pictures with it, and everyone knows on photo shoots with digital cameras you just take a bunch and then edit them when you get home, I didn't have room to take a ton, so that was frustrating....but the ones I did take turned out really good....except the ones of Miles running, they were out of focus, and would have been SO PERFECT if they would have turned out!!! Also, Monday began our "week of soup" and we made Olive Garden potato, sausage soup for dinner. Tues was cheddar brocolli soup, Wed was super spicy chicken tortilla soup, and Thurs was won ton soup. All deliciously yummy!!!
On Tuesday morning we went to the park (after we watched Dancing with the Stars). It was a big nice park surrounded by tons of pecan trees. We met a guy who goes around collecting pecans and sells them by the bucketful. He said he got 800 pounds last year and 1,000 the year before. We wondered if that should be Melanee's new money making hobby. He said he got $1.50 a pound for them. Tuesday was also scrapbooking day. We had made a baby scrapbook for Miles when he was about 4 or 5 months old, so this time we scrapbooked a bunch of baby Theo pictures. I brought scrapbook paper and we bought some stickers, but we probably could have used some more. My papers weren't really baby colors, but I think the pages we did turned out great. I should have taken some pictures of them! Melanee still has some more to make with the rest of the pictures she developed. For the afternoon/evening part of Tuesday we went to Dax's junior high football games. He coaches the 7th grade and they have an A team and a B team. They play real tackle, real football in junior high in Texas with referees and fans filled the stands. There were even cheerleaders, a mascot, and a snack bar. Miles loved playing around with all the kids who were there. He made lots of friends. The only time he sat to watch the game was when we gave him a bag of fruit snacks. Theo was good the whole time. Melanee couldnt really have watched the game if I wasnt there because she would have had to watch Miles run the whole time. With me there, we could switch off. Much easier. Miles really doesnt ever sit still.
Melanee and Dax have Netflix and while I was there they just happened to begin a new show, so I got to see a show from the start. It was called Quantico, but I haven't watched any episodes since I got home, so I'm not sure if it was great or just ok! We watched an episode every night after the kids went to bed.
On Wednesday we went to the park with one of Melanee's friends and her kids that are both Miles' friends, so he had a lot of fun. We also went to the grocery store. I think we may have went to the grocery store or WalMart every day I was there (except Sunday, haha). The stores have grocery carts that have seats for both kids, so they like them. It also gives out buddy bucks for a chance to spin a wheel and win tickets, so its a good bribe to get kids to behave during check out. I think Wednesday was the day we tried to play in the back yard, but we were attacked by mosquitoes!) It may also have been the day we raked and swept the front yard. We went to a different park that afternoon. This park had a splash pad, a big playground area, a skate park, and its where the town soccer fields are located. Melanee had to go to a church activity on Wednesday night, but Dax and I had fun with the kids while she was gone. Theo didn't cry at all.
On Thursday, we played in the backyard and got more mosquito bites. I tried chain sawing some of the branches that had fallen off of trees back there, but the chain came off. Melanee and Dax went to the temple that evening and I babysat. It was the first time they had left the kids with a babysitter while the kids were still awake. I dont think they thought I could handle it, but I did fine. Theo didn't cry, Miles went right to bed (after a few cartoon videos). I think it was good for Melanee and Dax to get dressed up and go away for a little while. I think they had fun.
Friday was fun, too. We went to the town's brand new multi million dollar library and it was fantastic. Better than any library I've ever seen, including college libraries, and Seguin is a really small town, so it was unusual! Then we walked around down town and met a Sharks season ticket holder who was traveling through town on his way from Florida to San Jose. He took a picture of us, for us, in front of the World's Biggest Pecan....and we took one of him there for him. We also went back to the park by the pecan orchards that day. This time it was after school, so Miles found lots of big kids to run around with. We went to a ward dinner at the church, but left before the cake auction. Melanee and Dax went to the movies that night, something they wanted to do, but had never done since Theo was born. They got home late and I had to be at the airport early, so Melanee did not get much sleep that night.
Melanee took me to the airport for my 6 o clock flight at 3:30. We got there easily and she said she didnt get too tired driving home alone after she dropped me off, which is good. She also said she "slept in" until 9:30, which never happens while raising kids!!!
My flight home was uneventful like the flights there....except my feet were freezing after the guy in front of me spilled his drink on them, and my shoes, and my bag that was under the seat!!! I tried to sleep and I think I did, but I had a stiff neck and shoulders afterwards (and freezing feet). Sharon picked me up at the San Francisco airport and drove me to my dad's house (where I had left my car). It was a great drive, beautiful day and great company to chat with while she drove. We stopped at Subway for lunch and Sharon had got us some delicious and fancy individual bunt cakes. So nice of her! I am so lucky that she was able to pick me up and give me a ride all the way to my dad's house. Thank You Sharon, if you are reading this (and I still owe you for the bridge toll!!!)
Thank you Scott for doing everything here so that I could go. Thanks Melanee and Dax for having me. I have to go pick up Andrew, so this is not edited or proof read and I know I missed details. But just know, I had a BLAST! I love Melanee and her sweet kids! (and Dax)
This was not Andrew, but this kid made a ONE HAND touchdown catch!!!
