A Family Filled Weekend

We welcomed three Millers and two Schwartzes on Friday morning and kicked off the weekend at the Odysea Aquarium. It was fantastic! Gavin loved the aquarium and loved exploring it with his Oregon family, and Graham was happy to be along for the ride. He got a variety of love and snuggles as we made our way through the aquarium. The remainder of the rainy day was spent at home, and half of the next as well.

On Friday morning, Gavin requested pancakes, the breakfast of champions. And then he dug the griddle out of the cabinet while we worked getting out of bed. I was so proud to see him take some initiative.

Graham enjoyed some freeze-dried blueberries, which left him looking like he ate charcoal for breakfast.

Gavin spent so much time at each exhibit.

What a great day it was for everyone.

We woke up to a power outage on Saturday, but Dylan hooked up the generator before our visitors woke up, which allowed us the light of one lamp, power to the refrigerator, and a hot pot of coffee. By the time I made it to the gym, the power had been restored. In the afternoon, the weather was good enough for Dylan to show off his drone, and then we ventured out to give the family an airplane and hangar tour...but not before a run through Dutch Bros.

Gavin helping me prepare a dessert casserole.

I'm sorry I have so many pictures of my children doing nothing interesting. I'm a sucker for their sweet faces.

Sunday was equally as splendid as the rest of the days. The main attraction at our house is always the rhino, so Dylan partnered up with my brother, and they took Tess, Jace, Mik and Gavin on a ride, while I hung back with G2 and D's parents. We capped off the night with dinner at Pita Jungle, and then it was time for Jace and Mikaila to head to the airport.

Everything about this picture is awesome.  

Family snuggles

Hanging with Aunt Mik

I may have gone a little overboard with his cold-weather gear. But it was COLD!

Monday was low-key, and the rest of the family headed off to the airport in the afternoon while Dylan headed out to take care of some work duties. Gavin closed out the weekend feeling a little under-the-weather and with a very gross runny nose, but he's sleeping soundly, and we're hoping for the best. Both boys had just a really awesome time with their grandparents, aunt and uncle. How fortunate we are that they made the journey out here to love on our little ones. I can give everything I've got to parenting these boys, but as they say, it takes a village. And these guys are a very important part of our village and a key component in giving the two Gs a top-notch childhood.

I fit in a few snuggles, myself.

Just chilling with my guys.

And let's be honest...I totally took advantage of having so many extra sets of hands around to love on the boys. It was nice to be able to take a shower and fold some laundry without having every minor detail of my day premeditated. I took off to the gym, alone, or went on a jog every single day. I even squeezed in a Target run, where I took my sweet time instead of racing through the aisles to finish up before someone needed to eat/pee/nap. I also got out on Saturday night for the pajama-casserole party at Patti's house, where I caught up with work friends and laughed so hard I cried. And stuffed my face with casseroles of every variety. I brought the chocolate lasagna...a concoction of Oreos, cream cheese, Cool Whip, chocolate pudding and butter. Worth every calorie. Dylan was able to spend quality time with his family, and besides being called away for a few hours on Friday, he was able to devote the whole weekend to their visit.

We are completely switching gears now and turning this place into a much less full house. Dylan will be departing on a trip soon, and I'll make an attempt to maintain some sense of order around here, but I probably won't succeed. Because that is life. I am very thankful for the weekend that is now behind us...the time with family and the break from full-time parenting was incredible. I think the hardest part of this time of life is feeling like a shell of the person I once was, and the small pockets of opportunity to live my life undistracted really helped me to push a reset button and start the week feeling fresh.