it's taken me all week to write this because part of me wishes i could forget.
it was the trip to end all trips.
(it's a long story but if you read it all you will be laughing (or crying) with me.)
there are pictures at the end…i promise.
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we went to my parents' this past weekend for an early Thanksgiving.
My grandma needed her car there also so she rode with me and craig drove her car.
20 minutes later than scheduled we wrangled everyone into the 2 vehicles.
all the girls (me, my girls, my grandma) in my Suburban.
craig and the boys in grandma's car.
oh yes…and waffle in the kennel in the back with me.
craig and i both get out of our cars twice to run back inside for forgotten things.
we pull out of the driveway…finally.
craig is leading.
we get to the last gas station at the edge of town.
craig pulls over…needs to fix sean's seat belt.
annie says "i have to go to the bath-frroom"
i park and take her inside the lovely gas station bathroom. talby shows up too.
ok…on the road again. 30 minutes late.
grandma and i chit chat while being constantly interrupted by annie.
constantly!
craig hits his brakes. i look for deer.
he comes to a stop and pulls over….i almost hit him from the back.
his back door flies open and we get a side view of scott's projectile vomit.
i am shocked.
and of course…like i always do at inappropriate times…i start to laugh.
bad mother.
craig throws his hand up, smiles and shouts "first puke of the day!"
(when someone spills at dinner we (try to) say "first spill of the day!" instead of yell)
i get out and help craig clean things up…as best we can.
the wind was so strong everything was blowing around.
scott changed his clothes and calmed down.
i gave craig my package of baby wipes…just in case.
sean announced "i'm going in mom's car!"
we get back on the road.
veggie tales is crankin' and grandma and i are talking again.
about 10 minutes has gone by…
i smell something.
i ask sean to look at the dog….and oh yes…
he has pooped in his kennel and is sliding around in it.
i call craig's cell & he says "i'm going to the station up the road…i'll meet you there."
i am on my own…in the wind…with the poop.
i pulled out his rug and blanket and toss it in the ditch.
goodbye forever winnie the pooh sleeping bag.
lauren is supposed to have waffle and she lets go…
now we have a dog running in the ditch of the highway,
a nicely dressed woman in leopard shoes cleaning up dog poop with notebook paper
and 3 kids shouting "ewwwwwwwww!!!!"
i get it semi-clean and we get back in….
sean announces "i wish i was with Dad now"
and talby shouts "first POOP of the day!"
we meet back up with craig and get the wipes back!
i think for the first time grandma was happy she'd lost her sense of smell.
lauren is dousing our car with her pineapple perfume and it's even worse than before.
i had to just put my nose into my shirt.
we drove onto lawrence (another 1.5 hours) with no more problems.
miraculously.
it felt like a never ending candid camera episode.
i told my grandma "i dare you to have that much fun on your way home!"
aren't you glad i had no pictures to go with that story?
here are some sweet pictures after all the insanity ended.
my mom put on a big spread for 20+ family members.
it was all very yummy.
my cousin came with husband and children all the way from minnesota.
that is so nice of them to make the trip. i love spending time with them!
the kids made glove turkeys…very cute.
aren't annie's twin cousins just as cute as can be?
she sure loved h
aving TWO four year olds to play with.
grandma turned 91 this week and talby helped her blow our her candles.
thank you for hosting mom and dad.
my uncles, my father, my husband, my sons, my brother-in-law, my cousin dave….all the men
were here also but for some reason there are only girls in these pictures?
i guess i should have gone in by the football….
Tracy - Absolutely a beautiful little girl with gorgeous eyes! Great pictures as usual, Meg!
Hugs, Trac~ :O)
traci - what a doll. she is a very happy baby. great photos meg!!
Linda - I love your blog–you are so real! I love your photographs too–very cute and also very real.
kim in Camas - ScrapToMyLu - aren’t you sweet……..you’re one of my favs too.
Mel - I am soooo blessed to get to see this little precious girl Monday thru Friday!
Melissa
emily - Meg, I am so sad it has taken me this long to comment on your blog! I have been so busy lately, and trying to take care of sick kids, start up an etsy, and just LIVE! FORGIVE ME!
cecilia löfholm - She is so cute! I love your pictures! Especially the one where she waves at the cars!
traci - She is just too cute for her own good!!! Love the pictures…you wanted her to open her eyes more so we could see the ‘blue’ which shows up in the first pic but I lOVE her squinty eye smile!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jamie Sampson - super cute. I love your black and whitew.
a thorn among roses - i have 2 kiddos with squinty grins…and such sweet pics! she is precious!
Staci - Oh my word what a cutie! Love the stripes and polka dots! Isn’t it just a cryin’ shame there were no girls in my plan?? boo hoo. (I do love my boys 😉
Amanda - Is it me or does that child look very….
…wise. Like. Wise. Hum. I dont know how else to describe it.
And adorable. And is this a busniess for you? LOTS of fun pics for us… LOTS of work for you! Well. Unless you are one of those naturally gifted photographers who takes the perfect shot and doesn’t need to spend hours editing like me… just to find the one good shot I took out of 100.
Many blessings-
Amanda
carissa - waving at all her fans… she is too cute!
squinty eyes means a true smile! 🙂
great job
Trina - these are so cute.. love the last picture.. how did you do that? Looks vintage or poloraidish!!!
Sarah - What a precious little girl! I love all the squinty smiles!!
I bet this photo shoot was a blast for you all, and I love that she was waving at cars driving by. SO CUTE.
Rachel - What a cutie she is! I love her squinty eyes when she smiles! I just want to gobble her up!! Great pics!