RUPTURED EARDRUM

Cora came home from vacation with a BAD cough. Actually, it had gotten bad while still on the west coast. So after school we took her to the doc (she hadn't had any fever, so we figured she was ok to go to school) and found out that her left ear (which had been infected right before we left on our trip) has a ruptured ear drum and her cough is bad enough to require antibiotics and steroids. No wonder she had those meltdowns on vacation, especially at bedtime (ear pain is always worse when laying down). Since I felt guilty, and she requested it as we drove by after dropping of her prescriptions, I took her to Orange Leaf. In our house, ice cream makes all illnesses better. And James didn't mind one bit taking advantage of the situation...

POST VACATION BLUES

And this was at 8am. On a school day. I let them sleep as long as possible, and they were still crazy when I woke them up. Gonna be a long week (or more) of readjustment...

HEADING HOME

Proof that we've learned to travel light! Two suitcases for 4 people, and one small carry-on each!!

Walking the Sacramento River

Since I don't think I mentioned it after the flight out, the kids were both awesome travelers on this entire trip. They napped on the way to the airport, behaved on the plane, slept 3 out of the 4 hours of the flight from Atlanta to Sacramento, were great (most of the time) on all the long road trips (we had four days worth of 5-10 hour trips) and also all the little jaunts to go sightseeing, and were equally good (and napping) on the return flights home. Much appreciated kiddos. Much appreciated.

LAST DAY IN CALI (THIS TIME AROUND)

This tricycle can hold 600 pounds. I tried to convince James to give me a ride, but he said it was only for PawPaw.

Drinking the Imperial Pelican Ale from Pelican Pub and Brewery

 

Pretty sure Jay and Dad enjoyed the water guns as much as the kids. Perhaps more so.

Kisses for Bigfoot

She loves him just a little...

Sweetness :-)

Cheers!

Sneaky boys trying to put out PawPaw/Bampa's torches...

Hosing off the kids before pajama time :-)

MORE TIME WITH MY GRANDS

We went back up to Elk Grove this morning to spend some additional time with my grandma and grandpa. We went by the rehab center first to see grandpa, then grabbed take out from In-and-Out Burger and headed back to grandma's house so the kids could run crazy around her backyard and try out their new water guns from Auntie Margie (their very first water guns - a little difficult for their little hands to work, especially Cora, but they liked them and generally followed the rule of not spraying the adults). And yes, we intentionally left their swimsuits at home and just let them be nekkid. It's OK, they're southern kids...

DANCE PARTY

Addy had her first dance recital today (how cute is she getting ready with those curlers in her hair?!) so we left grandma and grandpa's house (back into the sweltering car!) with plenty of time to shower and move the car seats over to the suburban so we could attend the show with my parents.

Eli actually attended the show twice today. Since it was 3 hours long, he didn't quite last the entire show the first time around (we cut out at intermission when we went for the evening edition). How adorable is he sacked out with the flowers he picked out for his little sister?!

After the show Cora just wanted to hug Addy SO BADLY, but Addy was being shy. During her performance (as Cora was dancing along, which she did for most of the numbers), Cora yelled "Yay Addy! Her's not even crying!"

 I wanted to get a photo of Addy in her fancy dress, but it was a no-go. She was determined to hide behind (and in) Grambot's skirt.

Back at David and Taryn's house, we had yummy take-out from DaVinci's (ravioli and tortellini and focaccia bread), and the kids played inside and out, and Cora got to open her birthday gift from her aunt and uncle.

The bag was almost as big as Cora!

Wrestling with Daddy/Uncle Jay

Ice cream for desert!

 The kids played SO WELL together. Really pulls at my heart strings to see what they could have with their cousins if we lived closer... Eli and Addy are truly awesome kids and we miss them bunches!

VISITING G&G

When we got off the highway, we headed straight to my grandma's house. We cooled off, ordered a pizza, and let the kids stretch their legs. I sat and talked with my grandma while Jay monitored the kids around all the breakables, and after we'd eaten (ice cream cones included), we went over to the local rehab facility where my grandpa has been since his knee replacement surgery at the end of May. I didn't take any pictures of grandpa because I'm pretty sure he wouldn't appreciate photographic evidence of him being stuck in bed like that, but you can see the facility below (under the ice cream photo - love grandma's little spoon collection!) He has plans to break out of there on Monday or Tuesday!