We woke up Saturday morning, loaded the car, and headed off to Houston for the weekend. When my mom came to town the second time to help out with Declan, Taylor had gotten really upset and said she'd wished my mom hadn't come. I couldn't believe Taylor had said that, but then she added it was because she wanted to go to Nana's house. Of course my mom, who'd been heading into another room, had only heard Taylor's first statement, so I had to fill her in on the reason. Anyways it made me think about the fact that we won't be so close to my parents next year and so we should take any opportunity we can to go see them. After we'd been on the road a bit, Tom was getting frustrated because we were having to slow down because of this huge group of ambulances (about 10-15 of them) that were in the way.
We were trying to figure out what was going on when it hit me . . . Hurricane Gustav was heading towards Louisiana. I realized the ambulances must have been on the way there to be ready for when Gustav hit. Then we came upon about 20 tour buses heading that way. Of course between the buses and the ambulances we were going VERY slowly. Fortunately, Declan had to eat, and we needed some gas.
It was nice when we got back on the freeway because we could finally GO. Then we caught up with a group of military vehicles heading that way, too. Well, no one can't say the government didn't try to prepare ahead of time. In fact, on the way home from Houston a few days later, we say more military vehicles heading that way.
We got there around naptime. Well, there was no way Taylor and Payden were going to take naps. The first hour or two at my parents' house is WAY to exciting for them. They have to go explore and get all the toys out that they haven't seen in awhile. That night my sister Angela and her husband came over to visit and so we could go to a wedding reception of a friend. That night because of the reception, the girls didn't go to bed until later.
Sunday morning we woke up and went to church. I'll have to say it was our WORST Sacrament EVER!!! No naps and a late bedtime the day before had created 2 tired little girls. When Payden's tired, she can't handle things and will start scream-crying when something doesn't go how she wants it. When Taylor's tired, she's angry, grumpy, disobedient, nonconforming and makes a lot of grumpy noises and screams. (It's kind of funny seeing their different little personalities manifest even in their tiredness.) Anyways, I'm sure EVERYONE noticed us. First I was out with Taylor, then I was out with Payden, then Tom went out with Taylor for good, then I went out with Declan to feed him, and then my dad had to take Payden out because she wanted me, which left Shelby all alone because my mom was playing the organ. It was absolutely nuts. Kind of funny now, but NOT funny at all when it was happening. Since we were at a different ward, and the kids needed a nap, we left right after Sacrament and made sure they got their naps.
Amen to the naps because the rest of the day went so much more smoothly. When Payden woke up, she was snuggling with me, but Tom really wanted to snuggle with her. Of course she wouldn't go to him, so he told her to come snuggle with Declan, which she absolutely was willing to do. Since Declan was on Tom's lap, he ended up getting the Payden snuggles that he wanted. They were too cute sitting there.
Since we were in town, my mom had everyone over for Sunday dinner. Scott and Angela ended up staying the night too because their A/C had gone out the day before. NOT a good thing in Houston during the summertime. My sister Lori had returned from Austin a day early so that she and her daughter Avery could come visit with us. Avery and Payden are just a few weeks apart, and we want the cousins to have a good relationship.
There was a breakthrough this time, which made us excited. Usually the two of them are constantly saying mine and trying to keep the other from touching "their" toys. It's funny because you can just tell that they are 2. By the end of the night though, they were actually playing together. We were soooooo excited (and a bit shocked). Then when Avery and Lori went to leave, Avery and Payden actually gave each other hugs and kisses. It was too cute; unfortunately, we were unable to get it on camera. By the time we got the cameras out, they were SO done with that.
Right as Lori and Avery left, our friends the Milligans dropped by to visit. Elma was my Beehive advisor back in the day, went to camp with us at least one year, and has just been a friend for a long time. She reminds me a lot of Tom in that she LOVES being around people and especially with friends. The conversations are never boring with Tom and Elma around. Payden attached to Tim, Elma's husband. It was too cute. He was her friend and the person she had help her do about everything. She tends to attach to males - Tim, our brother-in-law Jeremy, our friend Joel. I wonder if I'm going to have to worry about that. Hmmmm.
While we were there, Tom designed a tattoo for one of his friends. He had a lot of fun doing it. I would have a hard time doing something like that because I always want it to be perfect and for the person to love it perfectly, which just doesn't always happen. Tom hasn't told me if the guy liked it or not, but I think Tom did a good job incorporating all of the ideas the guy wanted.
Now, the girls love going to Nana and Papa's house for various reasons. Of course they enjoy seeing family and playing with cousins, but it's also the things at the house that they get excited about, too. Shelby always enjoys the books and can be constantly found reading throughout the time we're there. Taylor loves to play with the toys and do the puzzles and play on their keyboard. Payden tends to tag along after Taylor and doing the things she's doing. Tom commented how much a mess our kids made to my parents otherwise clean house, but it comes with the territory, and I'm sure every grandparent would rather pick up the many messes then not get to see their grandchildren.
On Labor Day, we got packed up and then headed over to my sister Angela's house they just bought earlier this year. It was fun to see the house. They've put a lot of work into and are really making it cute. The people before had interesting tastes. The kitchen cabinets were pink, and they have a slick linoleum like tile that looks wood. Really weird. It's given Scott and Angela a lot to do, but they are enjoying working on the house. They don't have kids, and so it's gotta be a fun couple thing to do.
After that we headed back home. It was nice to visit. We're glad we're able to see my family a lot. It's always wonderful having family close by.
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