Part III

Part III of the big trip concluded our stay in Texas.  So really it could be Part IIc, but we'll just go with III because lower case letters in the wrong places make me uncomfortable.  It commenced with sliding down the stairs on an air mattress.  It was all fun and games until my knee made contact with dear Izzy's front tooth.  Don't worry, she only cried for a minute until I reminded her how tough she was when her head took out Haley's front tooth a few years ago.  Then all was well again.

There were a lot of little people to feed lots of times a day...but this particular meal was quite pleasant.  Nutella on croissants with fresh berries and cream...who am I kidding? All the meals were delicious.  I am horribly sad to be back at my own house where I have to cook again AND do dishes.  Megan, Mike spoils you, you know that, right?

My girls are also finding it quite disappointing to have no one but each other this week.  It may take us some time.  We sure miss all those cousins.  It hurts to leave them.  Hurts.

Sassy Sadie here is modeling her fabulous headband that she made during our headband making part of the trip.  I would fix her red eyes but I'm lazy, remember? Plus, amidst the whole vampire craze we'll just go with it.  I mean, the last time I checked it was hip to be a blood sucking monster.

I want to snuggle and kiss each and every one of them.  Even the one in pink on the couch giving me the evil eye.

We swam again.  My newest sister in law and her family were generous enough to offer us their pool at our leisure.  It was lovely.  Could these babies be any bigger babies at the pool?  There is a beautiful, real live pool five feet in front of them.

Oh babies.

Megan and I, in our crazy Moms-that-love-their-kids-and-want-to-cry-at-the-thought-of-cousins-not-being-together moment dressed them up and took them out for pictures.  It was hot.  I was allowed to say "it's hot" or "it's humid" once a day while we were there.  Cause it was, yo.  Sweet things.

So we rewarded ourselves more than once with a delicious Cuco dinner, AFTER the children were in bed so as to fully enjoy it in all its glory and splendor.  THAT my friends, is a beef and cheese stuffed deep fried avocado...I know, I feel faint just talking about it.  Divinity.

And then we had to up and leave one day, very early.  So early that all the kids passed out on our second leg.  Boy was I grateful.  Hazel has a new trick that she only pulls out in church and airplanes.  It involves loud, staccato screams of discontent.  It's charming.  Although more favorite than that was when the flight attendant came by and so curtly informed me that Hazel needed to be in a seatbelt.  I said "she's two." She said, "you have to" so I said "I'll do my best" and she said, in her very best authoritative witch voice "there will be no exceptions" and walked away.  I took great delight in her walking back down the isle and stopping in front of the crying, screaming two year old being held down by my arm while she tried to make faces at her and get her to smile.  Hazel just kept on crying.  I felt vindicated.  "You tell her Hazel".  It's the little things that really count, you know?

Oh there is so much more, though I am rapidly catching up to the present. 
Stay tuned for Part IV where I kidnap my sister in law and make her come back to Connecticut with us.

*I fully support children of all ages being restrained in an array of circumstances.  I just mostly don't care for rude flight attendants.

**My actual, real favorite part of our flight was when the nicer, more gentle soul of a flight attendant got on the PA during taxi and take off and whispered things like "you are sleepy...you want to pull the shades down and take a nap...you do not like peanuts....you are not thirsty....it's flight attendant appreciation day"....cause that was way funnier.