After Grandma and Grandpa Stephenson left (well actually the day before they left) my mom came to stay for a couple of weeks. It was so wonderful having her and hard as always to have her go.
For nearly 14 years now, ever since I was 18 and went away to school at Dixie College, I have had to watch my mom walk away and return home and know that it would be months before I'd see her again. Without a doubt 14 years later and probably a hundred departures later, it hasn't gotten any easier. I still cry like a baby every time she leaves. It always makes me feel like there is a big hole in my heart. My mom is so special to me and I always look forward to her coming to stay. I miss my dad so much too and I'm so grateful to him for being such a loving and selfless husband and father for letting my mom come so often to visit. He gets to come about every other time (that my mom comes), which is hard to go for so long without seeing him. We can't wait for him to come soon!
I always hope that Gracie and I will have the same close relationship that my mom and I have. I think it's a rare and special thing that my mom and I share and it would make me happier than anything if I could share that same love and friendship with my daughter.
While my mom was here I got done everything I could while she could watch Chase. I volunteered in Gracie and Parker's classes a few times (Gracie's Tiger Museum and squid dissection and Parker's Fall Party), got a massage (given to me when I had Chase), went to the dentist, had my annual physical, primary meetings, flu shots, shopping, hmmmm.....I know there was more. Phil and I were able to go down to Omaha (2 1/2 hours away) one Saturday to the Winter Quarters Temple while my mom stayed home and watched the kids. It was awesome! We left at 5:00am and got back at 1:30pm. I really enjoyed spending that one on one time with Phil and being able to attend the temple together. What an awesome blessing our Heavenly Father has given us to be able to attend and feel the love and spirit He offers us. The time went by way too fast though. I really appreciate Phil for the lengths he went to to make it happen. He was on call that weekend and had to find someone to cover for him.
Grandma volunteered in Gracie and Parker's classrooms at school and also ate lunch with each of them. They loved having her come into their classrooms! She also went with Parker out to recess and said that all the girls follow him around. Hehe! That doesn't surprise me at all because Parker is so sweet and kind.
A while back I got a denim jacket and Gracie really liked it and wanted one too. I happened to find one for her on a really good sale. So she had this brilliant idea that her and I and Grandma Holgate needed to go on a GNO (girls night out) together and wear our denim jackets. My mom didn't have one and heaven forbid she let Gracie down, so she found one and bought it to bring for our GNO. Gracie picked the place to eat, Texas Road House and then we went and saw Despicable Me. Loved that movie! The best part though was the ride home afterward when Gracie was quoting the movie in the perfect accent. What a hoot that girl is! We were rolling!
The next day Phil and Parker had a "Boys Day Out" and went golfing and got shakes. Phil let Parker drive the golf cart and from what I heard, they had a lot of fun goofing around. Phil's not a picture taker like I am so unfortunately I have no pictures to document it. :)
At the tail end of my mom's stay, Phil went to San Francisco for a pathology convention. He was gone from Thursday morning to Sunday night, which happened to be over Halloween. Bummer! I'm so glad my mom was here to help me tackle the ward Trunk or Treat. It's a lot of work getting kids dressed up, pictures taken and out the door. :)
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| Grandma brought a mini-cupcake kit for the kids to bake. They loved it! |
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| At the Sertoma Butterfly House. |
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| Helping Gracie do her homework. |
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