No big deal. Just a month late. I do have big news to share though… Guess who is pr–

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–aise the Lord sleeping through the night?! Annie-girl (and Ruthie-girl). Ruth used to always climb into bed with us at some point in the night. I loved it, even if she liked to sleep horizontally forcing one of us to finish the night on the couch in doing so. We didn’t care because she’s fun to cuddle with. But lately she’s been staying put and we have been getting full nights of sleep.

This is probably the first time since July 2011 that I’ve gotten a full night’s sleep.

Let that sink in for a moment. 3 years. (!!!)

I’m finally starting to feel like myself again, which is probably scary for most people, but delightful for me. Now I have to learn to curb my ‘take every class, volunteer in every organization, meet up with every person’ self and continue with discernment. Oh, but how I want to do, do, do!

Anyway, back to our visit to KC.

We had to make a pit stop (or three) partways there, so I asked if we could find a thrift store in Nevada, MO.

Ruthie felt right at home in the mess apparently. Whatever.

…and I found a nice addition to my wedding ring. I can’t tell if the ring makes the ring look old or if my hand makes the ring look old. Don’t answer that.

Anyway, cute little one main street Nevada! Look at all these store fronts! Guess which one was my favorite. I’ll give you a hint. It didn’t have blue paint or my name on it.

You got it. Give me dirty, crumbling siding and plaster or give me death I tell you! Am I the only person who would buy this property and leave it as is? Yummy.

Do you know who is becoming a big girl? Annie. My funny, silly, WALKING (as of today) Annie. She loves her some books. If it gets quiet in the toy room, I’ll peek in and she’s normally sitting in the middle of a pile of books. If she sees me, she’ll hunt me down dragging one with her for me to read. I NEVER say no. Can’t. Won’t.

I hope they continue to read on road trips.

We spent the first night at my sister’s house. This probably isn’t the best pic of what I saw, but when she walked out I immediately thought she looked rich. She wasn’t wearing anything spectacular but she wore it really really well. It was an odd feeling as we fell out of our camper van, like I was the pauper sister. So I made her cook me dinner and ordered her about for a bit to make myself feel better.

Elayna and I played Pepper, which I haven’t played in…. oh, SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.

Ruthie was in cousin heaven. She could hang with these guys any night of the week. They are so good to her.

Later she was given an ice cream cone as well as an opportunity to jump on a trampoline.

At the same time.

It was the back neighbor’s house and we watched in slow motion as Ruthie climbed one-handed onto the trampoline. I looked at rich Lisa, she looked back. Ruth managed to stand in the middle of it and do one small little jump that brought her legs up to her chest and fell down on that dang ice cream cone.

It made me laugh so hard. You had to be there.

Ryan spent the evening watching Will play baseball. Ryan said he was the best player on the team by seven grades. Later that night Lisa and I took turns making the other watch our favorite tv shows. Both were hour long shows, so we switched back and forth every 15 minutes. Neither of us wanted to give up our own, but we managed.

The next morning we picked up Amy to visit one of our family friends. On the way, we popped into Trader Joe’s for some 2 Buck Chuck. I like the fine things in life.

I bee-lined for the wine, picked out a box and started filling up like it was a freaking race. Grabbed both top flaps, turned to find everyone. And then I heard it. The crash of a bottle.. then the feeling of the rest falling. Amazingly only one broke… and apparently I tried to turn as red as the wine itself so no one would see me.

Red, but still visible. Someone shoot me, it’s flipping 9am and I look like a lush. It didn’t help that all the employees were OVERLY nice. Like, so nice it was really awkward. And Ruthie pretended to not know me. Get used to it girl.

We made it to Chris’ house and had such a lovely visit! He’s battling thyroid cancer and just blew us away with his hope and heart. We hadn’t seen each other in several years, but with Chris nothing changes. Same laugh, same (great) story-telling, and same love for us. And vice versa. My favorite part was watching his daughter sit and listen to him. She would just gaze at him while he talked. I about burst into tears.

Sweet, sweet family.

Afterwards, we dropped off the kids at my parent’s house and headed to my cousins’ for an adults-only boat ride. Can I get a HUZZAH!? We are finally tasting a teeny bit of freedom. Just enough to make us giddy, and just enough to smother the girls with kisses when we come back.

Not gonna lie, I felt good that night. No weight had changed, no make-up put on differently… I think it was just going to the lake (and not having to wear a swimsuit.) Cue gratuitous selfies galore. I literally could not stop taking selfies. Why didn’t I bring a mirror to make out with myself, it was really embarrassing. These were only just the tip of the iceberg. And I’m pretty sure it’s the iceberg that sank the titanic.

Embarrassing stories were shared and defended and corrected. What was shared on the boat, STAYS ON THE BOAT. We’re looking at you, Beth & Katie.

Selfie alert:

 

Me looking at my selfies alert:

Cousins

We got home, laid around the next day, then headed right back out to the lake for fireworks.  The weather this year.. I know you remember. It was awesome. Breezy and not hot at all.

This girl: happy. And slobbery.

Ruthie followed cousin Will around like a puppy dog. He is the nicest to her, it’s crazy. That boy and his soft heart.

I joked on Facebook that this is Ann-girl and her Marilla. Still sticking by that.

Lisa and Joe took the canoe out for a romantic ride. At one point we lost where they went, and then we busted up.
It looks calm in the photo, but boats were going by them on all sides. Lisa rowed them back in.
Cousin baby shots!

Boys being boys:

She loves me I swear:
Ruthie and Annie rocked the fireworks. Neither cried or slept. It was a good, good night.

The next day we were set to leave after lunch, but beforehand Dad mentioned off-hand something about my mom’s birthday. Mom’s birthday? Oh. My. Gosh. How could I have forgotten!!??

So I grabbed all of the things that I had already given her when we arrived.. you know, half-used room spray (because she said it smelt like her house growing up) and a bridge score card (because, well, they’ve reached the bridge-playing age. For some reason they keep saying we need to learn how to play too. I am an old fart inside I think. Yay!)
We sang happy birthday, ate chinese food, and all split one piece of cake. Great birthday party, I’m sure.
The way home took pretty much all day. Annie had blow-outs galore and in general everyone was in a bad mood. I must have blocked it out.

BUT, the next day I finally got a good photo of Annie crying. She always evades me with these cries… as soon as the camera comes out, it’s over. But I got it Annie. I got it.
Back to happy, though. The roller coaster ride of emotions. It’s intense.
Happy Belated 4th!