Going to Texas....

"Mommy, Can I go, PLEEESE! Please Mama, can I go too!?" Madelynn pleads while jumping up and down. She really wants to go with Braden and Kamryn and spend the week with Meme and Papa.

Meme had asked her the day before if she wanted to go and Madelynn stood firm in her decision because she wanted to be an only child...but as the bags were being loaded, she sat at our table and began to draw a picture. She held up the picture and said, "Here, this is a picture of me. Take this, Meme, so Braden and Kamryn won't forget me." She then proceeded to ask Meme what they would be doing this week and after hearing of the trip to the beach...well, there was no question, she had to go.

Her pleading continued until she was given the final okay! After looking for every excuse to make her stay, Jack gave in and before we knew it, all three of our beautiful babies were pulling out of our driveway with Meme and Papa heading back to Texas for a fun-filled week!

For the first time in almost 2 years, we were going to be kid-free for a complete week! What were we going to do! Laundry, cleaning, ...it's easy to find stuff to do around the house to try and stay busy and attempt to ignore the silence of our house.

Jack and I have had a date night every night! We are enjoying the time to rest a little and do a little for ourselves. We miss them like crazy and find ourselves talking for them, saying words they way say it...thinking of the funny stories because they are endless! We smile as memories and funny moments flood our thoughts. Our babies are loved so completely that they have no problem leaving us for a week because they know that we will be here when they get back to shower them once again with all the love we can muster. They are having a great time and don't seem to miss us much at all. :-) The special moments they are sharing with Meme and Papa and the memories they are creating will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Create those special memories. Cherish those special moments. Life is so precious.