Week 19, Snot, Sunshine, and Silly Faces!

Week 19 didn't start out on the right note.  After making it out fairly unscathed from bringing the boys back to the gym with me for a couple of weeks, we finally got hit with the sickness bug.  On Tuesday morning, Tommy was diagnosed with strep throat and on Thursday Ethan was diagnosed with an ear infection.  So, the first part of the week was filled with not-so-happy boys and a decent amount of snot, mainly from Ethan (that boy's nose is like a spigot!).  Because they weren't feeling well, we had to keep them kind of quarantined at home on Monday and Tuesday.  By late Wednesday morning though, Tommy had been on his antibiotic for 24 hours, so he and Ethan headed over to Goggi's house for one final play-date with Kathryn and Lily before Kathryn heads to UNCW next week (CAACAAWWW--Go Seahawks!!).  They seemed to have a really fun time playing in the new pool that Gramps set up for them--Tommy was the conductor of whose turn it was, while Ethan loved getting splashed and slid into!  Check out the videos below :)

After that fun-filled morning, Davey and I met over at Goggi and Gramps' house for a nice family meal since Bill's brother, Jamie, flew in from Montana for Mother's Day.  It was really nice to see him, and the boys were allowed to stay up extra late to hang out with everyone!  I also had my first taste of rhubarb in a strawberry rhubarb pie that Grandmother made, and I really liked it--maybe I'll tackle making some myself later in the summer!

Speaking of making things--nice segue--I had to make sure the men in my life were going to be well-fed while me, Laura, and my Mom went to visit my Grandma for the weekend!  We left on Thursday after Laura and Mom got off of work, and we stayed until this morning--woohoo!!  But, before all the fun began, I wanted to make a little "thank-you" meal for Davey, Nolan, and my Dad for letting us go!  Soooo, I made seriously a boatload of pork tenderloin, edamame fried rice, and fresh sauteed apples for them to eat while we were gone!

4 small pork tenderloins resting after being seared and finished in the oven!

               

The sliced pork tenderloins drizzled with pan sauce :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edamame Fried Rice

Yummy sauteed fresh apples :)

The purpose of our trip was two-fold.  First of all, my Grandma was having a minor but slightly invasive procedure done on Friday morning to determine if she would need a stent or some other more major surgery later in the summer.  She had an angiogram (I think?!), and miraculously was told that no further surgery was needed at this time!!  A previous, less thorough test had indicated that it was very likely that she would require a more invasive/serious surgery, so praise the Lord that she doesn't for now!!   The second reason was for all of us girls to celebrate Mother's Day weekend together.  We always enjoy every second we get to spend with Grandma Jan!!  Laura and I were able to go to the beach for portions of the day on Friday and Saturday, BUT we were both "blondes" this weekend and left our memory cards at home!  We both had our cameras but they were pretty stinkin' useless to us without those cards!  So, sadly no pictures of the wonderful views from the beach and from the Oceanic restaurant, sitting on the pier :(

While we were in Burgaw, the guys had some fun of their own!  Davey, Nolan, my Dad, and the boys decided to get together on Saturday night for some burgers on the grill, french fries, and baseball!  Apparently a good time was had by all, and Tommy in particular decided it was time for him to hang with the big boys.  I got a call around 8 or so on Saturday night from a very excited Daddy saying that Tommy took himself to the potty and pooped in it without any prompting or drama!  So, maybe he's finally starting to get the pooping in the potty thing!

THANKFULLY, my Mom did bring her very nice camera (her Christmas present from all of us last year), so we got some pictures at Grandma's house but we were too scared that we might get sand in it at the beach.  The four of us gals really got silly by the end of the weekend, and Grandma was probably the silliest of all!  She was totally out of it on Friday, but by Saturday afternoon, she was definitely feeling like her old self!  Laura and I both have kind of "patented" funny faces that we make, which are affectionately known as "Angler Face" (Laura) and "Turtle Face" (Emily).  You've got to be pretty close to us to have seen either however, as they aren't the most beautiful faces on the planet!  That said, Grandma and Mom decided to give them their best shot as we goofed around in the yard :)

Mom, Me, and Grandma

Laura and Grandma Jan

Me and Mom--time for a knuckle sandwich!

Me laughing at Grandma Jan's initial attempt at "turtle face"!

Grandma's best turtle face!

Me and Laura in our nautical-inspired outfits :)

When we got home around 11am this morning, we went straight over to my parents house for a Mother's Day lunch in honor of me and my Mom :)  Dad and Nolan took care of all of the food--barbecued chicken on the grill, chicken flavored rice, brown sugar baked beans, and 2 types of muffins!  I had a wonderful Mother's Day celebrating with my family (and taking a 3 hour nap after lunch!!).  After the boys woke up from their naps, we headed on home.  I had a wonderful present waiting for me from Keith Griffin--built in garage shelves--woooohooo!!  I can't wait to start organizing!

SO MUCH STORAGE SPACE--THANK YOU SO MUCH KEITH!!

I had a wonderful weekend, but I sure do love being home with my little family.  I know this is massively cheesy, but I truly feel like everyday is Mother's Day for me.  Davey treats me like a queen, and my boys bring me joy every day.  I am so very very blessed. Take a look at Tommy wearing my beach hat--a.k.a. his "Buddy cowboy hat"!

Tommy pretending to be Woody from Toy Story by wearing my beach hat!