clean up

• Lila and George, just as we were packing up to leave, I looked into the living room to see you breaking a piece of styrofoam into "snow."  You were giggling and having a wonderful time.  Good thing you were just as pleased to vacuum it up.  You took turns cleaning.  If only kids stayed that keen to do housework as they grew older.
• Grandpa gave us a hornet's nest to take home.  I think I'm going to cut it open so we can study what it looks like on the inside.  Should be interesting.  He has another one we can have at Christmas when we go up.
• We left around 10:00.  Auntie Becca and Debby were planning on going all the way home today and it's a 10 hour trip for Auntie Becca.   I started out driving, but Lila, you were so sad in the back seat, I ended up switching with Auntie Becca so I could be closer to you.  The trip was uneventful and we ended up arriving at Auntie Kims house in the early afternoon.
• George, returning to Auntie Kim's house (because Auntie Becca had left her car there for the weekend) was the highlight of the trip for you.  You LOVE going there.  You love the kids and their playroom.  You're fascinated by all of Zach's lego guys and various superhero items.  Lila, you and Ainsley did some artwork together and played so nicely.
• It was so nice because as Auntie Kim's kids came home from school, and walked in the door, they were actually excited to see me, and Zachy Poo even hugged me even though his friend was there.  Sweet babies. 
• I just realized that me and Auntie Becca traveling with Debby to see my mom is comparable to me (in the future) traveling with two of Auntie Kim's adult children to spend a weekend with her.  That's so weird to think of.  
• George and Lila, we hadn't stopped for lunch, so I took you to McDonald's for dinner.  You're always so excited and appreciative of restaurant meals...even if it's just fast food.  It makes me smile.  I suppose that's one benefit of a big family on one income.  Everyone is grateful for almost everything.
• While we were eating dinner, you guys were being really cute and funny.  There was an older gentleman sitting next to us.  When he got up to leave, he asked me if he could give you each a quarter.  You were over the moon.  You tucked it away in my purse for the next time we see a candy vending machine.
• It was good to be home.   Daddy was still in report card mode.  The girls had missed us and we had missed them.  I couldn't stop hugging and squeezing them.