I'm thrilled that Shane and I got to spend the last month at Nana and Pop's. I loved growing up as part of a bunch. We're all older, but life is still exciting when you herd enough of us under the same roof.
It started off slowly. Matt and Renee work evenings. Many nights they came home after Shane was in bed! However, Patrick came to visit a couple of times.
He showed Shane what a back-flip looked like on the trampoline. I'm the only one who can't do one of those.
I wonder if the move feels weirdest to Pat. I don't think he's old enough to remember any other houses or moves save this one.
Megan visited a couple of times with Baby B. I never managed to get a picture that would pass muster, though.
Carrie came up for a quick visit and to switch cars after the Prius died. She was exhausted after her long work trip.
I think Coleman was Shane's favorite visitor. Kathleen and Stu's family came up for a pair of weddings. Stu stayed for the first weekend. Ka, Cole, and Evelyn camped out for nine days!
The boys had a ton of fun together.
Nana brought out all sorts of thrift store wonders to entertain everyone.
Nana and Pop loved having all the grandkids over. They asked me when Shane would visit them in South Carolina and they're not even there yet!
Baby Evelyn got to play some, too. She's much more of an eye contact baby than either of the boys were. She will lock eyes with you and smile and smile some more.
The boys tried to entertain her with peekaboo one night.
There should be plenty of trees there. The climbing gene is strong on my side of the gene pool.
Nana asked me to show the boys some sparklers while Ka finished packing up the car. Shane wanted me to teach him how to use the matches.
Cole was really upset when it was time to go.
We bid a fond farewell to Kathleen and her crew as they set off into the night.
She planned to drive through the night as the kids slept. Car trouble waylayed them, though. Ka spent the night in a Wal-Mart parking lot. I heard the entire journey home took 21 hours! I imagine it was quite the tale/ordeal.
It's been much quieter since they left. Shane still goes to daycare and plays with all the toys.
Nana and Pop took him on the metro Wednesday morning. They had to go pick up their visas. Megan is shipping out in a couple of weeks with Baby B. They plan to follow. Bill moved to his post already, so Megan is looking forward to the help.
When I got home, Nana told me that Shane acted a little funny on the return metro trip. Normally, he's balitzoid out of his brain happy on a metro. He's very aware that it's May. Moving day is Friday and maybe he's really starting to process it. I've been up front with him our whole stay. He's asked lots of questions.
It may be starting to hit home now. Nana and Pop started to pack in earnest.
Tonight, we had bedtime snack at the coffee table in the living room. There are toys, but even those are thinned out. Ka took a car load with her. A suitcase of books went to the library, too.
There's still plenty to do. John came by for a game of fragiles.
Shane insisted we were playing wrong. He wanted to move all of the asteroids and throw dice at the ships. "Meteor showers" make everything more fun. Space earthquakes shook the table from time to time, too.
Later, Nana, Shane, and I played cards. Shane loves Jonah and to win.
Tomorrow, I will take Shane over for one last visit to Daniel's. I plan to keep him out from underfoot until bedtime.
When Shane wakes up Friday, everything will be in boxes. The moving truck comes between 8:00-9:00 AM. He'll see it before he goes to day-care. Shane say goodbye to Nana and Pop drop when they drop him off at Florencia's. I will pick him up after work and we'll hit the highway to head south together for the final time.
Nana and Pop won't be in the house much longer, either. They're scheduled to visit Matt and Renee's new house Friday, clean like crazy Saturday, and then visit Jama for Mother's Day Sunday. After that they'll start their journey to their new home.
It's been a good run, Northern Virginia. We all have many memories up here. May God bless Nana and Pop's new chapter in their lives in South Carolina! I pray we all manage to make many more memories together wherever we scatter to!
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