July 23-26, 2023: Bonding with my TX grandkids

We left Jared and Jenny's cabin late Sunday morning after helping clean up the camp. And we brought three of Sam's children home with us! Joseph, Elijah, and Eden were wonderful road trip companions, and no one got car sick--thank goodness. We had fun talking with them, singing with them, eating together, and doing some snack shopping (and a pretty "daddy dragon" for Eden) during our gas station and bathroom stops. We really enjoyed that time together! 

We ordered Dion's pizza and picked it up on the way home. The kids loved being at our house and having lots of space to run around and to play. We took them swimming twice and a third time after Kiley came over to have dinner with us and to take them to her mom's house on the third day. 

I made the kids' favorite crepes for breakfast the first morning, and they played for hours. Eli and Eden played especially well together, and I appreciated how good Eli is with both with his little sister AND with his big brother Joseph. They all loved swimming and playing in Dot's pool, and their ABQ cousins joined them in the refreshing water. 

After dinner (white cheddar macaroni and cheese for Eden), the kids had a story and went to bed without a fuss. I was amazed at how easy Eden has become at bedtime and also how well Joseph went to bed. There was no fighting with Eden and Eli in the same bed, and Joseph didn't complain about anything. They all fell fast asleep each night! I played rain sounds on Alexa in each bedroom, and that seemed to do the trick--no more lullaby sounds for Eden.

On their second day, I took the kids to Walmart to choose a favorite movie treat and then to Weinershnitzel for lunch. We went to the Barbie movie, which was geared more for tweens and adults than young children, but they were still entertained. We went swimming again, and the Dunlap kids joined them. The water was perfect both days.

On the third day, we went through McDonald's drive-thru for breakfast to eat at the park. It was hot out, so they didn't play much, so we went to Jessica's house so they could hang out in the backyard for a while. They enjoyed the trampoline and the treehouse, but ended up going inside the house to cool off and to play. I took them back to Walmart to choose a $15-20 toy(s) for being so good during their stay with us. 

When Kiley returned from TX, I felt sad to have the kids leave us! I loved our time with them so much and missed their sweet spirits immediately. They are such special, beautiful children. I look forward to having them stay with us again during Eli's baptism trip after the holidays in December or early January.

Happy campers on the road trip from Utah to New Mexico

I

Are they just pretending to be asleep?

This little sleeping beauty is asleep for real

Eden with her new "daddy dragon"

Eli is Mr. Happy and the BEST little brother for Joseph and BEST big brother for Eden. He's a STAR child in every way.

Two down and one to go...

Joseph's fighting the urg to sleep but eventually nodded off

In their p.j.'s and playing at Grandma's house

July 24th: Crepes for breakfast on day one

Fun in the pool (plus Brandon way in back)

Ten children in the pool with TX and NM cousins!

July 25th: Movie date on day two. Look at these sweet cuties.

Eden, Eli (holding her up), and Joseph in the treehouse that their daddy helped their Grandpa Hobbs build before they moved to TX

I wish I had taken more photos of our Texas grandchildren while they were with us, but suffice it to say that we loved having them and wish it could have been longer. I love them and miss them so much.