Preparing for the BIG trip

I am having a lot of anxiety this past week.  We all leave for Colorado this coming Friday, January 27th.  On February 1st Travis and I fly (without kids) to Nashville, TN for a beef conference.  Part of me is super excited to go somewhere with Travis alone, but most of me is having an anxiety attack! I have never left an un-weaned baby anywhere.  She is now almost 10 months old and she is showing no signs of wanting to wean.  She loves to nurse.  It's her one on one time with mom.  Jaya and Elynn are overwhelmingly excited to sleep at Oma and Grandpa Joe's without us.  Jaya asks once a day if it's time to go. 

I am hoping Rimini will forgive me.  I am hoping she is good for my parents.  I have pumped enough milk to feed her for a week, even though we will only be gone for four days.  I am hoping the airline doesn't lose my bag packed with a small cooler of frozen breast milk.  I am hoping my breast milk doesn't thaw during our trip.  :(

You see... lots and lots of anxiety!

This machine makes me feel like a dairy cow.

It's like she knows I am up to something...

This Morning

Travis was leaving for work this morning.  The girls were all playing together.  Me, "They are playing so well together lately."  Travis, "Aren't you glad they aren't in daycare?"  Me, "Yes, most of the time! lol"  Travis, "What if I made half of what I make right now."  Me, "Well, we would still have them at home, there would be no date night, more peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and no cable TV."   Travis, "I'm just glad we have them at home."  

Me too!

Travis and Rim on a Saturday Night

What does a Friday or Saturday night look like for a couple with 3 kids 3 and under one might ask?  Just like this... 

But I wouldn't change it for anything.  Sometimes we watch a little hockey, a movie, comedy channel, or mostly our favorite...DATELINE!! Yes, we love real life mysteries and trying to figure out who is guilty.  Sometimes date night is when Travis comes home with fancy cheeses, hor derves, and a bottle of wine. We sit and eat and talk for hours. 

Then other date nights we hire a babysitter (1-2 per month) get dressed up and go for dinner and a movie or out to wings with friends. 

We plan on dating for the next 50 years if God allows us to live that long.  If our girls ever choose to marry I hope they date their husbands forever....

Jace Patrick McGiven

He is my favorite nephew in the WHOLE world!  He is so sweet and may have the biggest smile I have ever seen for someone 3 months old.  He looks just like his older sis....I got to hold him a lot on Saturday.  I loved every minute of it.  Looking forward to hanging out with the McGiven La familia again soon! (summer is not soon enough!)

Grandpa Pat

The whole Hickey family had quite a scare 2 months ago.  Pat suffered from a stroke and was hospitalized for over a month.  He is now out and recovering with the help of speech therapy.  Here are a few of the people that missed him most!  He is a fantastic Grandpa to his these little girls!

Best Friends

Best of friends... They go on adventures, play dress-up,

dance, and sing!  They have truly become the best of friends.  I was worried it was ever going to happen.  I thought they may hate each other forever.  Turns out that is just a phase.  A phase that I never want repeated!  Turns out they are truly the best of friends!

She loves her Daddy

She says "hi dad" about 40x per day.  She grins ear to ear when he leaves and when he gets home.  She thinks he is a lot of fun.  He claps, she claps, he laughs, she laughs, I am not sure what type of super power he posses but he is her favorite guy!