Team Kearns: March 2015 - Nevada

We had so much fun in Nevada. I'm so glad we were finally able to visit my parents and see their new house. They really seem to be happier and enjoy where they are. They have a great group of friends close by that I was able to meet.

Mr. Kitty. He is as real to me as any human is. I love this little guy and it shows.

My brother, Davy and nephew Devin came out for a day and a half. It really means a lot to me that he took the time out of his (super) busy schedule to visit me and the kids. He has always been someone I look up to and I loved talking with him about life and kids and family. We stayed up late playing games and talking. It reminded me of when we'd stay up playing games while camping at Hermit Valley, but with a lot less bugs. It was a great visit. (He was showing me how to take photos on my phone using voice commands hence the non smiling faces in this photo)

The kids enjoyed having their cousin there to play with. Devin was patient and fun and has grown up a lot since I saw him last. I'm glad he came with Davy for the visit.

My Dad has a little bit of everything in his office. Literally. He had a little space on his wall and wanted a photo of me swimming. I didn't have any recent ones of me actually swimming, but I had one of myself when I won the Tour de la Pool last summer. He blew it up, found a frame and put it up on his wall of glory like one proud Papa.

The kids made sure Mr. Kitty was well loved and fed while we were there. They would bring him bowls of "food" each day.

One afternoon Bailey, Andrew, Grandpa and I were sitting in the living room and Bailey started saying "check" or "x" to us. I think it means yes or no, or something like that, but she went around checking us or x-ing us for quite a while. It's surprising how easily they can be entertained sometimes.

Night walk with Grandpa and flashlights.

It got a little chilly in the evenings, but we found a solution. The two headed monster!

Helping Grandpa in the kitchen.

Of course we had to go to In N Out while we were in Nevada. This restaurant didn't have the crossed palm trees! If it didn't taste the same I'd think it was not the real deal.

Andrew got some stickers from In N Out. Notice anything funny about where he randomly put the stickers?

Take a closer look...

We got a lot of books from the library because the kids love reading. Grandma had a good time reading an Elephant and Piggie book. This particular one was pretty entertaining.

I caught Grandpa reading the books too.

We tried out this new Mexican restaurant and it was YUMMY!

My parents had some landscapers working on their yard many of the days we were there. Andrew loved sitting on the porch and watching them. He would talk to them every no and then and ask questions, but mostly he just watched. Bailey joined him a few times. It was pretty cute to watch the kids.

Bailey made a self portrait out of Jenga pieces. Notice the number 4? "Because I'm four years old!"

Look at this sad little face! Andrew did not enjoy practicing the piano there. He wanted to play. This photo almost makes me cry. Almost. But then I remember how stubborn he is. :)

Why do I take 20 photos trying to get both my kids to look at the camera and have an actual smile on their face? It never works.

The one time they are both smiling it's blurry! But at least it's evident that they were both looking at the camera and both giving a good smile at the same time. Close enough!

Mr. Kitty slept on Bailey's bed on his own blanket next to her other friends. Bailey was kind and gentle to Mr. Kitty. The pink bear is another of my childhood loves, Orchid. The pink unicorn was Bailey's friend from home.

Andrew, Bailey and I all stayed in the same room. It actually worked out pretty well. The kids shared a bunk bed my dad made for my brothers decades ago. I was surprised how well they got along. Bailey wanted the top bunk and Andrew wanted the bottom. Great. They didn't jump off or play on the top bunk, which was a worry for me. They went to bed pretty soon after I tucked them in. All in all it worked out pretty well. By the time I went to bed (in my own bed) they were both fast asleep. I did learn that Andrew is still a loud sleeper. I remember this from when he was a baby and slept in our room. He breathes loud. Bailey would wake me up with her thumb sucking. I'd walk over to her and pop it out. She'd usually put it back in a few minutes later. I don't like being such a light sleeper, but I did like having this little time to appreciate and have a sleep over with my kids. They would wake me up in the morning usually around 6. I made them play upstairs until they knew someone was awake downstairs. I've also learned it's hard to make the bed on the top bunk.