Grandma and Grandpa Hanna came and spent a whirl wind of a weekend with us. Most of the kids (3 of them) had activities going on that weekend so they came in to watch and support them in the fun. It was a lovely weekend, both in weather and in happiness. I love when people come visit, but I don't know if it was the ages of my kids, the activities we had going on, my state of mind, or the fact that they stayed at a hotel (sigh) but this was one of my favorite trips that they have taken out here. I feel like memories were made, relationships were strengthened, and love was felt.
We started out vacation with a trip to Brock's football game. This game ended up being a turning point for Brock's football career. When my parents planned to come I warned them saying, "just so you know, Brock doesn't play". But Brock had been working hard and praying hard and this was the first game that he started playing, he played almost the whole game and after this game he started, then he started and played first string the rest of the season! Brock has always loved (and played his best) when people come watch him.
Then they watched Noah's play at the middle school. He did "A Wrinkle in Time".
On Saturday morning we all went to Maddie's soccer game. As per her usual Madison scored a bunch of goals.
The week before my parents came Megan accompanied the primary children in the primary program, playing "I am a Child of God". My parents missed it, but during second hour we snuck into the primary room during singing time and they let Megan do it again so her grandparents could listen. She did awesome, again.
It was so great having them come and share in the joy, accomplishments, and hobbies of my kids. Besides coming and going to a lot of events we also played hard.
Dane LOVES his grandma... sometimes a little too much. He doesn't leave her side the whole time she is here and is saying, "grandma read me this book", "Grandma, play soccer with me", "Grandma, you wanna play trains with me?" It is adorable. They came a month ago and he still asks if we can go pick up grandma from the hotel.
Eve wasn't quite as warm, but she did warm up eventually.
On Saturday my parents treated us to a whole day of fun! (literally). They got the kids all day, unlimited passes to Main Event. It was thrilling. We all went for a few hours, and then Jason took the babies home to nap and we stayed a few more hours, and then my dad took just the kids back at 9:00 at night and stayed until 11:00! They plated while he watched "the game" (who knows which one) on the screens - my family is usually a little frustrated when they come to our house because we don't "get the game". Afterwards he took them for fancy ice cream. On a personal note I realized that those 2 hours of just the 4 kids playing together and doing something "big" did more for their relationship than all the discussions in the world about "loving each other" can do. It helped me create a vision about how to help these 4 through the next 5 years of teenagedom. We need to drop them off and things and just let them create their own relationships without us there. At home they are mostly all in different parts of the house, doing their own thing, so we need to drop them off at an activity. I am grateful my dad came and was willing to take them, it was an answer to prayer and helped me see my next steps.
Grandma won bowling. My mom loves bowling. She loves any type of game or competition, it is one of my favorite things and strongest memories of my mom. Surprisingly I took second, I am normally a terrible bowler, but today I was feeling it.
Megan
Brock
Brock may or may not have used the little kid slide to ensure a spare.
Noah
Madison
Jason - Bowling with a baby like a boss!
And Dane was NOT short of helpers!
My dad hung out with Eve and she came to love him
They also played laser tag together.
They also did a high ropes course. This was exciting for Noah and Megan. They both get a little nervous at stuff like this (can you see it on their faces?) But especially for Noah, he had been unwilling to do the ropes course the last 2 times he had opportunities, despite really wanting too, and trying a few times. But he did it today and was very proud of himself.
Megan
Noah
Madison
Then we played a bunch of arcades.
And last but not least (always my favorite) they took us out to dinner to Red Robins. It was fantastic.
We crammed a lot into 5 days, but it was so fun. I am so grateful they are always willing to come out and build special relationships with my kids. Going to their house is fun, and important, but it is different when they come here. My kids are blessed with good grandparents on both sides!
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