Happy Halloween!

Just Keep Going

Sometimes getting out is just hard.  First, we find out that the original trail we planned doesn't allow dogs (dog already in car).  Then, the toddler and the dog both throw up literally less than a hundred feet from our (new) destination.  The second trail we chose ended up not being wheelchair friendly (so hard to find one we haven't been to already).  Yet, we made it to this beautiful area and we explored...and the toddler slipped on a rock and fell into the creek.  We had a hundred chances to turn around and go home but we persevered.  Sometimes it's not about the journey or the destination; it's just that you keep going. 

--Originally posted on Instagram on September 26th

A Day Out

Again, taking it back to 2014; Kai had an appointment and Zuri was out of school for the summer.  I was unable to find a sitter for the girls, so I took all three to the appointment--and survived!  As you can see, by the end Kai was not very happy, but that may have more to do with the appointment itself than the situation.  The girls did pretty well.  River was happy as long as I was standing up and moving, so I couldn't sit down.

I had originally tried to get a selfie and a sweet lady offered to take the picture.  She and I got to chatting, which was interrupted by River's fussiness.

After the appointment I drove the kids an hour south to J's sister's house.  I don't remember the exact reason now, but it was quite the day for me--getting out with all three kids by myself for the day!  It was a hard won acheivement, and something that I needed to know that I could do.  One of my biggest concerns about having River was how I was going to manage a baby and Kai by myself.  I did it--it was hard, but I did it!

Goal achieved!

Summer Dance 2014

Zuri attended a summer dance class for the second year which was put on by one of the young women in our neighborhood.  She had a lot of fun with the dance class.  She danced to the Lion King's "Hakuna Matata."

 All the dancers--they did a couple dances together before their individual dance

Sleep Safe Bed

I have already shared about Kai's sleep safe bed (see Big Boy Bed) but as I was scrolling through my pictures I found a few more that I hadn't shared (and a few favorites I have).   Kai also got a new bath chair not long after the bed came in.  It seriously felt like Christmas for him.

Now, a year later, the bed is still so wonderful.  The kids don't get in it as much (the novelty has worn off, I guess), but it allows Kai the room he needs to move around safely.  He maneuvers himself all over, and ironically, his favorite position seems to be with perpendicular.  The one and only drawback to the bed is that it doesn't have the rails for him to run his ballard against.  He loved to do that in the crib--and he doesn't even try anymore with the sleep safe bed.  

One of my favorite pictures

Kai's new bath chair

Returning Home

London

My wonderful, amazing adventure was over, and it was time to return home.  A part of me was ready to see my family again, but a part didn't want it to be over.  Emily stayed in England for another week. 

I am so very grateful to everyone who made the trip happen.  I cannot express how much the trip was needed on so very many levels.  It rejuvenated me heart, body and soul.  It created even more of a travel bug.  It made me appreciate my little family and all that I have--for I am so very very blessed. 

Getting back into the routine was a little crazy--and, I have to admit, a little intimidating.  Two and a half weeks may not seem like very long, but when it comes to special needs and infants, so much can change in that amount of time.  Additionally, after over two weeks of no responsibility, the weight of everything was a lot to return to.  Even still, I had missed my family a great deal and it was good to be home.

Once In a Lifetime

We happened to be in London the day before the Tour de France.  Consequently, they were setting up for the big event, in which they completely shut down parts of Parliament Square to vehicular traffic, especially Buckingham Palace and the road leading to it.  So for us, we had the rain which drove many people inside, traffic was already being cut off, which meant fewer people, and the setting sun.  Perfect conditions! 

We were able to walk down the middle of the road which is usually bustling with cars.  To top it off, we saw a rainbow right at the entrance, and we chased that rainbow all the way back to Big Ben.  We were fortunate enough to walk right by the gates when a car pulled out, and the guard let us take a quick picture while the gate was open. 

Epic! It was the perfect way to end the trip!

Walking down the road--remember, this is usually busy with cars--how cool is it that we get to walk right on down the middle!

Looking back at Buckingham Palace

They were getting everything set up for the Tour de France!

 The rainbow we chased all the way to Big Ben

 Once we got to Big Ben though, the rainbow was gone.  We were able to get these really cool evening shots though!

This was the picture the guard let us get with the open gate!