Scott left bags with notes and surprises in them for the girls to open every day. It was the highlight of our time for sure! Every morning they would ask to open the bag as soon as they woke up and did a very good job of taking turns. The first day was a journal for us to write in what we did every day while he was gone and for the girls to draw in. How sweet! We wrote in it every day.
I won't mention every day but a few of the favorites were ring suckers, gum, play money, bubbles, and t-shirts and paint to decorate them. He left a couple surprises for me as well.
The girls and I filled our days with fun. We got to spend some time with Grandma Rosie who sweetly came down to help me for a day. We went swimming in pools twice and the lake once. We spent 4 nights at my mom and dad's which passed by very quickly!
The girls got their first boat ride with Uncle Stacy, Aunt Renee, Grandpa, Grandma, and me. It was a WONDERFUL evening on the lake!
We went to friends' houses and I had some college friends over I haven't seen in years. Eva got her first hair cut from Aunt Arica.
And we had some great cuddle time. One night at my parents me and the girls laid in one bed and watched a movie. And the last night before Daddy came home they got to sleep with me in my bed. We each had a flashlight and played for a good 20 minutes. Their favorite was playing chase all over the room with the light. They laughed and laughed.
And just when I felt my strength failing or patience getting low there was always someone that came to the rescue. The 3rd day I got to go out to eat with 3 great friends while their husbands watched my kids. 3 days later I left my kids with my mom for a few hours and enjoyed breakfast with friends and a little shopping. One evening a friend came and watched the girls so I could go to a "Bridal Blessing." It was just the break and encouragement I needed that night! Then the morning before Scott came home a wonderful friend kept them for 2 hours while I got an iced coffee, sat outside and planned my menu for 2 weeks and went grocery shopping ALONE. :) My brother-in-law also took very good care of me as he mowed the lawn and watered it, put oil in my van, and even unlocked it (without a key) Sunday when I locked the keys in the car. I am so grateful to have such wonderful friends and family!
BUT, no one compares to my husband and the girls' dad. It was such a sweet homecoming! He was supposed to be back around 8pm but didn't get in until 11:30pm. I put the girls to bed but Haddee wouldn't go to sleep, she was SO excited. I let her get up an hour later and be with me until it was time to go meet him at the church. She told me, "You're the best Mommy! No other Mommy would let their daughter stay up this late." :) I got Eva out of bed at 11 and drove to the church. When the bus pulled in and Scott got out the girls were all over their dad. The hugs were so sweet and neither wanted to let him go. They were like that the next couple days.
I so badly wanted to be on the trip with them and am sad about the memories and relationships I missed out on, but realize being a mom to my little girls and the baby inside me is my most important job right now. But I hold out hope that maybe 2 years from now will be a different story.
