This week was COLD! As soon as our books arrived last week we wanted to hit the road to get to Kindal and make our video and product shots. But snow kept coming and delaying our trip, until Wednesday finally cleared up.
We made it to our first stop, pulled off to get gas, and the car wouldn't start again. I was so grateful it happened at a gas stop and not on the freeway. We had one tender mercy after another after that. Our roadside insurance called four different tow companies until they found one that would let all four of us ride in the cab to the mechanic. The mechanic was the NICEST person and was so kind to us that day. He said we needed to order a part for the car that would take a couple days to get there. The minute Ali heard we broke down she rented a van and started our way. I was worried it might be something that could be fixed and that wouldn't have to happen and she said, "That's great, then I'll turn around." She's an angel and I'm so grateful for her. The mechanic brought my boys Happy Meals and was just so kind. I was so stressed we wouldn't be able to get to Utah because that would have delayed this whole project which is already on a super tight schedule because of Easter, but it worked out thanks to a lot of kindness shown to us.
When Ali got there we were wearing the same outfit head to toe (shirt, pants, coat, shoes, necklace, we're weird) and our shirts said Be Kind. The mechanic thought that was so funny and we took a picture together and it just felt like the day coming full circle. All three boys slept on our 4 hour drive to Salt Lake and were in bed at Ali's by 11.
My parents came up to Ali's and watched all the kids while Ali and Matthias went to work and I went to Kindal's to get ready for our photo and video shoot the next day. We made a backdrop that she made up the process for that turned out great, and steamed all the clothes we'd bought for the kids, and made cookies and bread for peanut butter sandwiches so we could have a messy part of the photo shoot with our washable books.
On Saturday we put everything together and got so much done. The kids were so cute, and we had so much fun seeing them with our books. We planned our shipping supplies after, and some other Kickstarter things we needed to get done, and that night I drove my boys back to Ali's and put my kids down and realized I had only eaten a chocolate chip cookie since breakfast that whole day. It was just go go go and felt so surreal to be doing all that we'd planned for so long. My parents had Cup Bop waiting for me and I don't think any meal has tasted so good in so long just because I was SO exhausted and starving and happy.
Sunday we just recovered, before we get a few more things done before heading home this week.
Michael has just been chilling at home doing mystery shops and watching dogs and having good days at work. He said, 'It's just crazy how much TIME there is in a day when you're alone," and I vaguely remember that :) Haha. He missed us.
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| Some walks to take brothers to school are more pleasant than others. He's a good sport :) Yes I know those are socks on his hands. He pulls baby mittens right off. And honestly, he pulls socks right off. Just not as often. But we've lost quite a few ;) |
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| When you just can't get the big thing pulled out of the pantry. |
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| He actually does work really hard during our Zoom physical therapy appointments. This is him tired out after, cutie boy. |
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| Attending sweet Esther Naylor's funeral was so humbling and heart-wrenching. We love the Naylors. We can't wait to meet her someday. |
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| Boys got professional haircuts before our Utah trip and their modeling gig haha. It was SO MUCH BETTER than our at home experience. I wish they didn't need haircuts every two months and we'd take this route way more often. |
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| Bennett's first professional haircut in Fresno is still one of my all time favorite memories. He just sat so still, so sweet, repeatedly pushing a sound machine button under his cape that made a screaming noise. Sooo funny. |
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| Annnnnd this is where we spent 6 hours in random Rawlins, WY after we broke down on our way to Utah. We waited here while sweet, wonderful Ali rented a van and came to pick us up, since our van needed a part that would take two days to get there. Loooong day. The boys were wonderful. |
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| Not setting this boy down that entire time was the hardest part. But he was happy. |
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| The mechanic was soo kind. He even brought my kids Happy Meals, and helped load up all our stuff (moving four people's things and three carseats is no small thing) when Ali got there. |
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| They watched 1.5 movies on the iPad and thought it was a great day. Kid life. They're so cute. |
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| Ali showed up in the exact same outfit I was wearing. Our shirts say Be Kind. The mechanic thought it was so funny. I thought it was just bringing the day full circle. |
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| Figuring out shipping for our books! We've just figured out one next step after another for soo long and it feels so fun to be at this point. |
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| Photo credit: Westin :) Making a backdrop for our photo shoot! |
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| The kids were SOO cute. And it brought me to tears to watch them loving on the book and pointing to the pictures with each other. |
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| So fun to see the Miner cousins, and spend time with Elise! |
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