This weekend I was lucky enough to spend time with my mama, who visited from Ohio to help out with the kids while Andrew is gone for a week. Not only did she come bearing gifts for the boys’ upcoming birthdays, but she brought my favorite tomato sauce from our hometown and a rocking chair that my 95-year-old grandfather was rocked in as a baby! It’s such a treasure… but spending time with her was the best part. She has such a sunny outlook on life and can make the boys laugh so hard. It was also really nice to share some of the responsibilities of childcare with someone. I have been so exhausted, especially since Emil has fallen back into a lot of nightly wake-ups for some reason and has struggled with naps for the past few days. Getting ready to turn two is hard work, apparently! 
But the weather was gorgeous, as it has been pretty much all summer. So we took Grandma on all sorts of St. Louis adventures. I think her favorite was the Botanical Garden, but we avoided the koi pond this time, ha!
And though the boys were by far on some of their worst behavior, she took it all in stride and played a billion games of Uno with Milo even though he was a sore loser and stomped away angrily more than once. I think these guys are more than ready to go back to school. The moodiness is unbelievable and quite hard to handle at times. Only a couple more weeks before Milo starts Kindergarten! 
Anyway, thank you, mama, for coming help… it meant the world to me, even though we probably wore you out beyond belief! The boys already miss you- Emil actually spoke so clearly yesterday afternoon: “Gramma go??” We sure do love you!
I had a wonderful time, Lauren! It was great being with you and the boys, although I would have wished for a couple more days to share with them. They are really precious boys – so much fun and incredibly smart! I always look forward to my visits with you – I wish I lived closer. Thank you for everything!
I love you all!
Love, Mom
I’m glad you had some help, Lauren! These conferences are a pain, aren’t they? We’re muddling along ok, even if Avery’s 4-and-a-half-year-old logic is making me question my sanity at times. 🙂
So happy that you got an extra set of hands and had a good weekend! Milo has some serious height in that jumping shot too- I’m thinking of what he could do on a pair of skis 😉
Happy to be catching up on all you old posts too- you nailed that pie crust!
Awwww. What will you do with yourself once all 3 are in school? That last photo of all 3 + grandma. Oh man. Makes my heart all fuzzy.
I always love seeing pictures of your mom with the boys. So touching. Miss you.
Your mom seems like such a fun lady. How lucky that she was able to stay with you for a bit!
Milo is living my dream of naked jumping from a trampoline into a pool of soapy water. High five, dude.