Life with Two Children

In May, Matt took Jude for a little trip to Arizona. They saw all of Matt's family and met our new nephew Taylor! Matt was even able to participate in his baby blessing.

That week, Matt had some work in Phoenix during the day, while Jude played with Grandma Cheri. When Matt came home, he left our boy behind for Grandma Camp. Jude was gone from me for eight days! We really missed each other, but it was a good break for both of us, and a nice time to catch up with Josh and Adele. 

Matt flew in just before school got out, and Josh was so excited about a surprise pick up from Dad.

With only one child at home, I was actually able to go out to lunch with my friend. Imagine that! We spent most of this day walking around Queen Anne with Alexe. From lunch, we walked over to pick up Josh from school, and it was so nice outside that we just kept going. Alexe took us to some swings at a park with an amazing view. I got a great work out pushing the stroller up all the hills.

Adele stared at Duke most of the time.

  Josh got super hot and tired from the long walk, but you wouldn't know it from this happy face.

Meanwhile, Jude was having no fun at all with Grandma.

I'm telling you, going back to just two kids seemed so EASY. Jude is the most challenging kid right now, and being the middle child, he fights with Josh and beats up on Adele. When he's missing, it's eerily quiet at home, and just ridiculously easy to go out. Of course I would always rather have my Jude with me, but it was a strange week without him. Everything felt off and reminded me of him.

Just a girl and her dad sharing a cherry stem for dinner at Lunch Box Laboratory.

Finally, Grandma Cheri brought Jude back on an airplane, and everything was back to normal! We dragged her to our "cold" beach one day (note the sweatshirt) to celebrate with friends, who were also feeling Jude's absence.

Courtney feels very Zen when Jude is around to occupy her four-year-old.

Adele also feels Zen at the beach. Here she's about to relax into child's pose on these comfortable rocks.

I'm not a huge fan of playing on rocky beaches, but this was one was really pretty. 

Josh disgusted Grandma all week by wiggling his loose tooth in her face, and it finally came out!