The Kids Are Home

My kids are home!!! They got here about 5:00 this evening; they should have been here around 12:30 but, according to Paul, they left late then got stuck in traffic the entire ride here. Gee, thanks for calling to tell me so I didn’t sit here and worry that something happened along the way. Not only did he not call to tell me they left almost three hours after he originally told me they were leaving, but he didn’t feed them all day long. He said they got in the truck and fell asleep right away. So they hadn’t eaten since they ate last yesterday; you would think that, after he saw the amount of traffic on the roads, he would stop and, at least, get them a snack of some sort. Whatever. He got them here, we packed out the truck, he said goodbye to the kids, and then the kids and I went to McDonald’s for dinner. I was going to take them to a small restaurant but they saw Mickey-D’s first and decided that’s what they wanted. So be it, as long as they ate.

We got home and put their stuff away then Tyler discovered the balcony outside their room. He also found the Legos Sonny said they could play with and fell in love with them. He and the Legos were on the balcony while Zach, Dolly, and I were in the yard playing with Chance, Ellen’s dog. The kids were having a great time throwing Chance’s tennis ball and having him bring it back to them. They actually tired out the puppy; but Chance loved every minute of it. We finally came in when the mosquitoes came out in full force.

Tyler stayed upstairs playing while Dolly sat with me and watched TV. Zach floated up and down, not quite being able to decide what to do. Then I put a movie in for the boys so he hung out with Ty in their room. I did tell them, though, that since it was their first night home I’d allow them to stay up a little later to say hi to Ellen and Sonny when they got home but it was up to bed shortly there afterwards. They agreed but are still awake. This sucks because they slept most of the way in the truck on the way home so they’re wired. I don’t know how this is going to work for future visits with them sleeping most of Sunday on their ride back and having to get up for school the next day when they can’t go to sleep at a regular bedtime. We’ll see and I’ll deal with it when it happens.

Anyway, Ellen and Sonny got home, the kids said hello to both of them before Sonny headed back out the door. Ellen and I chatted for a while before deciding it was time to turn in for the evening. I put the kids to bed then stood talking to her for a while before coming to my room to make my evening post. The boys are still awake (Zach and I just had an argument over the fact that 11:00p.m. is not the time to be eating regardless of the fact that Dad didn’t feed them all day and they only had one meal and a few snacks with me.), and Dolly is dozing in our room. With luck she’ll be asleep soon; she was getting a bit antsy herself and was on the verge of a tantrum over the same food issue Zach was having.

It is great having them home, though. Tomorrow we’re going to get them school supplies since school starts in a week. These are free so whatever I still need from the list afterward will be bought at Wal-Mart or Dollar General. (Did I mention that I found Dollar General out here? I was in Heaven.) Zach just wants to go shopping for school clothes. He’s got tons of clothes so I don’t know what the big deal is. We’ll figure something out next week. I’m just happy things are getting back to the way they should be. I missed them terribly and Dolly is following me around like a lost puppy; but I am thrilled to be getting hugs and kisses again. I think that’s what I missed most.

Until next time…peace to all.