...And We're back!

That was fast! I don't think I ever want to take a weekend trip home again--a week-long visit is my new minimum. We left Thursday morning at 5am to head out to the Midwest. Three flights and a 4 hour drive later, we were in Mtn. Home! It's amazing how a place can change so much, yet remain the same. I always love coming home. It usually means days focused around eating, no TV and no agendas. Of course, this time we were busy getting ready for Matt and Jessica's wedding, but it can't be anything other than fun when you're around so many old friends. Uncle Joe, Steve, Julie and Isaac were all in town for the weekend too. It was hilarious watching the two kids interact with each other (or not). Isaac initially tried to deny Audrey's existence, but I think he finally warmed up to her after a day or two. We got some good video of them on their first lunch date at El Charro's. Grandma & Grandpa G. actually ended up watching Audrey most of the time we were in town. John and I got to have a night out on the town for the rehearsal dinner and I was busy flitting around town with the girls on Saturday.

The wedding was absolutely beautiful. It's not every day you get to see two people, so devoted to each other, pledge their love to one another. ...I have to stop being schmoopy, because now I'm starting to get teary. (I blame Bailey!) The reception was tons of fun and the food was incredible--I think I ate my body weight in shrimp, at least three cupcakes and a piece of the groom's super-duper chocolate cake. I got to introduce Audrey to a bunch of my old friends and coworkers too. All in all, an amazing night!

For some crazy reason, we chose to fly back to the Tri-Cities on Sunday instead of taking it easy for another day (or four). We made it back to Kennewick around 10pm and immediately had to face the fact that life in the Tri-Cities had not stopped while we were gone. Grandpa Bob is doing very well and it looks like he'll be coming home this Thursday. This is great news, but it also means a LOT of work for the family. Marlene and Gary especially have been working their butts off trying to get everything arranged for him when he gets home. The physical therapist visited the house with Grandpa yesterday morning to take a look at things and make suggestions of ways to accommodate him better. It looks like he'll be mostly restricted to the downstairs for obvious reasons, but there's a lot of hard work being done to make sure he's taken care of. Grandpa's local doctor is also in the process of working out his heart surgery in Spokane, which he seems to be pushing hard for. I'll keep you updated as we find out more about that.

Now I'm back to the crazy! It seems Fall is quickly passing us by to make way for cold, wintery weather. I'm actually embracing the cold and the overcast skies. Maybe it's just because there's a pellet stove on in the living room and the house smells like spiced cider, but thoughts of Thanksgiving and Christmas are running through my head. I'm starting to see that life is just going to be a continuation of crazy moments and for now, that's fine with me!