We just returned last night from a fun weekend in Denver for my cousin's wedding. It was short, but really sweet, and somehow didn't feel like just 3 days away. My dad's whole family was able to go, 35 of us, and I was struck yet again by how thankful I am for my family and our commitment to one another.
It was the first time our family (Aaron, me, and the boys) stayed in a hotel together, and it went relatively well. The boys actually did awesome the whole trip. They are troopers, and very flexible which is a little surprising considering how scheduled we are and always have been at home. They had very late nights, very early mornings, and no set naptimes, but they were overall, cheerful, content, and happy to be wherever we were.
Here is my list of the top 6 best moments of the trip:
1. Swimming pool in the hotel! The boys were ALL over that and swam as much as they could in between a rehearsal dinner, wedding, family dinner, and brunch. They are completely unafraid of the water and were jumping in off the side and going completely under. They do wear floaties at all times, but I am excited about getting them into swimming lessons this summer. And I should clarify, that by boys I mean Eli and Micah. Isaac tried it out too, but was much happier chasing a beach ball outside the pool.
2. The road trip! We had an easy drive there and back. It took about 9 hours to get there, but the boys look forward to being able to watch entire movies and have snacks, and I look forward to getting to talk to Aaron in complete sentences with few interruptions. I'm not sure what Aaron looks forward to because he usually drives the entire time. :)
3. Seeing my parents and brother! I think another reason the weekend went so well was because we had a lot of help. My boys love their Papa and Nana, and uncles, and it was so nice to have their help and company. One morning we went to the Starbucks in SuperTarget for breakfast, and it was just fun and relaxing to be there with my parents. Sort of a weird place to eat, but the boys did score some ninja costumes for 2 bucks!
4. An outdoor wedding in Denver in January! The wedding was outside and none of us even needed coats! The weather was amazing, the sun was out and it just felt fresher there. I haven't been to Colorado for 6 six years, so I was sort of enamored with it.
5. Waiting for the right person is worth it! My cousin is almost 30 and this was his first marriage. He waited for God's best for him, and everyone who knows both of them well was so happy for them. There were no other emotions other than pure joy.
6. My husband! Really this one should be number one. Aaron is an absolutely amazing dad to our boys and husband to me. He is completely unselfish, generous, and never has a bad attitude. All three of the boys adore him, and are basically suction cupped to him both here at home, and wherever we go. They prefer him to me probably 9 times out of 10, and he does not let them down. The thought came to me as I chatted with my family and he chased the boys around, that I have so much to be thankful for in him. He has taken his role of being a dad to levels I never even imagined before we had kids, and I love that I have the privilege of being his teammate in this crazy ride of parenthood.

Okay, so those were some of the highlights. However, there were some aspects that were not my favorite, and here they are in no particular order.

1. All five of us sharing one room! We have some early risers in our little group, which comes as no surprise, but at home those early risers are required to stay in their rooms until a decent hour (like daylight) whereas when everyone is together we all wake up together i.e. 5:41 and 6:00 am respectively.
2. The piles of things to put away when we get home! It doesn't seem to matter how clean and picked up the house is before we leave (and I really make that a priority) it is all completely obliterated for days after we get home.
3. And speaking of piles, how about that laundry! As I write this there are 3 full and overflowing laundry baskets that need to be folded and put away as well as one in the dryer, one in the washer and two on the floor. Oh, how I wish I could have a Mary Poppin's moment right now (as in snapping my fingers and everything magically is picked up, folded and put away!)
4. The readjustment for everyone! Inevitably, when we get back from a fun time away, there is a period of time where we are just not in sync. The boys sort of forget how to play with one another because they have been entertained 24/7, and I am out of my routine and used to lots more help and company. It doesn't usually last too long, but we definitely feel it for a little while.

So, there is our weekend! I just feel so thankful we had the chance to get away and help celebrate a very special day.