It take a village: Family ties

It takes a village to raise kids.  Our village is my family.  My parents especially.  Most of you already know that they left for their cruise a few Saturday's ago while us girls ventured out shopping.  I already missed my Mom as I found cute little things that would look great in her new kitchen or when I wanted to hear an opinion (an honest one) on how a shirt looked on me but it goes way beyond shopping opinions and straight to the heart of support.  I have no idea how we would be raising two kids without the support and help from my parents.

I called my dad saturday night to wish him a fun time and I wanted to cry just talking to him.  I have always been a huge homebody and I moved 2.5 miles away from my parents.  I didn't like saying goodbye and it made me uncomfortable knowing they would be out of touch and reach for a week.  I know I am an adult but I certainly didn't feel like one, let alone a parent of two.  I like that my dad calls randomly during the day to "check-in" and I like that he occasionally calls to drop in and see the kids.  I knew I would be missing his laid back, calm attitude at church as he waved hi to all the little kids and greeted them with high fives and jokes.  I love my dad.  He has always been such a softy and one I hate to disappoint.  He usually has great advice and always makes us laugh.  I have one very vivid memory of my dad growing up and it was back when my mom worked at the vineyard in the evenings.  I am not sure how I came to this conclusion but I realized that my dad was not invincible.  I realized that someday he would die and I came downstairs after I was supposed to be sleeping just bawling.  I vividly remember him sitting at the table without a shirt on reading the paper and watching TV on this old set that he would carry around the house and plug into just about anywhere.  He dropped everything and just held me until I was calmed down enough to finally fall asleep.  I had to be about 7 or so, maybe younger and the next time I worried about my dad's invincibility I was sitting in his ICU room as he came out of surgery nearly 12-15 years later.  It still to this day makes me cringe to remember that painful realization and how life is never a guarantee.

I had such a wonderful childhood and now my kids get to experience that everyday, at least one day per week with both of my parents.  They get to snuggle with my softy dad and they get spoiled by my mom's giving attitude that never stops.  They get hugs and kisses and prayers prayed over them everyday.  My mind is completely, totally, utterly at ease when I think about what my children are doing during the daytime while I am away at work.  They are crawling around and hiding in the same spots I did growing up.  My mom watching our kids is a huge, huge blessing and one that we never try to take to for granted.

D and I took the week off to be with the kids and most days it was both of us fumbling around trying to make it through the day, mostly because we all had a nasty unforgiving cold but still it's not easy work.  Everyday it was hard not to call my mom for advice or relief cause I know better than anyone that when one of us kids is sick she is willing to bring over soup and goodies hoping to help us feel better.

We frequently enjoy eating dinner at my parent's house.  My mom is about the best cook ever and our diets this last week they were gone were "each for their own" style.  Sickness played a huge part in that but just knowing I couldn't call up mom to see if we can eat over there was hugely disappointing for the food and the company.  Even after a long day with the kids my mom always goes over board with a 3-4 course meal complete with a Lyssi Lu meal all cut up and ready to go.  We missed that.  It was nice that my siblings were able to meet at my parent's for Lyssi Lu's birthday for pizza and cake.  They are always helping fill in gaps with childcare or quick visits to say hi to the kids.  They are definitely a part of our village.  I value and love my sibs more than ever now that we are older.

It was a relief to hear from my mom wednesday night despite the news that they were on a "sick" ship and turning around to come home.  Being out of communication with someone you literally talk to multiple times each day is unsettling.  D picked them up after cake and they stopped by to say hi the kids on the way home.  The reunion between the four was hilarious.  Let's just say that we didn't get that nice of a reunion when we came home from Vegas.  There is a special bond there.

Family ties really go so deep and are felt so acutely when they are stretched.  Just a little stretch tugs at our insides.  We made dinners yesterday, 4 to be exact.  Now that football is done I have the time to get organized for the week ahead.  Don't worry my husband hasn't starved this last season ; ).  So to celebrate we invited my parents over and they left with our riley.  We settled in by 7:15 with our babe sleeping to watch some TV whilst enjoying the quiet calm in the house.  By 9:00 we missed our boy.  It cracks me up that neither of us can go a night while riley is gone without uttering words of regret at his absence.

Even just the chance to sneak a last peek at him before going to bed is always missed.  Our family operates at it's best when we are together.  Isn't that what it is all about?  Lean/support, feed/eat, give/take, love/hate?  Ha!  Just kidding about the last one!

Anyways love you, my family, my sister and bro, my mom and dad, my husband and of course my son and his sweet sister.  What would I do without my village!?