MLK Weekend Nana Visit!

This long weekend was an especially nice holiday because Nana came to visit with us! She arrived on Sunday afternoon.  The boys were soooo excited!  Koen stared out the window like this for about 30 minutes just watching and waiting.

Whenever the boys see their grandparents, they are just completely at home with them.  Penn used to be an exception to this rule, but not anymore.  He wanted Nana right away after his nap and was quick to tell me to "Mommy, go."  

On Sunday after some late afternoon playtime, we all headed to church to hear Doug preach (well, the boys had Kidz Church).  It was great to be there worshiping with Doug's mom and then together enjoying Doug deliver a great sermon (especially since we must be his two biggest fans).  After the church service we got the boys to bed while Doug had to finish up with a meeting at the church.  Later he got home and he and his mom and I enjoyed catching up and then relaxing watching Downtown Abbey (we were happy to find Nana was a fan!).  This morning we enjoyed a family breakfast together and then the boys couldn't wait any longer...they knew Nana had brought Christmas gifts and they were dying to dig in.  So, Christmas #2 was on (in PJ's too!).    

Tav got this very cool (and challenging!) rubix cube-type toy.  It will certainly keep us busy! 

Penn remembered the fun of unwrapping and totally made the most of unwrapping his presents.

He was excited to see it was a book.  Tav was also quite interested since it was a Dinosaur Train story (he's been super into Dinosaur Train lately!).

Look at how he's smiling!  He loves "All Aboard!"

How sweet!  Brothers!

Next Koen got to open his gift.  It was Yomega!  A very intense set of Yo-Yo's for him to learn how to really Yo-Yo it up!  We all had fun setting the first one up for him and by the end of the morning he was already making progress.

Tav had another present first.  Look at this smile...  You want to know why he's smiling?  It's a Dinosaur Train book for him!  Perfect!  He was thrilled!

Koen also got a special book, "The Wind in the Willows."  We don't own this classic (nor have I ever borrowed it from the library amazingly enough!), so it was a perfect choice.  Good job, PopPop!

Penn checking it out with Koen.  Oh my goodness, these boys are cute.  Rowdy, but cute!

Another sweet book for Penn.  This one about a little lost sheep.  I love books about Biblical principles.  Can't wait to read this one with Penn (not to mention he loves animals, so he's all about the sheep!).

Then all three boys got a joint book gift too.  We love adding to the home library.  Good job, Nana & PopPop!  Thank you so much!

After present time, Penn crawled up and wanted Nana to read him his book.  Such a snuggly little bug!

After wrapping present cleanup, the boys all had a snack (you know, second breakfast, a little boy necessity it seems).  Penn shared his with Nana.  

After noting the level of the boys' energy yesterday, Doug and I constructed a plan to get them out of the house.  We all piled in the car and headed to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.   We are loving the membership Sky & Megan gifted us.  It's so nice to know you can just pop in for an hour or two here or there rather than feeling like you have to make a day of it if you are paying full admission price.  All 3 boys enjoyed the excursion.  Here they are as quite the archaeologist crew. 

Oh my goodness, doesn't he look like a little boy and not so much a baby?!?!

After the museum time (I ran a few errands instead of the museum since I had a rough prego morning, just didn't feel like meandering around a museum would go well with the discomfort I was in, plus getting my errands out of the way allowed me to get my feet up in the afternoon), we all met up at The Porch right near the museum.  Yummy lunch with Nana!  Unfortunately, during lunch Koen started complaining (like the real kind where you know something is wrong) that his ear hurt.  He had had a cold/cough all week and so it made sense to me that maybe he could have an ear infection.  It was quite evident it was really bothering him, so I called the doctor on the way home from lunch and with it being MLK Day they were closed.  So, to MedExpress we headed.  First we dropped everyone off at the house.  Doug laid Penn down, but first there was a little play time.  Tav enjoyed playing a little hockey again Nana.  Here they are amidst a play...

And then Nana scores (and she looks surprised!)!  Tav dove for it, but that puck got it.  Nice play, Nana!

After Penn's lay down and some goodbyes to Doug and Tav, Nana hit the road.  It was so great to see you, Nana.  Thanks so much for making the drive for the 24 hour visit.  We loved having you and it was just what we needed to get through the long weekend.  =)

PS - Koen did indeed have an ear infection.  Poor bug.  I could tell for sure he was in a lot of pain.  Hopefully he's feeling well enough to head back to school tomorrow.  Oh and MedExpress, although helpful, gives me the creeps.  Oh, the germs!  I couldn't get out of there fast enough!