Last Minute Jitters

Brogden has an adventurous personality! Somebody will have to clue me in on the superhero bandaids. #Fourthtimemom #Firsttimeboymom

The days are passing faster as the trip approaches. I cannot complete everything I have planned for each day. Someone should have definitely encouraged me to get a baby sitter. Packing for a month long trip with a 6, 4, 2 year olds, and one month baby is nearly impossible. Many people came by and kept our girls busy for a bit, which was awesome.

Each night when I laid down, a recount of the unchecked list would scroll through my mind. I constantly wondered how it was all going to get done. My amazing MIL decided to come over four days in a row and just hold the baby. That was perfect! Now she did more than hold a baby, like take the eldest to the library to pick out books for the trip, take me with three to the mall for last minute shoe purchases when the favorite sandals broke, stay with George when I had girls' night, and talk me through packing for the five souls that were in my charge (Big George was on his own). I do not think it would have all gotten done without her.

So many clothes

The garden program at church has been helpful as well for packing and getting things accomplished. My mother comes by and picks up the elders and their cousin and takes them to her house for a sleepover since the program is early morning. Well, it starts at 9:00am but that is super early in our house. The girls love the time with cousins (another cousin is in the program too) and their grandmother. I love the time with babies that still nap at home. It is amazing how much you can conquer with only two children if you are used to four.

Elders and cousin at Waffle House. Only the best for these girls!

We asked three different pediatricians in the practice we use and they all agreed the trip was a great idea and strongly suggested (mandated) that baby Brogden have his two month shots before we go. George scheduled them at six weeks since that is the earliest they can be given. George also scheduled my six week check up when we were leaving the hospital so the ended up being the same morning, the morning when he wanted to leave to get on the road.

Why can't Tiny keep pants on? Mysteries of life

T-minus one day approaches and the family does yard work? It makes since after I thought about it but at the time I blindly agreed to trim shrubs. The girls were awesome at dragging all the clippings to the fire pit. Tiny decided she needed to do all work with sandals on the wrong feet and bottomless. She makes it work for her so I wasn't stopping her. We pulled together and got all work completed in time to head to a sweet boy's first birthday. It was great to get in some quality family time before the trip with the party.

Happy birthday Locke!

The girls also got to see all their cousins at an outdoor showing of Moana before we departed as well. We were able to spend quality time with family and friends in the days before we left. Not only were we able to fill our car but fill our souls as well. We are blessed with the best people in our lives and they are supportive of us with their presence and their prayers.

Thank you to everyone that has visited, helped, and, mostly importantly, prayed for us and this trip.