Sweet Home Alabama...

I wonder how many posts have been titled that over the years.  There have been over 700 posts during five years.  I suspect we've got at least 12 or 226 about "Sweet Home Alabama."  

It is one of our homes because all of our immediate and most of our extended family lives there.  We grew up there.  Chris proposed to me there.  Alabama is where Santa came to visit Aubrey Kate for the first time last year.  

But as Aubrey Kate pointed out, "Home is where Daddy is, Momma."  

Kids.  They get it.  Adults, we complicate stuff.  But my daughter, she knows our home is where we are all together.  

So Texas is home.  Because that's where Daddy is.  And where Diet Dr. Pepper is served at all McDonald's.  

There's always a silver lining.  

Even in Texas.

So this Alabamian loaded up her two native Texans and set out for a journey home.  We were there almost two weeks.  And we squeezed in as many family events as possible.  

This was Rhys' first flight and it might as well have been Aubrey Kate's because she was too young to remember her first and second time.  Heck, she's likely too young to remember this flight.  Both kids did really well.  AK watched a movie while Rhys and I played a lovely game of please, stay in the seat.    It is physically and mentally exhausting to try and keep an active boy tied down for 90 minutes.  

The one thing that helped were various bottles.  He could shake the liquid and chew on the lids.  Totally held his attention for tens of seconds.

Yay!  A bottle!

This is so cool.

This one fizzes!

Pretty girl!  She was so good on the plane.

One of the many reasons we went home for a visit was to see my uncle and his family.  They live up in the New England part of the nation and rarely have been able to get back "home" for a visit.  I hadn't seen them since my brother's wedding in January 2005.  My cousin was seven months old then.  He's now almost 9 and his sister is almost six.  

We had a good time visiting and watching the kids play.  We spent one day at the zoo.  Along with every elementary class in the entire Birmingham area.  I was pretty anxious with that many folks around.  Aubrey Kate is easily distracted and often wanders off because she's not watching where she's going.  

Like every toddler who ever lived.  

But they had a good time.

They love each other.  No, really.

Feeding the fish. 

Her favorite, the giraffes.  

See, he needed a hug.

Rhys really liked Uncle Craig!  

We split our time staying with each side of the family.  Both sets of parents were working during the day so the first week, we spent the days with my uncle's family, had dinner with them and my parents, then headed over to Meme and Buddy's for playtime and bed.  I let the kids stay up an hour (okay so maybe 90 minutes for Pumpkin) each night so they'd have time to play.  

Snuggling with Meme...

We went to church with Meme and Buddy the first week.  Gave me a good reason to slap another bow tie on Rhys.  I swear, he is such a little man.

Homeboy... 

We stopped by GG's house for a few minutes too.  She wasn't feeling all that great and let's face it, a toddler and a nine month old are not known for their restful qualities.  She was a trouper though.  The kids did their best to destroy as much stuff in the shortest time possible.  

GG, Meme, Rhys and AK.  These pictures are treasures.

Trying on GG's glasses.  Thankfully, the glasses survived.

Sunday night we moved to Nana and Puddin's house.  With Craig et al gone, it was just the three of us. That was dangerous.  Because Rhys likes to figure out how to get into as many places as possible in which he's not supposed to be.  

Time to help Momma wrinkle her clothes.

Making a break for it.   

AK was a little less explorative.  My pretty, cautious girl.

No family photos were destroyed in the conquering of this shelf.

Helping Nana with the laundry.  Yes, he tried to climb in.

The flight home was a little more difficult.  The flight was delayed, which was actually a relief because we were running a little late.  The kids got to play in a new children's area and eat some lunch.  They were awesome before the flight but with the delay, we were flying smack in the middle of nap time.  And, well, that didn't go so smoothly.  

Aubrey Kate threw the second biggest fit I have ever seen her throw.  Thankfully, a nice lady held Rhys while I got her under control.  We sat next to a wonderful gentleman who helped calm her down and totally understood her meltdown.  He said, Hey, I'm a stranger and she's not where she wants to be.  I don't blame her for being upset.

Which was sweet.  Because I did blame her.  

But she got herself under control and let me worry about Rhys, who was not at all happy about being held.  Both kids fell sleep about 10 minutes before we landed.  

Which was about an hour too late.

Pumpkin was so hard asleep, we were the only people left on the plane when I finally was able to shake her awake.  The flight attendant offered to carry her off.  You know you're a problem when they are offering to escort you off.  

Good gracious, she was so happy playing. 

Then we colored while we waiting in line. 

Rhys chewed his toys.  Yes, I had to keep him strapped down.

There was a trip to Auburn, my dad's retirement party at work and his family and friend's party on the weekend but those are worthy of their very own post.  Which I promise not to title, "Sweet Home Alabama #2."  

You're welcome.