Some Surprise Visitors on Memorial Day Weekend

We had a surprise houseful of our kids for Memorial Day and we ate it all up. It was a big five days with different configurations of kids coming and going. Our kids are funny. And I know I’m biased but I think they’re adorably endearing.

How it Happened that the Kids Came Home

Elle and Carson had some flight credit and figured out a last-minute way to get home for Memorial Day weekend. Of course, when everyone heard that bit of news they all wanted to jump on the bandwagon and get down here speedy quick. Luckily we had left our bigger car up in Utah so after some deliberations, all the Utah kids aside from Claire jumped in the car and made the drive down to join in on the party.

Claire was heading to Yosemite on a family trip with her boyfriend’s family so she couldn’t join us. We missed her so much, but she was absolutely glowing in Yosemite so that made it ok:)

Elle and Carson arrived first, on Friday evening, and Dave and I went to pick them up at the airport and have dinner in the big city. Then we headed home for games with delighted Lu (and Bo Jangles).

We got to have a double-date to F45 (our workout) the next morning, breakfast on the outside patio of Joe’s Farm Grill, and then the bigger party began.

After a 3am drive start time and driving for ten hours, a carload of beautiful chaos arrived.

I had promised Dave not to go crazy on activities and help him help us all lay low. It was so hot for hiking which would also divide us up, and so close after our recent family trip he was ready for some chill time.

So, for the most part, I did stay calm. It did take some restraint…I always want to run, as does Elle. But I loved the calm.

We swam, played pickleball, went on sunset walks.

Our kitchen is constantly “open” when the kids are home but this time around I assigned different kids to different meals before they came and had the supplies ready that they would need.

Although still tiring, this worked like magic.

I love that Abby took it up a notch and set the table special as well as making strawberry/mint water.

So many favorite things, but if I had to pick my tops they would be these:

The kitchen filled up with people I love.

My grandbabies and how we all cannot get enough of them.

Murph is such a perfect little conversationalist and Ada is so funny still working on walking and often keeping her foot propped outside of her high chair.

Watching my big kids with them in the pool.

The pickleball was competitive and I loved it.

I loved watching some of it from my perch having a deep conversation with Murphy in the shade of a big tree.

Our row at church filled up with my people, Murph and Ada adding some spunk to our normally quiet sacrament meetings.

Some deeper conversations with some one-on-one time. I love how that happens more easily when you calm down and don’t try to cram in so much.

The big girls and I found ourselves at this photobooth in Phoenix after we dropped off Carson at the airport (he had to leave earlier than the rest):

I love them.

The kitchen filled up to the brim with people I love.

All the big kids sitting around in the game room talking strategy with a business venture they all want to do together. Who knows if that will ever happen, but the working together deal makes my heart want to burst.

Borrowing a friend’s mahjong one night and teaching everyone what little I know how to play that game.

Also we had two poker nights and the kids eat that stuff up. Abby was the big winner one night and Lucy, much to her delight, won the next night.

We played games on the back porch and walked around downtown Gilbert one night.

Family dinners, all sitting around the big round table.

Our own smash burgers on Memorial Day, compliments of chef Dave.

They were SO GOOD, sitting on that back porch, Ada’s high chair close by, Lucy’s cookies for dessert.

Carson left on Monday, Max and Grace had to leave Tuesday, and Elle and Abby had one more golden sunset evening here.

Plus pilates:)

Dave was right about slowing down. No packed schedule, no big excursions was just what we needs. It was just us, around that big round table, doing the simple things.

Turns out those are the things I’ll remember most.