Grammy + Grampy visit = getaway for Mom and Dad!

Phil's parent came out for a visit last month. They were here for Halloween and Grampy was nice enough to man our door so Phil and I could both take the kids trick-or- treating.

Cinderella, Rapunzel, and a pilot

Grampy (with a couple of helpers)

Then Phil and I took advantage of those excellent grandparent/babysitters and hopped on an airplane for our first trip sans kiddos. (Yes, Phil has taken lots of trips without the kids, but this was the first time they didn't have one of us with them!). We went to Nashville, TN where Phil was attending a conference. He had to receive an award that he got at graduation in June.

Yes, it was a work-related trip. But we had fun, too! And this may have been a "gateway trip" for us. Now that we've seen that the kids do just fine without us I'm thinking we can do this a little more often.

After we got home from our trip we still had a nice visit with Phil's folks before they headed back home. It was so nice to have family around!

Visiting George Washington's Mt. Vernon

The kids sure love their Grammy and Grampy. It's always so sad when we have to say good-bye. Fortunately for us, we had Grandparents: Phase Two coming a few days later.

Coming soon: Dermody visit!

Long time, no blogging

I know, I know! There has been a shameful lack of blogging going on here. I'll get back in the swing of it soon. We had the Shea grandparents visit, a mommy-daddy trip, and a visit from the Dermody grandparents. We've been busy! In the meantime, here's a photo of me and my gal Claire on our birthday. She celebrated by getting her ears pierced. I decided against any additional piercings and instead went out to dinner with Phil while my folks treated the kiddos to McD's. :)