New Mexico

When my brother Tim got called to France, my family started planning to pick him up all together. Most of my siblings went, however, Tom and I are simply not in a place to take a vacation to Europe at this point in our lives! Which is totally okay with us. So while most of the fam was galavanting around France, I got to go to New Mexico to babysit the Webb kids. Steph and Andrew were so nice to fly Ian and I out there and make sure everything was prepared for us. I won't lie, it was difficult! Going from being a mother of a 4 month old and getting to see my husband for several hours a day to being a mother of 4 kids with no husband around was tough! Tom and I had never spent a night apart in our marriage up to that point (we were lucky!), and now we know why! But I learned so so so much. And despite it being a challenge, I can honestly say that we had so much fun with the Webb's and are so glad we went. It's been a while so I'm not going to try to write a lot about the experience, but here's pictures!

At the airport - we flew to Phoenix, then to El Paso. That's 2 new airports for both of us!

It was a LONG day traveling with a 4 month old by myself. I was exhausted by the time Ian fell asleep and then realized that I forgot my toothbrush at my in-laws. Oh well!

On the first day, we went to the park and had a picnic. Ian got sunburned, as did I. Us Rexburg folk aren't used to the sun!

The kids adored Ian and he loved the attention! The boys were so funny saying "We're all Ian's!!" as they kicked and squealed just like him.

Eva was the best little helper to Ian. She loves babies!

Ian trying out the swing for the first time. He didn't react much to it but I'm going to say he loved it.

Spanky's Frozen Yogurt! Eva and Dean enjoying theirs.

Leighton and I enjoying ours.

Eva was always drawing awesome pictures. She is quite the little artist!

Eva had gymnastics and when we went to pick her up we got to watch her for a couple of minutes. She is so cute!

Watching the kids play outside on a windy day.

They are all pro roller-bladers!

Enjoying pizza and ice cream and a move on Mom and Dad's bed

They drew this sign for me :) Those kids are so funny!

Playing with Play-doh

A nasty sickness went through while we were there. First Dean was throwing up, then Eva, and Ian and I both got sick in the middle of it all. Not fun! We stayed home from church while one of Steph's friends (a saint!) took the boys to church.

Playing a card game that they won as a prize.

We went to the zoo one day!

When it was hot enough, we played on the trampoline with sprinklers and then ate a picnic outside on the back porch.

Of course we had to make a trip to Daylight Donuts!

We also went to eat at the Thai food place. Ian was awful. It was terrible. But yummy food!

Leighton practiced doing front flips and made lots of charts to mark off his flips.

Eva and Dean fell asleep in bed together a few times :)

Eva decorated some material as a "burp cloth for Ian"

Getting frozen yogurt on our last night together!

Making a welcome home sign for Mom and Dad!

Then I flew home for a short weekend with Tom before heading to New Jersey. I'm so glad I got to come to New Mexico! Love you, Webb family!