Papa's Visit

We had a great visit with Papa!  It was a great Christmas present for me!

On Wednesday we had our ward party.  Andrew and Jonathan both played piano in the talent show.  I was so proud of them!  There was a minute there where Jonathan looked so scared and he said, “Mom, I don’t want to do it anymore.”  I said it was too late to change his mind now because he was next, and he got up and did it.  He played so well, and so did Andrew.  Shortly after they were done, I left to pick up Dad at the airport.

On Thursday, we ran a bunch of errands and went to lunch at Tia Rosa's.     

On Friday we stayed home most of the day and I did chores around the house.  We went to lunch at Panera.  We went to the movie theater to get tickets for the 5pm showing of Star Wars.  We intended to go on Saturday morning, but Dad really wanted to have Nathaniel go to dinner with us so we thought we’d try to make it work to go to the movie on Friday.  It went pretty smoothly!  We got good seats, but Nathaniel and his friend Cole McClure (they had plans to see the movie on Friday anyway since Nathaniel had to work on Saturday) had to sit a few rows ahead of us.  After the movie we went to dinner at Olive Garden.  It was wonderful, but I ate way too much! 

On Saturday, we just hung out in the morning and waited for Emily to get some homework done.  Dad gave the kids a lesson on checking the oil.  

Then Dad, Emily, and I went shopping.  We went to Bed Bath and Beyond, DSW, Panda Express, DownEast, and Walmart.  We went to the Walmart where Nathaniel works.  We were gone for almost four hours!  We ordered Papa Johns for dinner and watched Spiderman Homecoming.

On Sunday, we went to church, came home and took a nap, and baked and decorated Christmas cookies.  Nathaniel left early to go to dinner at his mission prep class.  The kids went to the park with Dad and Michael.  

On Monday, Dad helped me wrap gifts.  We got done what we needed to before the kids got home, thankfully.  It was such a relief to get it done!  That night we watched Home Alone 2.  It was funnier than I remembered.  On Tuesday, Dad was going to go to work with me but Daniel woke up vomiting so we had to change our plans.  I had some returns to do at the mall and I had already ordered the Sweet Tooth Fairy cookies to hand out at  work, so Dad stayed home with Daniel while I did all of that and then I came home.  I stopped at Costa Vida for some tacos on the way home and we just hung out until the boys got home.  Everyone but Daniel had piano lessons, and in the evening Dad, Andrew, Jonathan, and I played Monopoly.  Nathaniel had to work, Emily studied for her history final, and Daniel rested.  Michael snuck off to run errands (aka buy my presents) and came home with groceries from Walmart and Sam’s Club.  

On Wednesday we stayed home and did chores.  I got the chicken noodle soup in the crockpot (Dad cut up the vegetables for me) and did laundry.  Emily and Nathaniel had early release.  Nathaniel had to work, and Dad and I took Emily to Subway for lunch.  She was so relieved to be done with her finals!!  So was Nathaniel!!  That afternoon I had Cub Scouts and Dad came with us.  We had the soup for dinner and Dad made the Hershey gingerbread house with the kids. 

On Thursday, Nathaniel and Emily stayed home because they were done with finals and it was just a makeup day.  I was so proud of my three big kids—they all had straight As!  We went to Jonathan’s Jingle Jog.  He didn’t seem too excited to see us, but he posed for a picture with Papa and then went off with his teacher.  

Then we went to Daniel’s school for the science showcase and saw his project about blood and blood cells. 

After that, we went shopping at Walmart so I could get all of the stuff for Christmas dinner.  We got home and the kids helped put everything away, then they went with Dad to see Jumanji.  Andrew, Daniel, and Jonathan came home and were excited to start Christmas break.  They did their chores quickly so they could go on media.  We left at about 4:15pm for the party at Main Event.  The Tour of Italy dinner was really good, and we all had a great time!  Right after dinner, the kids headed off to laser tag with Papa.  Michael and I bowled and walked around with the kids.  The boys all went on the ropes course.  Jonathan didn't like it and turned back.  I got gelato with Dad.  We bowled again and then we all played laser tag while Dad watched our stuff.  Nathaniel really wanted to play air hockey with me and he beat me easily.  I walked around and tried to get pictures of everyone.  It was a really fun night. 

On Friday, Michael took the day off and some of us slept in. Dad and Nathaniel went to the parts store to get transmission fluid.  When they had checked it on Saturday, Dad realized it was low.  Dad also gave the kids a lesson on changing a tire.  We went to a late lunch at Jogoya.  Nathaniel had to go to work.  We came home to hang out and rest a bit before going to see the lights at McCormick Stillman Railroad Park.  We were not quite to the 202 when Daniel said he was feeling sick.  So, we changed our plans again and came home and watched Moana and had leftovers for dinner.  It was just as well, because Jonathan was feeling sick, too.  Daniel put himself to bed, before 8pm and Jonathan fell asleep on my lap while watching the movie. 

On Saturday morning, Nathaniel, Emily, Andrew, Daniel, and I all went to breakfast with Dad and then took him to the airport (Nathaniel didn’t come to the airport because he had to go to work).  Jonathan was still sick at home so Michael stayed with him.  It was so hard to say goodbye.  He made it home safely.  

We love you, Papa!!!!!  Thank you for everything!!!!