Visitors.

There are several things in life that I am not certain about.  

One thing that I am certain of, however, is that I love having visitors.

Which means that this week was a great one since two of our favorite people came to visit. 

DAY 1: THEY MADE IT!!

 

My mom and dad FINALLY (it's been 3 years, folks.) hopped on a plane and came to see us.  (They really just made the trip to see Brooklyn and Aubrey, but I'm not complaining.)   

 

 The girls insisted on bringing the Grandparents some special treats (including a smoothie that was more than half gone by the time they made it) and they could hardly contain themselves.  They have a habit of jabbering like little monkeys when they get excited.  This was some of the best jabbering I've heard yet. 

Day 2: THE OMAHA ZOO & THE TEMPLE

   

 Good Moment: Making it for a day at the zoo without the predicted all-day thunderstorms and high winds.  

Bad Moment: Realizing the cameras were all out of batteries.  (We did get a handful of blurry pictures with my point and shoot, so it's all good.)

 Most Awesome Moment Ever: Mom and Brooklyn getting surprise attacked by the gorilla.  He was not a fan.  It was awesome.

 

 Second Most Awesome Moment Ever: Aubrey getting knocked over by a deranged exotic bird in the African Rainforest.  Seriously, seriously funny stuff.

 Good Moment: Watching the "Alaska" IMAX movie.  

Bad Moment: Aubrey NOT watching the "Alaska" IMAX movie.

Good Moment: Dad winning the staring contest.

Parenting Award Moment: Me telling Aubrey to pet the peacock and her actually doing it. 

 

 Family History Moment: Mom finding her ancestors burial site.

 

 Family Embarrassing Moment: This. (Taken by Aubrey)

 

DAY 3: INCREDIBLE PIZZA & SHOPPING GALORE & REALITY TV MARATHON

No pictures, but seriously fun times.

 

DAY 4: A GARAGE SALE SHOPPING EXTRAVAGANZA & THE SCIENCE CENTER & MY DAD'S LAST GOLFING TRIP EVER

Garage Sale Tab: 

-At least 25 baby boy outfits - most still with tags on, 5 pairs of baby shoes, 1 baby swing, 1 baby bouncer, 10 burp cloths, 2 blankets: $4.50

-A cardboard store for the girls: $3

-A baby bassinet: $10

-An antique desk that I have BIG plans for (that Luke referred to as "the most horrendous thing I've ever seen."  He'll see...): $15

-Dress for Aubrey, Converse shoes for Brooklyn, baby formula kit, back massager, skirt for Brooklyn, teddy bear, pair of earings: $1.50

-Most successful day of shopping ever: Yep.

Good Science Center Moments: Building rockets, watching the dome movie, racing tennis balls, popping bubbles, building race cars, constructing dams, cracking eggs, and trying to take good pictures.

Not so good Science Center Moments: Not getting any good pictures.

Worst Moment of the Whole Trip: My dad's wallet getting stolen.  Such a big fat bummer.

DAY 5: CHURCH & GUTHRIE CENTER & A HOMELESS TURTLE NAMED YERTLE

Super Cool Sunday Moments: My parents drove out to Guthrie Center and discovered the grave of my great, great, great, great, great grandfather. 

Bummer Moment: We declined the 2 hour drive with 2 kids and missed the whole experience.  But the pictures are almost just as cool. 

So-Typical-of-my-Mother Moment: She came home with a live animal.  I cannot tell you how many times growing up my mom would walk into our house with a live animal in her arms.  (The occasions include but are not limited to: multiple cats, a chameleon, a turtle, a raccoon, too many lizards to count, a bunny, and several birds.)

So I really was not that surprised when she walked in the door holding a turtle that was attempting to get himself run over by semi-trucks. 

Deciding Moment: Yertle the Turtle latching onto a shirt and not letting go.  

Heart-breaking Moment: That turtle booking it out to the river like his life depended on it.

 DAY 6: LIVING HISTORY FARMS & F.H.E.

Pretty Cool Moment: Going back in time 200 years without a time machine. 

Not So Cool Moment: 200 years ago kind of sucked.

 

Great Moment: Seeing the pigs, horses, cows, ducks, goats, and sheep.

Not So Great Moment: Smelling the pigs, horses, cows, ducks, goats, and sheep.

Typical Moment: Aubrey feeding the horses one of our cool and crisp apples.

Also Typical Moment: Brooklyn screaming bloody murder when Grandpa tried to get her to touch the horse.

F.H.E. Game time: The flour game.  Substitute brown sugar for flour.

 The loser: That would be me.

 The victor: That would be her.

 DAY 7: BOOKS & A SAD FAREWELL

Books we read: Every one that Dr. Seuss ever wrote.

 Aubrey's Quote 2 Seconds After We Dropped Them Off at the Airport: "Mom, I miss Grandma and Grandpa." 

You and me both, kid.