El Paso Summer 2018

It's time for our annual long summer trip to El Paso...

We drove down on a Tuesday- and it was our best drive yet! The kids are getting so much easier to drive with since they all love movies, music, podcasts, reading and coloring! They are pretty good at entertaining themselves! What a difference Ellie was from last year too!!

Tuesday night was pretty low key... we got in, said hi to Grandma, ran to the store, made a quick dinner and got to bed. But then, poor LJ woke up our first morning there with a fever. Evan had just gotten over a 36ish hour fever bug, so at first we thought that is probably what LJ had. (But that evening, Gigi got a good look in his throat, and it seemed to be tonsillitis!)

Ellie the queen!

Barrett was planning to work from home all day, so he stayed with LJ while we got in a visit to Grandma Rachel.

Wednesday night we headed to Aunt Patsy's for a delicious Lebanese meal... Kids took a minute to warm up in the crowd, but soon they were best buddies with the beautiful Harper.

Our evening at Aunt Patsy's was cut short when Gigi sent us an update of how high LJ's fever had gotten... 103.2! A record for this little guy! We met her at an emergency clinic to get him tested for strep...

The kids were making Fiona a very delicious hot dog meal... she was very patient and sat perfectly still while they continued to serve (over and over) her the meal! She is so great and patient with them!

Thursday morning, we woke up, got ready and took Barrett to the airport! :( We have a week without him! LJ was still fighting off his fever, so just Evan, Ellie and I went. Then we headed to Grandma's house and spent the entire morning shopping with her!

Five hours of shopping and these two passed out within minutes of getting back to their seats! Ha!

Love how their heads turned together!

Thursday evening we the Es and I went to Leo's Mexican Food Restaurant to celebrate the beautiful Tricia Ann graduating from Coronado! So proud of the stunning young woman!

Evan loved his special time with Cal!!

And more cousin time with precious Harper!

Missing our LJ and Gigi (who stayed home to take care of him!).

Since Capi was out of town, and they had been hanging all night, Gigi let LJ just sleep in her bed. Evan was super sad to sleep alone, so we tried something for the first time... Ellie got to sleep in LJ's bed next to Evan! She has never slept with either of her brother's before but has been asking to.... and they did great!!!

Friday morning... I got to enjoy my cup of coffee on the porch with Gigi and an El Paso sunrise!

And as I relaxed, the kids got to open their gifts from Grandma and Gigi from shopping the day before... Ellie got the Elsa dress she has been begging for! She has worn it every day since!! So elegant!!!

And the boys got their lego sets!

Friday LJ woke up fever free and seemed almost over it... but we kept it pretty low key, and, other than a visit to Grandma's, just hung around the house to make sure he recovered!

The boys were SO proud of their matching outfits- down to the socks! They asked for me to take pictures and a video to send to their dad!

They are so cute!

The kids decided that sleeping with me was everyone's favorite, so I told them they could alternate who gets to sleep in my bed every night and then the other two could sleep together in the bunk beds. We played the 'pick a number' game to decide who got to sleep with me first, and Evan won. LJ protested a little, saying he wold sleep with anyone BUT Ellie - that she would keep him up. I said, "No she won't. She did great with Evan and has slept with me often. And I was us to be flexible and learn how to sleep with anyone in the family if needed.

He didn't complain again, and not a sound came out of the room. Later I went to check on everyone... Evan was out in my bed...

And.... my heart skipped a beat! LJ and Ellie were fast asleep and HOLDING HANDS in their sleep!!

How precious!! The next morning, LJ said he was sorry for saying he wouldn't sleep with her. He said, "Actually, I love sleeping with Ellie!"

When it was Ellie's turn to sleep with me, she decided to skip it and let her brothers sleep with me only. So every night in El Paso, I got one boy in my bed, and Ellie got to sleep with one of her brothers. And we all did great!

Saturday morning... backyard water table and pool time!

Then we went out to run some errands... and stopped at Firehouse Subs for lunch!

Love this little fireman!

After many errands, we drove around for an hour so this could keep happening!!

We were so excited they got a nap because Saturday night, Gigi got us tickets to the Lion King! She told us months ago, but I had no idea she got us VIP seats... we were feeling so excited! The Plaza is such an awesome, intimate place to see shows! And Gigi got us all new outfits for our night!

But I was still shocked when I got to our seats... the BEST seats I have ever sat in!!! FRONT ROW and dead center!! I could lean forward and touch the conductor's shoulder!

The stage directly in front of us!

And the musicians down below! I've never been close enough to see all this! Pictures don't do it justice!
We were worried about the kids losing interest or being too tired (since the show started at 8 pm), but they did so great!! We ALL absolutely loved the show! How could we not!?!!! Can't thank you enough Capi and Gigi!

Boys walking back to the car through downtown El Paso! I am so impressed with how much is happening down here these days!!

Sunday morning, the boys made themselves breakfast and sat at the bar...

So Capi and Ellie ate at the kids' table!! haha!

Had a nice visit with Grandma. She gave Ellie a new nail polish set, and then let Ellie paint her nails (and fingers and hand a little! haha!). It was really, really sweet!

Monday...
Fiona patiently lets Evan play doctor on her arm! He had it all wrapped, and she just sat there like a perfect little patient! This is cracking me up!

And we found a great camp for the kids to do while here at Melissa's Gym! Can't believe I used to take gymnastics here! They were so excited and needed this activity!! They do sports, roller skating, bowling, aerial arts, and more! They love it!
And even more exciting, my friends put their boys in the camp too!! LJ immediately had a new bestie (as only LJ can do!).

After gymnastics, we had ice cream at Grandmas (who has been watching Bella for me during the days), and then headed home to make dinner and watch the Stanley Cup!