Car, plane, bus and train...NC and back!

Grant was originally supposed to do some training in Texas last week and it happened to be the same week that Al was going to Guatemala for a week so I thought it would be perfect timing for a trip to see Karrie and "the kids" (that's what Madi collectively calls them now). Unfortunately Grant's training got switched, but I thought the trip would still be awesome and probably the last time I'd get to see the triplets before moving to Japan ;( I love that they are finally old enough to remember us and were anxiously awaiting my visit, not because they really wanted me to come, but because Karrie bought me some candy and Madi was insistent that I would be nice and "share treats with the kids" :) Lucky for them I was feeling nice....

We had a ton of fun hanging out around the house, watching movies, playing in the bounce house, riding bikes, power wheels, endlessly chatting about something or another (I love their little voices), etc. I was terrible at taking pictures (I guess being pregnant and playing with triplets all day made me tired :)

LOVE these outfits...mint sparkle skinny cords. I want a girl just so she can wear these pants. Allie however is now potty trained so no longer has a diaper to keep her pants up over her nonexistent butt...so she was low riding most of the time :)  

Allie's favorite new "pout pout" face...she has perfected it and uses it both seriously and jokingly, but cannot help but laugh at herself if you put her in front of a mirror.

Jordan is obsessed with police cars (and pretty much every other kind of car). Power wheels are still maybe a little advanced for them, but they are learning quickly and had some fun in the cars. Whiplash at its finest! I unfortunately didn't get many pics of J but we did some good bonding...he was teaching me how to be the mom to a boy :)

They seem to be better suited for riding bikes right now...one day that long steep driveway is going to provide some serious scary fun. Luckily they stick to the safe part still now :)

Probably the coolest thing ever and every kid's dream come true...a bounce house IN the house! We played in here before dinner several nights to try and wear them out a little. They are starting to not nap so were trying everything in our power to make them sleepy. It only sort of worked, but definitely provided endless fun.

 I was the first pregnant person they have had contact with in the last little while so I think they were intrigued a little bit. Madi stuffed her doll under her PJs and pretended to be pregnant. They were really sweet and would come lightly touch my belly and say "Hi baby"...SO cute! Karrie (the amazingly smart mom that she is) used the baby to her advantage, telling the kids that the baby was sleeping, whenever she wanted them to be quieter ;) It totally worked!

 

And another breakthrough...while "babysitting" Allie and Jordan, we were watching Ice Age Dinosaur and Allie came and snuggled up next to me and asked me to do her hair. This NEVER happens, I usually have to beg to let me touch her hair, so of course I was excited. I could not believe how sweet her little face looked with these braids!

I had a great time hanging out with Karrie too...so many fun conversations, delicious meals, pedicures and lots of girl time. We watched Miss America, The Golden Globes and Bachelor (which made for many late nights)! Miss you all!

Flying into Utah was actually really beautiful. It was so clear that we could see several mountain ranges including the Rockies, Jackson Hole, Uintas and Wasatch. Flying at the top of the snowy peaks was gorgeous (especially since I haven't seen snow at all this year and I was still in the comfort of my warm airplane seat). However, when I landed in SLC it was 7 degrees, and I felt the chill as I walked off the plane into the airport.

Luckily I got on the next flight with no difficulty (I was on standby so always sort of scary) and when the captain announced we would soon be landing in San Diego, he stated the temperature was 70 degrees. I could not believe that in a matter of less than 2 hours I would be landing somewhere 10x warmer than my previous location! I arrived in SD before Grant was off work so decided to take the coaster home (but unfortunately by the time I landed, got my bag and got on the bus, the coaster had left and the other didn't arrive for an hour and a half. I sat waiting at the coaster station reading and a man from the Amtrak side of the tracks shouted that he could get me home 45 minutes earlier if I wanted to take the Amtrak. I stated I'd already bought a coaster ticket, so he said he'd let me ride for free. Got a $17 Amtrak ride for my $5 coaster ticket and got home sooner! It was pretty fun and the view from the train was beautiful (don't mind the dirty window :)
I got home safe and sound and Heidi was kind enough to pick of the pregnant lady on the corner with her suitcase and box full of baby stuff I inherited from Karrie. I'm sure I looked crazy but it was a great trip. In one day I traveled by car, plane, bus and train!

 I missed the cold spell that San Diego experienced and arrived just in time for the 70-80 degree weather we've been enjoying the last few days. Loving this winter!