NANA & PA!!!

We sure love company!  Especially when grandparents can come for a visit.  Especially when it is a last minute as in barely two weeks-lets take a trip to Nebraska type visit!!  It couldn't have been better timing!  They arrived on Thursday late afternoon and we had Thursday and Friday off of school since the volleyball team went to State!  The children helped clean the house Thursday morning and we were all ready!  Soon after they arrived we ate dinner and whisked them off to the boys' first basketball "game" in Bridgeport.  We came to find out that it wasn't exactly a game more like a very unorganized scrimmage that started 45 minutes after we thought it would.  Nana and Pa are always good sports and just enjoyed seeing the boys play!  Afterwards Pa wanted to treat everyone to ice cream.  It was a little after 7pm...in a small town.  The only "fast food" restaurant BurgerWorks was closed...at 7:00.  We drove to a diner, all they had was pie and the convenience store was closed.  So we tried Subway, nope no ice cream.  Then we drove to the gas station, because we REALLY wanted ice cream at this point.  It was quite comical to my parents at how small this small town was.  FINALLY dad bought everyone some ice cream bars/sandwiches from the station and we munched all the way home.  Good grief!

Friday was just a day of hanging around.  I went to Sidney with mom and dad for some groceries and a quick trip to Cabelas.  My parents bought the queen bed used for "guests"/Morley 12 years ago.  A cheap bed, 12 years ago.  So it goes without saying that it is NOT the most comfortable bed....for at least 11 of the 12 years.  They were determined to buy a new bed but that is not easy to do when there is only one furniture store in town.  We we found an awesome memory foam + more foam 4" mattress pad and new pillows.  It made all the difference and they slept like angels.  Not exactly as dad was suffering from a bad cold and cough but it was a good effort.  Morley LOVES his bed now!  We had a fun night of playing games, visiting, watching a movie and prepping for the big hunting day in the morning.

All of the boys...and me woke up at 3:30 am to go deer hunting.  Yes, 3:30 am.  Dad had a ruptured Achilles tendon so he wasn't moving as well but we did great!  We were in our places before the sun came up.  We divided into two groups:  Matt/Morley/Brayden and me/Drew/Pa in another.  It was a S-L-O-W morning.  We finally just had some snacks and visited a little and lookey looed at the other hunters around us.  we could hear shots being fired but no idea how close.  We lasted until about 11:00 and to hike out a different way and hope we see something.  We didn't.  But...we did take some fun pictures documenting our adventure!  I know the hunting is mostly about the experience and memories but I always leave frustrated, especially for Dad when  he comes so far and leaves empty handed too.  We went home for lunch and then Matt, Brayden and Morley went back out.  They came home again empty handed but had a great time.

While we were gone, Ella had her day all planned out for Nana.  She even made a list, a lengthy list it was.  Complete with check boxes.  They had a great day and Ella was quite distraught when we came home, and stayed home.  She wanted Nana all to herself, ALL DAY.  Dad and I obliged and took a nap for a bit.  Ella was sure to get that ENTIRE list done and they did!  What was hilarious was she kept adding things to the list.  If you compare the first picture with the last picture it is quite a bit longer.  Nana was a good sport!

Sunday was fantastic, as usual.  That night Morley did FHE on a topic he has been working on in Duty to God.  He did a great job and we had about an hour together discussing the topic and others.  The spirit was strong and I am so thankful that we have reached a point of being able to sit still for long lengths of time and discuss the gospel and share our testimonies!  Sunday night Pa gave Morley quite an awesome gift!  He brought a rifle that was my great, great grandfather's.  My great grandfather, grandfather, grandmother and father have all shot that gun and he gave it to Morley.  He is quickly outgrowing the one he bought with his own money three years ago and this one will be an awesome one to transition to.  Morley was so happy and thankful!  I am sure he wanted to sleep with it but we didn't think that was a great idea!

Monday everyone went back to school, except for me.  Yeah!  While they were gone we did some Christmas shopping, rental house checks and a little more shopping.  It was a very productive day!  We picked up Drew and Brayden from school and they were ever so excited to show their teachers their Nana and Pa!  Pa is quite a legend there by sharing his Zibbies and is Around the World adventures with the classes.  We had to say our goodbyes that night too.  They had an early Tuesday morning flight and we were so sad so see them go.  We just love them so much and miss that we only seem them a few times a year!  I am so thankful for them and their sacrifices to make the journey to see us.  It means so much to their grandchildren to have a strong relationship with them and for them to see them as often as possible.  I hope when I grow up I can be half as good as a parent as they have been!