"No Fuss Russ"

Meet Russell! I'm pretty sure I've blogged about my visits with him before but I wanted to do it again. This boy is simply amazing! The reason I called him no fuss Russ is exactly that. No fuss. Now I've been around my share of 16 year olds before. Heck I even was one a long time ago and I will assure you he is amazing. Maybe he was on his best behavior because the parentals weren't around (or maybe they threatened him), but he never once gave me a reason for concern. Never had to be asked to help. Did his homework and took care of all his responsibilities without anyone on his back. This to me is amazing. Not only is Russell no fuss. He's a great help with Emma, super funny, super smart and well.....pretty much amazing. I'm thankful for the time I had to spend with him and look forward to our next visit. I love you Russell. Keep smiling!

"Boosha Rump"

Meet Davis! Alright he's much to old to be called my little "Boosha Rump" but that is a name he acquired when he was my sweet little side kick. Let me tell you..... this guy is pretty much perfect. I can't believe what a smart, sweet, and sensitive young man he's turning out to be. All of my favorite things about him still ring true, and our relationship was as if he'd never moved away. Davis was a pleasure to spend time with and I looked forward to our mornings together, and also looked forward to picking him up from wrestling practice every afternoon. He was so protective of me and spent much time worrying himself about me and my well being. There's a new member in their family, a kitten named Luna ("Lunatic" as I lovingly referred to her) and Davis showed so much responsibility in loving and caring for her. It made me so proud. It was very hard to say goodbye to him and look forward to seeing him again soon. I love you Davis, my little "Boosha Rump".

"Emmalicious Angelface"

Meet Emma! I have tons of pictures of this little angel but for some reason I love this one! That sweet little crooked smile, when I look at it I can almost hear her voice. Emma will be three years old in January and I have only seen her twice. Once for a couple hours when she was nine months old and once last May for a few days in Minnesota at Samantha's graduation from college. Knowing how children can be I must admit I was a little worried at how Emma would take to me upon her parents departure, especially since they were leaving the country for two weeks. Well I only have two words to say....NO PROBLEM. From the minute they picked me up from the airport we had an instant bond. I really feel a connection with her and I am so thankful

we were able to spend this time together. The funny things she said to me. The sweet personality she has, along with some peculiar habits made me that much more in love with this sweet little angel. I want to sit and make a list of all the funny and cute things she did and said so that I'll never forget them.

There's a really neat Museum very close to her house called the Hand's On Children Museum. It's right by the Capitol and Emma and I went there several times. She loves this place and although I did think of it more as a "germ breading ground" I have to admit the place is brilliant. I did find myself secretly wishing I had some place like that to take my children when they were small. When I wasn't moving her away from coughing children or trying to sanitize everything she touched, It was a real pleasure to watch her imagination run wild with all the different exhibits. Even if her favorites things to do weren't what I would have liked it's a wonderful thing to not have to say, no you can't touch that, or you have to be quiet, or don't make a mess. You actually can encourage the opposite.
I can't wait to see her again and hope she will have fond memories of me. Every time I take a shower by myself it makes me miss her a little. Every time I sleep the whole night through with no bruises on my kidneys from the kick box champion of the world, I think of her. Even though I still hear in my sleep "I'm done....Wipe me up" it was a pleasure to help her out. And best of all now I know that watching Barney 5,000,000,000 times in a row will not make your head explode. I love you Emmalicious Angelface!

Whew...I'm home !

Washington was BEAUTIFUL!!! Everywhere you look it's another spectacular view. The pictures above were taking from the balcony of Kym's living room. The weather was nice some days, and other days it was rainy and cold, but I can't complain. I had a wonderful trip and look forward to visiting again, but man was I happy to get home. I missed Darin too much and won't be going anywhere without him again for that long. The driving out there absolutely petrified me. I was sure any minute the brakes or the transmission would fail and I would certainly have a horrible crash, and if it wasn't mechanical failure that would kill me the traffic definitely would. I promise I'll never complain about speed weeks traffic again. I was able to spend a few days with Kym and Jym when they returned from their trip before I came home so I did get to see alot of stuff and go alot of places with them driving. Whew!!