I flew into Austin from Miami on Friday, November 16 in the afternoon. I did laundry, packed my suitcase again, and all of us went back to the airport on Saturday morning to fly to Nanny and Pa Ford's house. This was McKenzie's first time on an airplane and she was awesome! I am so proud of her! Of course, Maddie is already an old pro. While Maddie watched movies, McKenzie colored, played with toys, and slept. She even carried her own backpack!
We had a wonderful visit with Mom and Dad before Carl and his family arrived on Wednesday. Maddie celebrated her 5th birthday with Nanny and Pa. Mom let her help with baking a birthday cake and Dad supervised birthday pancakes. Grandma Rasmus sent Maddie her first digital camera and Maddie nearly wet her pants with excitement. She is always asking to use mine and now she has her own Fisher Price camera. She has taken about 7 million pictures of nothing, but it's her camera!
My Dad truly came to life when all the grandchildren played together. Maddie and Quinn (age 3) pciked up where they left off last year and had an absolute ball together. Riley (age 1) and McKenzie will learn to love each other. They seemed to have a communication problem. Riley is used to playing with her rough and tumble brother. McKenzie is slightly more delicate and wasn't too sure about the wrestling with Riley. They were a hoot! Quinn can't pronounce McKenzie correctly and his best attempt sounds like MisKenzie. I think I like his version better. The kids had so much fun. Pa played football and baseball in the front yard. They played on the swing set in the backyard. Nanny took pulled them in the wagon. When Pa asked Maddie how far they walked, Maddie replied, "Far enough." What a mouth!
My mother is always prepard to entertain children and of course she had balloons for the kids. No helium - just balloons. They loved it! McKenzie wouldn't let hers go and used it for a variety of things, including playing baby-in-my-tummy!
The weather was gorgeous the first half of the week, but turned very cold at the end of the week. We were bundling everyone up and trying on each other's coats and gloves and even hats ...
We even dressed the kids in their matching pajamas (courtesy of Nanny) to have their picture taken with Santa. It was a lot of fun and I am sure the mall will not soon forget the extended Ford family.
As I write this, I am listening to Faith Hill sing Where is Christmas. Christmas and Thanksgiving are wrapped up in my family. My heart is so thankful for the many blessings in my life, the greatest being my children. Until the day I die I will be thanking God for my babies. I love them so much and I cannot imagine my life without them. And I am thankful beyond measure for the ladies I haven't met but can never forget who brought those babies into this world.
I am also blessed by an amazing brother who I love so much. His children remind me so much of us. I see myself in Riley's eyes and Quinn is 100% Carl Ford with my mother's blue eyes. They are so precious and I love them so much.
And let me not forget the love of my life. I don't always know why she loves me like she does, but she does anyway. I can't imagine life without Kim. I have spent so much time building my business and not nearly enough with the one who made this family possible. It was Kim's dream for a family that brought my babies home and I will never stop thanking her for making that dream come true.
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