our trip

the girls will be staying at my mom and dad's while we gallivant around Portugal in a few weeks.

it's been a topic of conversation everyday for a few weeks now.

I'm wanting them to 'get' that we will be leaving and it will just be Nana and Grandpa Flip.

I'm not worried about it, they will do great....and the kids will have fun too ;-)

I just don't want to traumatize them by leaving with no prep!

some fun conversations have ensued because of this prep:

1. Lydia told me the other day that she was "frustrated at her sisters for talking to her so much. (she) just needed some space and needed them to stop talking to her because she was trying to save her words for Colorado"

(and that's pretty close to exactly what she said, in the order she said it and add a little voice and face that is trying super hard not to cry while she's talking....it was a very serious deal to her!)

ok Lydia. we will stop talking TO you so you can save YOUR words ;-)

2. I asked Lydia if she would miss us while we were gone for so long.

No, she said.

BUT, we will still love you mommy.

good. I like that answer ;-).

I'm thinking this kid has a pretty good concept of her parents being gone for long amounts of time but always coming back. Daddy being deployed has aided that for sure.

3. Samantha. O Samantha.

I asked her if she would be sad that we were going to be gone for a long time while she was at Nana and Grandpa Flip's.

"Yes", she said.

"but if I get sad I'll just get in Grandpa Flip's lap, take off my shoes and he'll tell me I have cheesy feet (something my dad does to make them all laugh) and it will make me feel better - like in Dora when the baby duck can't find her mommy in the coloring book and Boots makes a silly face to make the baby duck laugh"

Samantha hasn't seen that particular Dora episode in about year.

my kids have memories like steal traps.

it's not fair.

it's also not fair that she drew up that analogy and she's three.

we are in deep with this girl!!!

4. I walk out to the living room this morning and Nora and Sophie are both jibber jabbering away on play cell phones.

and I mean JIBBER JABBERING.

it was serious.

"Who are you talking to?" I ask...thinking it would be each other.

"Ganpa Fwip, come see him"

oh. ok.

and I'm still laughing about it.

what is it about Grandpa's? Grandma's do all the work but Grandpa's get all the credit!?

Mom and Dad.....there are four very anxious little girls here that almost can't stand the wait to come see you....and they could obviously care less that we won't be there!