The Turner Times: A Week Without Kids!!!

Grace and Wesley spent this past week with my parents in Columbia, SC. That's right people: Jimmy and I had NO kids for almost a week... and it was strange!!! However, it was also refreshing and quite enjoyable. Here are the details:

One of my best friends from college got married on June 6th and I had the pleasure of being a bridesmaid. So, we left the kids with my parents for that weekend since there was going to be a lot going on (the wedding was in Georgia). It was SO wonderful to be a part of Katie's wedding! Katie is like that little sister you want to protect and stand up for. She's always been a special friend to all of us girls from college, and we couldn't be more proud of her patience in the Lord's timing. Landy, you are ONE lucky man! The day after the wedding, Jimmy and I drove back through Columbia to spend some QT with the kids, my parents, and my brother (who was in town from Cali). That evening, Jimmy and I got in the car to drive back to Winston WITHOUT our kiddos. That was one quiet, giggly, ice-cream pit-stop filled car ride. The reason we left the kids was because I needed to work full-time this past week to finish up at school (my job-school not grad school). Mom offered to keep the kids and it was a HUGE blessing because we would have ended up having to pay a babysitter two weeks of part-time child care in order to work until June 22. SO, I worked one week of full-time to wrap things up. The only bummer about the week without kids was that Jimmy was working OB nights...boo. However, we were able to spend some time together and even had a breakfast date one morning. He was able to have uninterrupted sleep during the day while I was at work and THAT my friends, never happens!

What did I do a whole week without kids, you might wonder? I...

worked out when I felt like it
got ready in half the expected amount of time
had uninterrupted showers
drove in a car without having to buckle/unbuckle seat belts
went shopping
went out to dinner THREE different nights with girlfriends
stayed up late the first night with Jimmy watching a basketball game
sat on the couch for over an hour one night!
got over a week ahead in grad school work
checked in on the kids daily
got ahead on laundry and house cleaning
deep cleaned the kids closets and consequently had to make a drop off at Goodwill (shh! they don't know...)
didn't have to clean up after two little humans

BUT most of all, Jimmy and I both REALLY missed our kids. We completely enjoyed our refreshing week, but we sure missed Grace and Wesley. THANK YOU mom, dad, Jordie, Cindy, and Linton for all pitching in at different times this past week. We are so grateful for wonderful family that loves our little ones even when they wake up one morning at 5:30 or have to be put in timeout or well, you get the picture :) Mom, thanks especially to you as I know it was exhausting to keep up with our two littles...you must have done something right because they didn't want to leave and Grace keeps asking where you are. LOVE y'all so much!

Pictures from the wedding (sorry, all from my phone)

Katie (bride to be!) and Beth

Rehearsal: Landy and Katie!

Hair is done!

Bride is dressed

Pictures

Brett, Katie, and Maggie-sweetest siblings even if they did convince Katie she was adopted until the second grade....hahahaha. Love that story!

My hot date :)

Cake cutting

Liz was supposed to be a bridesmaid this weekend, but was advised not to travel as she was almost 37 weeks pregnant. She had a scheduled c-section planned for four days after the wedding...we missed having Liz there BUT we made sure to update her on every detail. Violet was born Tuesday morning....she is precious!!! Can't wait to meet her!

Kid adventures while we were away:

Aunt Cindy and Memere took them to the mall one morning

Uncle Jordan played with the kids A LOT. Transformer time pictured above.

This was from when I returned and brought treats...such a ham!

Uncle Jordan and Memere took the kids to the children's museum in Columbia, SC.

Butterfly exhibit at the children's museum.

The kids spent LOTS of time in the pool conveniently located in my mom and dad's backyard.

Mom and Uncle Jordan took the kids to the lake one morning.

Uncle Jordan is THE BEST uncle, y'all! It's incredible to see him interact with the kids. I don't know what I was expecting him to be like with the kids, but he sure surpasses anything I would have imagined. He loves them so well!