November '16

November has been a relatively quiet and relaxing month, at least compared to September and October. 

On October 22, Eric and I took Isaac and Brooke down south to French Lick, Indiana for a scenic train ride. We left our house around 9:45 a.m. and headed down. Eric took a few back roads with twists and turns, bumps and hills; which provided us with a memorable drive.

B was not feeling the bumps and hills however; she kept saying, "It's okay. I not going to be scared." She eventually said, "Daddy, I not like this road. I want to go home." 

I sat with her and held her hand and we got through the drive safe and sound. 

As we are in Indiana, with the combination of construction and general traffic, we had a cool ten minutes between arriving in the parking lot and needing to pick up our tickets and board the train. We made it...with a bit of scurrying and half-dragging, half-carrying the kids. They didn't complain though. 

We boarded the train and settled onto seats that faced each other, B and Mommy riding backwards and Ize and Daddy facing frontwards. As soon as we sat down, B wanted a snack. She wanted pretzels...and then chips...and then pretzels, obviously she couldn't decide. She and Ize also decided that they both wanted to sit by Mommy, so we had a bit of snuggle time as well. After being on the train for about ten minutes, Ize and Daddy took a bathroom break while B sat on my lap. We passed a place called Marshall's Lake and one of the childhood homes of Larry Bird. About halfway through the trip, we went through the second-longest tunnel in Indiana. I confess that I was aware of this feature of the trip, I had thought about it and I thought I was prepared for it; however, I was slightly mistaken. I had a bit of a panic attack. I tried to be calm for the kids and repeat to myself that all was well, and it was. We would have to return the same way, backwards on the return trip and go back through the tunnel. We continued on until we reached a small made-up "western town"; wooden facades that served the purpose of providing a stop on the Western Train Trip that is also offered. We all disembarked and the kids ran around, playing around the wooden facades and in the grass.

We were out for about ten minutes before boarding the train again. When we got back on, we had to find new seats. Ours had been moved around and we didn't have four together anymore. We actually climbed up and sat on the top tier of the train for the ride back and on the opposite side so we were able to see more sights. The return trip through the tunnel was not quite as bad, I held B and rested my cheek against her soft hair, closing my eyes until we were through. We were about ten minutes away from the end of our trip when B began to get fussy and vocal. Ize was also in need of a nap. Back at the station, we packed everyone up and got back into the car to head home; Ize and B fell asleep within ten minutes of leaving the parking lot. 

They had a great trip though!

 






  

  

 

The very next day, Isaac went on his very first long trip away from home. He went to Florida for ten days with his grandparents. Eek! I was pretty okay with it...mostly...you know. I didn't shed too many tears. Just a few. I was excited that he had the opportunity to go with them and spend one-on-one time with them. I was a touch offended however, that he didn't really seem to miss us until the last few days of his trip. 

He face-timed every other day, so we got to chat with him often. Although he was interested in saying "Hi" and then running off to play in the other room. It is so great to have him back!

While Isaac was in Florida, B got some Mommy and Daddy time all to herself. We played, she have her baby dolls lots of check-ups and she even went to her first dentist appointment. She did a great job. Such a brave girl!