Let the preparations begin...

The weekend officially begins tomorrow and our house will be buzzing with activity. We are preparing for Chase's 3rd birthday party next weekend and also a 5-day visit from Chase & Colby's Gram, my mom. We haven't seen each other since my visit to Florida with the boys in October right before the end of my maternity leave... I'm always amazed by how fast time goes by when my parents or siblings visit and I ask myself, “When was the last time I saw them in person?” It makes me sad but I guess also sort of glad because it always seems hard to believe because we are so in touch in other ways. 

This visit will be a short one but that's okay, even if I could only see my mom for one day it would be more than worth it. I am so glad she is willing to make the trek all the way to Washington State from Florida; even on a direct Alaska Airlines flight it's pretty rough... I think she's more than willing to make the trip 2-3 times a year, not to see me but to see her grandsons of course... which is perfectly fine with me. :-) She's a huge help when she's here, too. Scott loves when she visits, we always have fun catching up and of course, she’s wonderful with Chase and Colby. She was such a blessing when Colby was born, I don't know what I would have done without her... If I had a million bucks she would be flying out every weekend or I'd build her a quest house in my backyard so she and my dad could retire and live with us...not only would I get free childcare, I'd have my own personal hairdresser at my disposal :-) I'd imagine they would definitely need their own guest house, I doubt they'd enjoy sleeping in our guest room/playroom/media room forever... they could always live in our Poulsbo house though but that would be too far, I definitely need my mom like 5 minutes away if she's here... 

Anyway, we're off to a weekend of preparations as we always are when we have house guests or host anything... it is always fun to get into party mode but exhausting, too. Regardless, it will be wonderful to not only have my mom here, her first visit to our new house, but many of our friends and family and many of Chase's buddies, too, for his party. 

It just hit me!!! I can't believe Chase is turning 3! Just this last week, I had a glimpse of Chasers back to his pre-terrible-twos personality -- I hate to say that because it sounds like such a stereotype and because he often is not terrible just challenging, but it is true, there is a phase toddlers/kids this age go through that really tries your patience and can almost put you over the edge... Anyway, I can almost say without a doubt (knock-on-wood) that Chase's sweet, kind, thoughtful personality is almost back, and that I am hopeful and looking forward to #3 and all it will bring...