Aunt Vanessa got the blessed opportunity to fly to California to chase these two hooligans for 6 days, while their mama and pops enjoyed some time together in Boston.  I was excited, not only to go to the beach, but be around my nieces and nephews, who I don’t see all that often. Wah!

Kate learned to walk a couple of days before I arrived.  She is a power walker!  She wants to walk every where, on her own!

Henry is such a fun big brother for Kate.

And he has mastered the art of creative play.

Mama left little presents for her kids, that they could open each day, while she was away.  This was so exciting for Henry!

Henry helps Kate open a new book.

She loved it!

My in-laws were gracious enough to let me bring Henry and Kate to stay over for a couple of nights.

Kate found a new baby doll in their play room that she just adored.

There were 6 kids under 6, which made for a hectic weekend, but they were all glad to play with each other.  We went on walks, ate delicious lemonade ice cream pie (a Zinke staple), played in the toy room and watch a movie.

Olivia, their oldest daughter, was like a big sister to Kate.  She just adored her, and wanted to play with her the entire time.  She’d carry her around, and I heard her say a dozen times, “Oooo, she’s SO cute!!!”  She will make a great mommy someday!  Isn’t she just a knock out!?

We, Dana and I, ventured to Disneyland on Monday, with the 6 kids in tote.  It was hot, humid and crowded, but that didn’t take away from the magic of Disneyland.  Henry was promised a new car from the movie Cars.  We went inside the store, and he knew right where to find them.

He picked Andrea.  His collection is massive, and I had no idea (I obviously don’t collect little toy cars) but there are like 4,931 versions of Lightning Mcqueen!

You pick your battles, right?  There was no WAY Kate was leaving this store empty handed, after Henry just got a new car.  She grabbed hold of this Minnie mouse lollipop, as I stood in line, and started gnawing on it.  I couldn’t just put it back.  (I tried, but that’s when the back bend and screeching starting)  Did she have to pick the jumbo sized pop?!  You know what, it was worth $2.99 and the stickiness everywhere!  I kept her entertained for hours!

Henry is such a good boy.  I was so impressed with him all weekend. He’s so talkative, yet so easy going, obedient, and excited about all things Cars, and now WALLE.

These five yard apes had a great time at Disneyland together.  Tears were shed when we had to part our ways.  (That includes me.  I seriously have the best in-laws, and that in itself is a huge blessing!)

I have to share a tearful little story that happened at Disneyland.

It must have been around 6:00 p.m.  We had been at the park for about 4 hours.  Dana’s husband had just arrived, so they were going to meet up with him and grab a bite to eat.  We’d catch up with them in an hour or so.  Henry and I decided to ride the monorail to the other side of the park.  I pushed the double wide stroller up the ramp and waited on the platform for the monorail to arrive.

I hear over the loud speaker, “ALL STROLLERS MUST BE FOLDED PRIOR TO ENTERING THIS RIDE…”  My eyes grew wide, and I thought, “CRAP!”  This stroller is an absolute BEAST to fold up, let alone lift or carry anywhere!  (I love pushing it thought, so effortless.)  I thought, “OK, we’ll wait for the next monorail to arrive, that will give me time to fold it up.”

Out of now where, I thought, “No, we are here, the train is coming, let’s just fold this sucker up and get on!”

I managed to collapse the stroller, as I held Kate.  My heart was beating, but then I calmed down, as the stroller didn’t give me any trouble.  I thought I could just roll it in, right?  The monorail pulled up to the platform, and I had this moment of panic set in.  “GET ON THE MONORAIL BEFORE WE GET SHUT IN THE DOOR!”  Right?  There is this urgency to quickly get on anything with automatic door closure, like a Metro, yes?

People loaded and I waiting, then without thinking, and in a moment of even MORE panic, I moved toward the monorail, put one step inside the monorail, set Kate on the bench right next to the door, and then leaned over to grab this beastly stroller…which literally needed to be picked up with two hands, if I was going to get it on this monorail.  Next thing I know Kate comes crashing down, and falls onto the monorail, and then hits her head on the platform.  This sent me into a moment of absolute PANIC!  I’m loosing it, baby is screaming at the top of her lungs, Henry can sense that I am panicking, and he starts panicking.

Then, out of nowhere, prince charming, probably in his early 30’s, appears and quickly says, “I got the stroller, let me help you!”

A huge knot forms in my throat.  Stuff is falling out of the stroller.  Mr. Charming says, “Hey little guy, can you grab that stuff that fell out?” As he’s trying to get a grip on the beastly stroller.  He’s struggling, and I snap at Henry, “Henry, quick, grab that stuff!”  He grabbed one item and ran into the monorail.  “Henry, grab the rest of it!”   I urge him, as I am holding Kate, and stroking her back, trying to comfort this crying child.  Henry, poor kid, doesn’t know why Aunt Vanessa is freakin’ out and raising her voice at him. 😦

I quickly sit down, and scoot to the other side, near the window.  Henry is trying to manage two toy cars in his hands, the wipes, the pretzels, etc.  I am in, Kate and Henry are in,  and the stroller is in, and our hero who is holding it.

Mr. Charming then says, “You OK?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Is she OK?”

“Yeah, I think she’ll be alright.  Thank you so much for your help!”  The knot in my throat grew tighter, and my eyes swelled with tears. I turned my head towards to window, and with one hand around Kate, and the other on Henry’s leg, I felt tears stream down my cheeks.  I try to hid them behind my sunglasses.

I became overwhelmed in my thoughts.  A man appears out of no where, obviously he has children, because he knew exactly what to do to ease my situation, without hesitation.  It all happened so fast and I felt this outpouring of gratitude to God for putting this man in this situation to help me.  I began to wonder if this is how it would feel all the time to be a single parent; only two arms, and about one million things to juggle.  I thought about my love for these little kids, who I fell in love with, all over again, the past few days, and I wish they were mine.  I thought about Rick, who wasn’t with me, and how I wished so badly that he could have been there to save my day.  I was already missing him so much and this just put me over the edge.

I am such a boob, anything can make me cry, and this moment of panic was no exception.  As we approached the stop, Mr. Charming leans over, “Hey, don’t worry about the stroller, I’ll  get it out for you and help you.”

A sigh of relief fell over me, again, and he popped the stroller up, as we unloaded, and then asked, “Is there anything else I can help you with?”  “I think I am good, thank you so so much,” I said, and snapped the kids inside their belts and headed toward the exit.

Seriously, there are still these kind of people around?  I mean, really, he was so kind and so calm.   I watched him disappear into the crowd.  I  thought of his family, and how he is probably a great husband to his wife and a great father to his children.

I would lie if I said I stopped crying.  As we walked the streets of Downtown Disney, I was continually wiping the tears from under my sunglasses for about 15 minutes.  I think I was feeling so many different emotions, like that of being  overwhelmed,  alone, super grateful for Mr. Charming, absolutely in love with these kids, and  missing hubby.  I know being a mother is a big job and watching after these two kids for 6 days was amazing, but my respect for all my friends with multiple kids quadrupled that day.  It’s not easy.  I learned a lot about myself that day, and more about the value of a good, small deed.  Helping a stranger will never go out of fashion.

Kate was attached to Olivia’s purse during church, so I found her this Minnie purse that she just loved, except for when she couldn’t get it off her arm.

My first night, Kate woke up 3,580 times,  and cried and fussed and sucked her fingers.  It was my absolute pleasure to hold her, rock her, and pacify her during the night.  I just love these kids so much!  Anytime she sucks these two fingers, her other hand has to be touching flesh, whether it be her belly button, my arm, my neck, it’s a must do for her.  Too funny!

Thanks Chris and Morgan, for letting me be a mommy for a week!  Your kids are amazing!