Our Trip to Roseburg

It's been about three weeks since my family's visit and I am just now sitting down to write about it. Sigh! The life of the busy Mama!

Anticipation had been running high in the Whittaker household. Great Grandpa, Great Grandma, and Aunt Nancy were planning on taking a train trip to the Pacific Northwest and they finally arrived! I picked them from the train station and brought them home to enjoy lunch with the boys.

Then it was time to pack all seven of us and our luggage up in the suburban and head down to Roseburg.

Shoehorn, anybody?

We were all so happy to get out of the suburban and play.

Great Grandpa is the best wrestler!

Block towers were built (and destroyed)

Cousins were loved on.

Baby kisses were given.

We woke up on Tuesday morning and went searching for the Easter eggs that Grandpa, Grandma, and Aunt Nancy hid around the yard.

Who cares if it's two weeks past Easter! Grandma wanted to give her grandchildren some candy!

We enjoyed relaxing together...

And walking through the neighborhood...

The cousins all cuddled up in their Aunt Nancy quilts for some group photos.

Trikes were ridden around the patio...

...with the help of an older cousin

Aunt Nancy's hand tasted so good (and was so helpful and getting those first two teeth in).

Wednesday dawned hot and shining, so we walked to the neighborhood slime filled "waterfall" to watch the water flow.

When we got back, Great Grandpa was playing the Wii. We just had to watch him play.

Soon it was time for us to leave for the Kumar's house for a delicious Indian dinner and pretzel salad (to celebrate my birthday)

We were serenaded by the children who were staying at the Real Hope Center.

The boys enjoyed watching the kids and clapped along with the singing.

We were having fun and really enjoyed each others company.

Then Thursday morning rolled in with it's death and sadness as one by one the Whittaker clan succumbed to the dreaded stomach flu. Nobody actually died, it just felt like a possibility.

Tim magically appeared in the middle of the night (Greyhound is magical, right?) to take his ailing family home to rest and recuperate. Before we left, I insisted that we get the four generation photo.

The Bus is Here!

   A couple of days ago, our car got crunched (as Elijah says). Nobody was hurt, but it does mean that we are a one car family until the car get fixed.

    No biggie for me. We live in a city with a massive bus system. We could travel anywhere our hearts desired for only a buck seventy-five.  Today, our hearts desired to travel to the downtown library to return books and attend the science activities that they provide for preschoolers. I had prepped a backpack of diapers, library books, snacks, and spare change last night, so all I would have to do this morning was get the boys dressed and to the bus stop by 10:25.  The morning ran so smoothly!  Isaac slept through the night (for the first time) so I was awake and had plenty of energy to get the boys and myself breakfast before Isaac was awake. We were all fed, dressed, and out the door with plenty of time to make the bus.

     Once there, we were met by a sweet lady who told me that she had some hats for my boys and proceeded to plop them on their heads as I tried to figure out how to diplomatically tell her that we can afford to buy our children hats if they need them.  The boys were so thrilled with their new hats that I just smiled and said, "Thank you!" as she walked away with a contented smile on her face. (The hats were new, but they are still going in the wash today!)

    Soon the bus came down the road and stopped to pick us up.  With Isaac strapped to me in the Bjorn, I helped the boys up and hauled our massive stroller onto the fairly empty bus. Beniah and Elijah meandered their way down to the very back of the bus to pick a seat while I paid for my fare. Of course they picked the very last row of seats to sit in, so I hauled the huge stroller all the way down the aisle and sat next to my very excited boys who chattered the whole way to our stop.
   Getting off the bus wasn't to bad. There are signs all over the bus stating that you must exit through the back door. So, I directed my boys off of the bus through the back door. Beniah was thrilled to walk down the stairs all by himself. Elijah was more hesitant, so we walked down them together while a lady handed the stroller down to me. Then it was off to the library where we learned all about air and air movement.

     Soon, it was time to go back to our bus stop and wait for our bus to arrive.  The boys were excited and a bit tired. Once the bus got there, we got on the now crowded bus and the boys once again meandered down the aisle looking for the perfect seat while the same bus driver that we had earlier chastised me for the way I exited the bus earlier.  Apparently, it's wrong to allow your capable 5 year old walk down the stairs by himself and walk beside your nervous 3 as he goes down the stairs. I quickly finished paying my fare so that I could end this conversation and catch up to my sons who were once again in the very back of the crowded bus. I dragged my massive stroller to the back and manage to smack the one wheelchair bound person on the bus in the foot (which to my defense was sticking out into the aisle). As I was profusely apologizing, I manage to hook my stroller onto the wheelchair. At this point, I was so close to tossing that massive contraption right off the bus!  Once I unhook the stroller from the wheelchair, I glance up to see Elijah about ready to tumble head first down the back stairwell of the bus (all while a guy was watching him and laughing at how cute Elijah looked stumbling along). Thankfully, Elijah righted himself because the massive-wheelchair hating-contraption of doom was in front of my and there was no way I could get to my son in time to save him from a tumble (although laughing man could, but he didn't move a muscle to help). Finally, I found an empty bench and kindly (i.e. through clenched teeth) directed my meandering boys to "Sit. Here. Now!" I put the obnoxiously large contraption of destruction on the bench across the aisle from me and squeezed next to my boys.  The bus could finally move.

After many stops it was our turn to get off the bus. I directed the boys to the front of the bus, so I could ease the driver's mind. With some help from some of the riders, I got the massive contraption off the bus without hitting the wheelchair bound lady.  The bus driver made the boys stand at the front of the bus until I got off the bus and held their hands as they walked down the stairs.  Elijah wanted my help, of course. Beniah was a little put out that I would force him to hold my hand even though he could walk down the stairs by himself. As I was getting the last boy off of the bus, the driver (with a slightly condescending tone) said, "Good job getting them off the bus, Mom!"  After briefly imagining walking back up the stairs to smack the condescension out of  her, I smiled, turned to my boys, and said, "Who wants Burgerville!"

In spite of my bus riding angst, the boys had a wonderful time on the bus and were super happy about it.