Marveling Muse

We're finally home!

Not that our visit to Dubuque wasn't fun, but we were gone for 12 days, of which we were sick for 2! It was very sad to leave, but Lydia was so excited to see Ryan when he met us at the airport, that she gave him a koala bear hug so tight and for so long, he even got our luggage off of the luggage conveyor belt with her attached to him! Although it was great to be there, we missed Ryan WAY TOO MUCH!

We went to see my Dad after his surgery and to help my mom out since she had to go back to work and my Dad couldn't be left alone. I am so happy to say that after many bumps in the road, my dad seems to be doing a lot better. He still has a long recovery ahead of him, but I think he's going to eventually feel better than he has in a long time!

Anyway, we did get to ride in a limo,
go for a horseback ride on my mom's horse Scout, and see my sister and her family, along with spending a lot of quality time with Mom and Dad.
(I don't have any pictures of Janel and her kids because my camera wasn't working!) We already miss everybody so much!

This is a picture of Violet with her "Papa Pocket". The kids give him a magic kiss on his cheek and then reach in his pocket for a surprise which is usually a fruit snack or a goldfish cracker. Violet is learning how to do it, but now whenever she sees Dad, she wants to just reach in his pocket. This morning when Ryan was holding her she kept hitting her chest and looking at him, and he said "Holly, do you know what this means?" And then she rubbed her hand on his chest and looked at him like "Where's your pocket?" .
Violet is doing a lot better at walking. She still prefers to crawl, but she's standing up and attempting to walk a lot more.

Oh, and while I was in Dubuque my sister-in-law Dayna gave birth to my new sweet little niece Emme Ryan Young! Dayna is a creative, fun, and sweet person, not to mention an awesome mom! Congrats Matt, Dayna and Jojo! She's a little doll!