This morning I was skyping with a friend and when Axton woke up and saw me on my iPad, he kept asking to see Emma. “But where’s Emma’s mommy?” I had to explain to him that that’s not who I was talking to, and even after I did, he still kept asking about Emma. So today, we are missing these three.

A few months ago I was trying to figure out what I was going to do with the kids while I was at the United Conference in Arizona. I knew Adam couldn’t afford to take 4 days off of work, so that wasn’t an option. I thought about setting up babysitting for the boys, having them go to a different house each day I was gone. But then I thought about the complications for Adam of getting them up and ready and dropping them off somewhere every morning before he went to work, and then picking them up after work, only to put them to bed by himself every night, too. I know tons of parents do this. I know Adam would be fully capable of that. I’m not suggesting he isn’t, or wouldn’t be willing. But I was weighing my options and this one just wasn’t my favorite. Then my mind wandered to flying Keola out, and how much more fun that would be for everyone involved. I brought it up with her, and thought I could win her over if I promised we would visit her and Adam’s brother and family in Philadelphia, as well as have fun in DC and posssssibly even NYC. I was right; despite having to fly by herself with two kids and then promising to watch four kids under the age of four, three days in a row, she still agreed to the task!

We had such a fun time having them in our home. We explored parks and helped Adam with our new playset. Axton and Emma fought and tattled on and drove each other crazy every day, but the moment she left, Axton wanted her back. We went to Philadelphia and explored some of the history there, as well as loved having almost all the cousins together.

And we did, in fact, make it to New York City! I ALWAYS love going to NYC, and making trips up there has been one of my many favorite things about living in Maryland. I especially love taking friends who have never been before! This was the first time I’ve ever driven in New York City! It wasn’t too bad since we found a parking garage just on the edge of town, so I didn’t have to get into anything too crazy. Then we explored Battery Park, took the metro to Central Park, walked two miles out of our way in the wrong direction before realizing our mistake (seriously. TWO. MILES.), ate at the best burger joint in the world – Shake Shack, went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and saw Les Miserable, which was absolutely fabulous.  But mostly I just loved having alone time with Keola on the drive to and from NYC and walking around the city, just getting to know her life right now, her hopes, dreams, heartaches, trials, blessings, strength. I didn’t know it was possible, but I gained an even greater respect for her love, spark, sense of humor, joy, and faith. She’s an incredible mother, sister, and friend, and I’m truly honored and blessed to call her one of my best friends.

My last night before leaving for Arizona, Keola and I rounded up her kiddos and made sure to get some fun portraits of Emma and Landon, as well as some all together. It was the sweetest Mommy-and-Me session with perfect golden light streaming through the trees. I love having these images on my computer whenever I miss my sweet niece and nephew, and of course, my sister.