since last post

We were supposed to wake up last Thursday and head to Mobile for a few days to celebrate Christmas. Instead we woke up at 4 and stripped sheets because the virus finally spread from Streed on Sat night to Ella on Monday night to Nate on Wed. So, we knew immediately that we would not be making the 8+ hour trip that day. I was bumbed. The kids had been talking about it all week. They miss their family so much, especially their cousin Taylor. They love baby Caroline but are not as attached to her yet since we have only SEEN HER ONCE! I had to have something for them to do to take their minds off of it. They kept asking Nate if he was feeling better and then would ask me if we could leave on Friday. Chip had to work this week so a weekend trip with a 16 hour drive round trip is just out of the question. We decided it would be best to leave closer to Christmas and see both sides of the family since Chip's parents are only 3 hours from Mobile. It is hard trying to please 3 kids plus ourselves while trying not to disappoint numerous adults and make it all work. So, we climbed up in the attic and gathered up some previously bought Christmas presents, took them back and put the money towards A TRAMPOLINE! One of my friends encouraged me to do it because it would make not only those few days of disappointment better but also most all of my days. I am home with all the kids all the time and they have NO outside toys. They have bikes but I am not always able to go out there with them when they want to...plus they are still building a house in our cul-de-sac so there are construction trucks everywhere...and its cold and I don't want to go sit outside for an hour. The truth comes out. They love it. Love it. Love it. Everything they could have done in the past without it, like wrestling, throwing a ball, laying in sleeping bags is all done on the trampoline. Our yard is not huge. Most of the play area is one one side. So that's where we put it. I can see them from my room, the den and the kitchen as well as the back porch obviously. I felt a little (a lot) bad putting it there because...
...it is right behind our neighbors back porch! And as you can see their property is higher than ours so they see right into our back yard. And we have not met them. But we have met their daughter (who is grown and married). She told us that she was an only child and that they did not really mean to have her. So, I am sure they are loving my 3 kids screaming on their eyesore of a trampoline! But ya know what, they don't have to entertain my 3 kids either. I do. And this makes them happy.