a condensed version of my weekend

My brother came home Friday! To say we waited all day and night for his plane was an understatement, because we literally waited longer. In Houston they kept delaying his departure because of weather and finally, midnight Arizona time, they cancelled the flight. Poor guy had to sleep in the airport overnight -I don’t know, I’ve never had to do it but I can only imagine how horrible it would be! Anyways, after a lot of prayer he arrived Friday around lunch time and we couldn’t have been happier to see him. It’s amazing how much you can miss someone when they are gone, it’s like an empty space -a void.  It’s so nice to have him here, to be able to spend time with him.

My favorite part might have been introducing Hazel. I’ve showed her pictures of him and we skyped him on mother’s day and Christmas, so I think she mostly understood. She knew who he was as soon as she saw him, and she even gave him a kiss before we left the airport. Maybe it was the little nap she took on the ride to the airport, or she was just happy to see him. Either way, my heart was happy.

We’ve been spending a lot of time with my family catching up and hanging out. It’s fun to be together again, spending all this family time. Big red hearts all over the screen.

This weekend Arizona broke some records, 117 degrees and counting, thankfully we are in for a cool off, but really I’m just grateful for air conditioning because that’s where I’ve been during these heat waves, trapped in my house. And if I dare walk outside, I literally have to run so that my skin doesn’t catch on fire –literally. (;

I recently discovered that if you want Hazel to take a good picture you have to briber her. Usually I’m saying: Hazel if you smile I’ll give you chocolate and she turns these big cheesy smiles. They are seriously the best! And her teeth, those teeth! I’m just glad Brand’s going to be a dentist and that we know a good orthodontist, because this girl may need braces by age 5 with the way things are looking over here. And her diastema is probably my favorite part.

Last week Brand found this learning town online -he sanded it and painted it and now Hazel has her very own learning tower! She loves it and I love that I don’t have to hold her while I try and cut strawberries or mix things. It’s amazing how useful two hands are when you’re cooking.

Happy Monday!