Ryan went to China

A couple of weeks ago Ryan was told he was going to go to China for work. And he did - two days later! He was gone for six days, and I did my best to keep the days full and busy with the kids so that we wouldn't have too much down time and end up bored and cranky.

Saturday: Kids had some play time in the morning.

We went grocery shopping. Maya and Brianna both had babies in their doll carriers.

This pony is not my favorite thing. For a long time it was broken so there wasn't even an option to get to ride it. After spending 45 minutes grocery shopping, all I want to do is get back to the car and go home. To make matters worse, the rides on this horse take like two minutes. Doesn't sound long, but when you're standing there waiting for the thing, it's eternal. One time Maya threw a monster sized fit when I told her she couldn't ride it, so there was a rule implemented that the only time they get to ride the pony is if Daddy takes them grocery shopping alone. That's happened like once in their lifetime. However! I couldn't say no this time when Maya said, "Can we please ride? Daddy is gone, and we were so good the whole time." It was well worth the four minutes and two cents.

When we got home I stuck some frozen pizza in the oven (when I told Maya we were having frozen pizza for dinner she said, "What?! I don't want it to be frozen!") and we plopped down in the front of the TV and watched Captain Underpants. High quality food while watching a high quality movie. Only when Daddy is gone.

After the movie I bathed the kids, wrapped the girls' hair in headbands, and put them to bed.

Sunday: We got up and started getting ready for church. The headband wrapping produced lovely beach waves on Brianna and tight curls on Maya.

After church we hung out at home for a few hours and then went to our friends', the Parkers, house to hang out and have dinner. 

Monday: Sibling play time in the morning!

It was a nice day so after school we went to the Twin Silo park for a little while before dinner. One of Brianna's classmates happened to be there, so all three girls played together and I got to know Ella's nanny (thought it was her mom. Nope.).

After the park we went over to Papa and Nana's house for dinner. Then home and bed!

Tuesday: We planned a play date with my friend Julie and her two little boys, Landon and Ryker. We met at a park for a couple of hours and it was WIIIIIINDY. It even blew part of my earring away! 

Nursing. So glam.

After the park and Dallin's nap we went to Princess Paradise. Maya had been chosen to be used as a model in their catalog! She was SO excited. 

Thankfully Brianna and Dallin were super well behaved for the hour and a half we were there. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The reflector leaning on the wall did fall on Dallin once though. He didn't like that, but we quickly rescued him from the round predator.

That evening we had Papa and Nana over at our house for dinner, and after the kids went to bed we played Rummikub for a while.

 Wednesday: Maya worked on some reading class homework after breakfast. She's getting so good!

After school we hit up the library for about an hour.

The girls' preschool was having a fundraiser at Chipotle that day so we stopped there on the way home and picked up dinner. Then we went home and watched Charlotte's Web while eating dinner.

Thursday: More playing with doll stuff. On Thursday Maya had her reading lesson in the morning, we hung out for a bit, and then the girls had dance class that afternoon. 

That evening the kids had a bath and went to bed!

Friday: Girls had school, I ran a quick trip to the store (we go through produce so fast these days), and that evening we went to the ward BBQ party for dinner. We got back home at 7 PM, at the same moment Ryan was pulling into the driveway! The week went by so quickly. The kids and I had a fun time. I'm starting to think I should fill our days with such fun all the time, not just when Daddy is out of town!