Flanagan Clan

I almost finished packing for our little weekend excursion, and this is how much stuff we’re either bringing to Grandma’s or to the retreat. Now imagine what it would be like if the whole family were flying somewhere and if we left for a week instead of two nights… we’d never get everything we need on the plane!

This does not include Patrick’s carseat or the twin stoller. Everything to the left of the coat rack is the boys’, and everything to the right is Andrew and mine. Andrew wants to bring the computer… just like a computer geeky guy… can’t get away from them for just 2 days!!!!

This weekend our church is having their annual couples’ retreat. Every year they have it at Lake Quinault Lodge. Last year was the first year we had the opportunity to go, but I had incredibly bad morning sickness, so there was no way we were going to make it. Also, I think Andrew might have had business travel at the same time. Well, we have no more hindrances and so we’re going this year. And we’re leaving the boys with Oma and Opa Feucht. This is going to be the first time that I’ve left Sammy with someone else overnight. For the past few weeks, I’v been really looking forward to this little getaway trip. However, this afternoon I started packing the boys’ bags. And I began to miss them ALREADY, and we haven’t even left yet! It’s so strange… you get all excited about having a break from the kiddos, yet when it comes right down to it, you end up missing them terribly. Andrew always jokes with me because sometimes we’ll go on dates, and an hour after we’ve been gone I’ll start complaining that I miss my little ones. I’ll start talking about Patrick’s new words and accompishments or Sammy’s incredibly soft little head. It’s hard not to though… Most of my time is spent with them, and they bring so much joy and laughter into my life. They are a TON of work, but when it comes down to it, having them was one of the most fulfilling thing that I’ve ever done, right after to getting married to my wonderful husband, Andrew.

And so I sit here, trying to remember all the little odds and ends that the boys need for the weekend… diapers, their clothes, their pack ‘n plays, blankets, Patrick’s DuckDog (he won’t sleep without it!), Sammy’s bottles, baby food and formula, their towels and bath stuff (just in case!), teething gel and all that other stuff that kids and babies can’t seem to live without. I’m going to really miss those little guys, but I hope that Andrew and I will be able to finally have a chance to unwind and relax this weekend, and have the opportunity to get to know some of the other couples in our church better.

The past week Sammy had his first flu. We were knee deep in vomit, diarrhea, a 100.6 degree temperature, dirty, leaking diapers, and a TON of messy laundry. Thankfully today he actually felt a lot better, and he was very happy and smiley for the first time all week. Here’s a few pictures I was able to take!

It’s a basket baby!

Patrick wanted to join the fun and be in the basket

I’ve got a basket full of cute, adorable little boys!!!

Sammy gets ready for his trip to Costco. We needed more baby wipes… guess why!!!!!

Patrick ready to get his shoes on, so he can go to Costco too!

The Way Mommy Likes Patrick to Wear His Hat

The Way Patrick Likes to Wear His Hat

Sammy finds hat wearing to be silly. He’d rather eat.

Andrew and I have had a Canon camcorder for three years now… it was a gift to me for our first Valentine’s Day. Yesterday Andrew bought me a special cord so that now we can take all those movies stored on all those little camcorder tapes and convert them to digital movies on our computer. As a result, I’m going to be able to start posting MOVIES of my sweeties on here! Here’s a little movie to start out with . It’s just a test. It’s of Rachel trying to kill my mom’s cat, Katze (or maybe it’s the other way around, who knows…). Hopefully this will work!!!!