Since we've been home

First off, I tried with all my might to get our dance uploaded, Greg even tried.  We both failed.  Sometimes Blogger just does not love me.

Now, I was not excited about coming back to North Carolina.  It's no big secret that this is not my favorite place on the planet and after spending two-and-a-half weeks in heaven, I was afraid of how horrible it would be.  After we went to my brother's wedding (November 2011), I cried every night for a week that I was stuck here.  Needless to say I was afraid that all the progress that I've made in accepting Charlotte for what it is and not trying to make it be Provo would disappear as soon as the plane touched down and I was smothered by the humidity.  

The flight back to Charlotte wasn't too bad.  Until we got off the plane.  Rex tripped as we were getting on the elevator so I pushed the button to open the door.  And that was the end of that.  He threw the biggest tantrum of his life through the entire airport.  He ran away trying to get back to the elevator.  Eventually, Greg had to abandon Alice and me with all the luggage and stroller to man-handle Rex all the way to the car.  Luckily, another woman, who apparently also has had a very tired four-year-old, saw and helped push the luggage cart while I pushed the stroller.  Rex fell asleep before we got out of the parking lot.

The next morning I woke up in a terrible mood and stayed that way most of the day.  We had stayed the night at Greg's sister's house due to an airport confusion.  When we finally got home, I was ready for a nap and to not have to deal with the reality of being in Charlotte again.  I was relieved when I walked in the door of our house and remembered "Oh yeah, I really like this house.  I forgot how nice it is."  It wasn't the same relieved as "Gosh it feels good to be home,"  but it was closer than last year's return from California and a week of crying every night.

We spent the next week unpacking and relaxing at home, since Greg's truck was broken and was taking my car to work.  While staying at home all day used to be my biggest fear, I must say it was kind of nice just playing in the back yard, swinging, reading lots of stories, and playing the piano (that's right--I discovered a piano in the garage so I played it. After all these years, I can still read music). 

 The next week, we still didn't have a car, but continued to enjoy the quiet at home.  Alice also took this opportunity to decide that she would no longer wear diapers--seriously, I was trying to put a diaper at her one day and she threw it at me and said, "No diaper.  Uners."  So I let her wear uners (underwear).  She had a few accidents the first two days at home, a few while playing with Rex outside (he pees outside, why can't she?), and one while refusing to pee on a public toilet (can you really blame her?), but she hasn't had an accident in over a week.  In fact, this morning she woke up early and when I went to check on her (I was planning to give her milk and go back to bed) I discovered that she had removed her Pull Up and wanted out of bed so she could pee.  I guess this is what all those moms who told me I shouldn't potty train Rex yet because he wasn't ready meant.  Potty training shouldn't take 7 months like it did with him--Alice was good to go out in public in 3 days.  

After 2 car-less weeks, I was getting a little antsy to get out, and, as luck would have it, Greg finally figured out what was wrong with the truck (he'd been working on it for 2 months--it broke down at the beginning of July).  And now we're back to our normal fall schedule--as in the weather thinks it's fall, so while I'd like to spend the last bit of August swimming, we've been watching rain instead.  

Alice spends a lot of time reading books to herself in her crib--she asks to get in her crib and will stay there for 30-45 minutes

Rex had his first sleep over with his cousins in Greensboro.  He stayed for 2 days and didn't even miss me.  He asked if he could stay longer when I went to pick him up.

Alice showing off her Elmo underwear.

Playing nicely on one of our many stay-home days.