A few months ago, we started talking about the possibility of a trip home for the summer. But even though the older girls were going to be finishing the school year in June, the problem was Lester still wouldn't be off for a bit after that. Plus, I know my own personal limits and was unwilling to do the 12 hr drive by myself with my 4 kids, one of them being a newborn. Enter my Mom, Sam and Luke! 

Despite all of their jobs and lives, they made the drive up to Idaho to spend a few days with us [among other things] and then carpool back with me so we could divide and conquer. The plan was that then, after Lester wrapped up with this last rotation for his 3rd year [cardiology] he would fly to meet us in CA and we'd stay for the month and drive back together at the end of it. Once the plan was officially made, the last few weeks of the school year seemed to drag on! Literally every day the kids would ask both me, and then Siri how many days were left, even though they already knew. They made artwork and plans left and right for when they got here, and could not contain their excitement. In those few weeks, I tried to keep them entertained enough to make it to the finish line, with things like play dates with friends [swimming parties, chocolate making class with their friends, etc] , lots of art work [printmaking, pointillism and abstract expressionism so far] and experiments [including Isla's favorite of growing her own butterflies], and other outings [can't leave you out library!]. I like to think I was successful, but I admit-when the day finally came I was pretty stoked too.