Nonna and Poppa have asked to keep Canon this week until we come back to Birmingham for an Engagement Shower for Sam and Alicia next weekend. As work has steadily becoming more and more hectic, we agreed that that might not be a bad idea. So this morning, after getting Canon ready for church, we loaded him into Nonna's car and watched them pull away. We left shortly after to head back home.
Day Two: Dinner and a Movie
This is actually a tradition that we started with Josh and Mary about three years ago. Because you have to eat dinner at 5:30 in order to make a 7:00 movie and because we just can't make ourselves eat until at least 7:00, we usually opt for the "Purse Dining" experience. It goes a little something like this.
6:50 Approach Krystals drive-through and place order.
6:53 Stuff bags of food in oversized purse to sneak into theater.
6:58 Buy movie tickets as quickly as possible before movie attendants notice savory delicious smell of burger and fries.
7:00 Find seat and enjoy food in the dark while the first previews roll.
This is a much easier process if the theater is fairly empty, as was ours on this particular night. You can barely see the head of the one other man in the theater.
Date nights are so much fun!!
Day Three: Joint Commission Arrives
Joint Commission is basically the Boss of the Boss in the healthcare world. This is a small group of people that come to a hospital every four years and check to make sure everything is running correctly. Barry had his first experience with Joint Commission as a Resident, but now as the Interim Senior VP, his reponsibilities have changed quite a bit. It's going to be a long week!
Day Four: Work-aholics
I have decided to mimic the work ethic of Barry this week and work a little later than usual. As a non-tenured teacher, I still have to be formally observed and evaluated by my principal. I know she's observed several others in my situation so it can't be too long until my turn arises. Might as well be as prepared as possible. Barry is still working hard to appease the visitors at his hospital. So far, so good.
Day Five: Observation
While teachers are normally observed during Reading or Math, the new system that has been put into place allows for observations at any time during the day. So, I was not too surprised when my principal came into my room at 1:30 this afternoon to conduct her evaluation. Thankfully, my late night yesterday worked out. Though my lesson wasn't in my plans, I was well prepared and conducted a very short but somewhat interesting lesson about Earth Day. On another positive note, Barry's hospital is still getting good marks. Joint Commission will be gone tomorrow. In keeping with our original plan of returning to some of our pre-Canon traditions, we ordered Kyoto take-out and met Josh and Mary at Kyle and Mandy's for dinner . . . ah, the good old days!
Day Six: Road Trip
After meeting Sam and Alicia in Montgomery, we finished the drive to Birmingham to stay with some old friends - Jamie, Bob, and Eleanor Dabal. Nonna had requested that they keep Canon an extra night so that Big Mom could spend some time with him. While we were very eager to see him, we agreed and decided to stay up late hanging out with our friends. Of course, late turned out to be somewhere close to 11:30, which sadly is very late for us!!!
Day Seven: He's Back!!!
Nonna and Poppa brought Canon to Jamie and Bob's house around lunch time today. The last time we got him back from them, Canon wanted attention only from Barry. He didn't care about me or anybody else in the room - only his Da Da. This time, I decided I wasn't going to get my feelings hurt again. When they drove up, I walked outside a few paces ahead of Barry. Canon looked at me with a sleepy, grumpy expression then turned his head toward Barry and immediately began fidgeting in his carseat. That was my hint that this reunion would be much like the last one. I helped Poppa unload the car while Barry got Canon. I carried bags upstairs, listened while Nonna told me various things I needed to know from the previous week, and pretty much did everything I could think of that would keep me from trying to pick him up (which would inevitably lead to him fussing and my heart breaking). Finally, after a few minutes of loving on Barry, getting acquainted with Eleanor, and exploring the Dabal's foyer, he finally came to me and reached his hands up for me. The wait was so worth it! It's such an amazing feeling to be wanted. For the rest of the weekend, Canon gave Barry and I equal attention and my heart remained intact.
That night we had so much fun hanging out with friends we haven't seen in awhile. Sam and Alicia got some great gifts (which we later crammed into the back of the Tahoe along with all of Canon's gear from Nonna and Poppa's). Because Canon was a little nervous being in a new place - and I'm thinking he may have been a little worried that we would leave him again - he refused to go to bed and ended up spending some time with us at the party. He was a big hit, especially with Lydia whom he repeatedly ran to for a big hug. I love that he is beginning to recognize more and more people!
We had a wonderful week doing some of the things that we don't get to do that often (like going to the movies and working late with no guilt), but it is so much better having Canon home with us. Things are just more fun when he's here!
Even milkshakes are better . . .
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