[Not] Walking in Memphis

Welp, it's almost time to get back to reality...I mean home. Tonight (I've started this post at 11 pm CST) is my last night to spread out completely across the bed, fall asleep with the tv on and not have to fear Collins waking up in the middle of the night. Ahhh...it's been great!!!!

Now to my "story" for the night! My super sweet girlfriend from way back to middle school, Laura (check out her blog: "Walking in Memphis in High Heels"....grab button to the left!), was so thoughtful and added me to the Memphis Bloggers group on Facebook! Even though I am in Nashvegas, I'm still "home" often and am interested in what's going on around the Memphis area. I always will be. So back to the bloggers. There has been a planned get-together dinner for a month now (mb longer), and she added me to the guest list for that as well! I was sooo excited!!!! Not only would I have the chance to meet fellow bloggers, but I would also be able to reconnect, in person, with some of my past dearest girlfriends that, prior to the blog, I had lost touch with many years before!! As soon as they decided the date, I put it on my calendar! It's the whole reason for my trip here this time. Any clue where this is going?! Well, I didn't get to go! 😭 Here's what happened: My brother-in-law Hutch had a terrible death in his family this week, and he and my sister Ashley had to make a trip to Arkansas to be with family and attend the services, So they needed to leave the boys with my Mom tonight. They have two boys - Nicholas, 10, and Brandon, (almost) 5. That would've left my mom with a 6 month old, 4 year old, 5 year old, and 10 year old basically by herself. Now, I'm selfish, but I'm not THAT selfish!!! She knew how badly I wanted to go, so she repeatedly explained how she was going to be completely fine, but I knew better. She would be completely fine if everyone behaved themselves the entire time. With any group of kids from age 6 months to 10 years old, even if they are good kids, well...I don't think that's possible. So, I decided to put on my big girl panties and deal with it. As in deal with not being able to go to the dinner. I decided this was one of those times that I needed to be a grown up and do what I needed to as opposed to what I wanted to. Man, being a grown up sucks sometimes!! First up, I tried to see if my girlfriends could meet for lunch on Saturday instead since Ashley & Hutch weren't leaving until early afternoon. No such luck. And as I sit here tonight typing this, after they are all finally in bed asleep, I know I made the right decision. It's still not the one I wanted, but it was the right one. It isn't that Mom couldn't have handled the night, but it would have completely drained her. She would have been overly exhausted, and she has a big upcoming party she is hosting at the house that she needs to be able to focus on. She's just not as young as she used to be. So to all of the Memphis Bloggers out there, I hope you all had a blast getting to know each other! And thank you for letting me be an honorary part of your group!!! I look forward to the next gathering. I'll make the trip down then, too!! And maybe next time I'll be able to actually go!! : )

Pics from today: pretty much all just Collins. HA was too busy running around playing with her cousins!! As you can see, I got a little carroed away with the Red Stamp app. I could play on that app for hours!! And the cupcakes are a peace offering to a neighbor whose dog Ava (our always laid back and happy dog) evidently isn't a fan on. Once again, Confetti Cupcakes by Brande Hanks Burrow!! [Another] Shout out to B! She's evidently been blowing up in blog land this week!

-Nattie B