Home and Away

by Matt MooneyAugust 9, 2012

We made it back to the beautiful hot mess that is Fayetteville. We ditched the St. Louis stopover on the return trip and opted to push through the drive back, walking in the door at midnight- 17.5 hours later. So that must be what a hangover feels like.

Hazel & Anders have been perfect angels since we have been home, only serving by way of juxtaposition to reinforce just exactly how unruly they had been. After three weeks, you kind of forget what your kids are like when they’re happy. They loved the time in Michigan, and we crafted such great memories. But something- maybe they missed the humidity- made them go all Lord of the Flies on us. We just sit around and laugh and love and enjoy the peace- just like the good ole times…4 weeks ago.

I am headed to Bozeman, Montana this weekend for a flyfishing trip. My life is not as cool as that last sentence implies, but it’s true, I am going. To all of you men folk who dream and drool of such a trip, I am sorry; I am kind of like the 3-year old with the Super Bowl ticket. Someone else deserves this more. But my father-in-law invited me, and well, I did take his daughter away, so I thought it was the least I could do. I’ll try to be sure to post pictures of me with a fish that someone else probably caught, but hey that’s the power of assumption. If I hold it in a picture, you’ll assume I had something to do with its getting to the boat.

And I’ll go ahead and let you in on something I’ve only told everyone that would listen and even some that did not. Lena said, “dad”. It’s her first word, and you could probably win an argument that it was dod not dad, but I’m taking it and I’ll punch you in the mouth if you even try to argue. She did it on purpose, twice when I came into the picture.

She may never do it again, but then again she didn’t have to at all.

9 Comments

  1. Susan on August 9, 2012 at 8:17 pm

    BEAUTIFUL!! Made me smile really big!! I continue to read and love your blog!! Bless your sweet family. Lena is beautiful. I love seeing the progress of her development.
    Always,
    Susan



  2. BarbaraP on August 9, 2012 at 8:51 pm

    How awesome for Lena to say Dad. Enjoy your trip!



  3. Stefanie on August 9, 2012 at 9:11 pm

    Well, that certainly made me cry. Precious girl, I love these stories of her unfolding!



  4. Kim on August 9, 2012 at 9:28 pm

    Congratulations “Dad!”



  5. Marriana Leach on August 10, 2012 at 1:14 pm

    Wooo!!! Way to go, Lena! (:



  6. Hollie on August 11, 2012 at 10:16 pm

    My eyes are full of tears and a smile on my face. So special. God is so good!



  7. Petite Diva on August 13, 2012 at 10:49 am

    “But something- maybe they missed the humidity- made them go all Lord of the Flies on us. ” – This had me laughing so hard!



  8. Phoebe on August 14, 2012 at 1:08 pm

    Dear Matt, Have a blessed trip! God continues to encourage and bless us with miracles, praised be His name!



  9. Betsy Black on August 18, 2012 at 8:41 pm

    I am thrilled to hear Lena said “Dad”. I have a beautiful six year old niece with partial ACC, and she has only said a handful of words in her life, but they’ve always been at the appropriate time. What a blessing! I am so excited for all of you.



We made it back to the beautiful hot mess that is Fayetteville. We ditched the St. Louis stopover on the return trip and opted to push through the drive back, walking in the door at midnight- 17.5 hours later. So that must be what a hangover feels like.

Hazel & Anders have been perfect angels since we have been home, only serving by way of juxtaposition to reinforce just exactly how unruly they had been. After three weeks, you kind of forget what your kids are like when they’re happy. They loved the time in Michigan, and we crafted such great memories. But something- maybe they missed the humidity- made them go all Lord of the Flies on us. We just sit around and laugh and love and enjoy the peace- just like the good ole times…4 weeks ago.

I am headed to Bozeman, Montana this weekend for a flyfishing trip. My life is not as cool as that last sentence implies, but it’s true, I am going. To all of you men folk who dream and drool of such a trip, I am sorry; I am kind of like the 3-year old with the Super Bowl ticket. Someone else deserves this more. But my father-in-law invited me, and well, I did take his daughter away, so I thought it was the least I could do. I’ll try to be sure to post pictures of me with a fish that someone else probably caught, but hey that’s the power of assumption. If I hold it in a picture, you’ll assume I had something to do with its getting to the boat.

And I’ll go ahead and let you in on something I’ve only told everyone that would listen and even some that did not. Lena said, “dad”. It’s her first word, and you could probably win an argument that it was dod not dad, but I’m taking it and I’ll punch you in the mouth if you even try to argue. She did it on purpose, twice when I came into the picture.

She may never do it again, but then again she didn’t have to at all.

9 Comments

  1. Susan on August 9, 2012 at 8:17 pm

    BEAUTIFUL!! Made me smile really big!! I continue to read and love your blog!! Bless your sweet family. Lena is beautiful. I love seeing the progress of her development.
    Always,
    Susan



  2. BarbaraP on August 9, 2012 at 8:51 pm

    How awesome for Lena to say Dad. Enjoy your trip!



  3. Stefanie on August 9, 2012 at 9:11 pm

    Well, that certainly made me cry. Precious girl, I love these stories of her unfolding!



  4. Kim on August 9, 2012 at 9:28 pm

    Congratulations “Dad!”



  5. Marriana Leach on August 10, 2012 at 1:14 pm

    Wooo!!! Way to go, Lena! (:



  6. Hollie on August 11, 2012 at 10:16 pm

    My eyes are full of tears and a smile on my face. So special. God is so good!



  7. Petite Diva on August 13, 2012 at 10:49 am

    “But something- maybe they missed the humidity- made them go all Lord of the Flies on us. ” – This had me laughing so hard!



  8. Phoebe on August 14, 2012 at 1:08 pm

    Dear Matt, Have a blessed trip! God continues to encourage and bless us with miracles, praised be His name!



  9. Betsy Black on August 18, 2012 at 8:41 pm

    I am thrilled to hear Lena said “Dad”. I have a beautiful six year old niece with partial ACC, and she has only said a handful of words in her life, but they’ve always been at the appropriate time. What a blessing! I am so excited for all of you.