Nashville 2017

My sister Mandy and brother-in-law Erik recently welcomed a new addition - Amelia Lane Haugen, or "Millie".  She is the most precious little bundle of joy and I just had to go meet her.  Mandy and her family live in Nashville, quite conveniently literal minutes from Jordan's parents, so I was super excited to make a trip up to Tennessee to visit them all.  Isla and I booked our flights, and Jordan planned for an exciting boys weekend at home.  Mimi even decided at the last minute to fly in and surprise Isla.  Everything was all planned and I was excited for a fun trip.

However, as we all know, things don't always go according to plan.  Right before bedtime the night before we were set to leave Isla started to complain that she didn't feel well.  I didn't pay much attention, because after all - she's eight, and I hear this pretty often...

Especially

on a Sunday night, or right before a big test.  We took her up to bed not thinking much of it, until as we were getting ready to walk out of her room she vomited all over her bed... and room... and bathroom...  I took her downstairs to get cleaned up while Jordan took care of the real dirty work (

thank god for Jordan).  

I was hoping that it was a quick thing - Isla tends to get sick and get over it

extremely

quickly.  Unfortunately this was not the case.  She continued to get sick throughout the night - about once every hour.  I think at 2AM is when I finally came to the realization that she would not be able to go.

The next morning came and I made the hard decision to leave my baby and head out on my own.  Obviously I have

total

faith that Jordan could handle it all, but I felt bad leaving that all to him and even worse leaving Isla when I felt like she needed me.  Jordan promised to take Isla to urgent care, and that made me feel a little better.  Upon landing in Nashville I got the text that Isla had strep

AND

the flu.  But luckily the doctors had given her a lot of meds and she was already starting to feel much better.  I was still missing my little travel buddy but I was determined to make the most of my trip.

Mandy and Mom picked me up from the airport and we headed out to the mall for some shopping just as sweet Isla and Jordan were in the early release pick up line at school to get Holden.

That evening we met up with MaryAnn and enjoyed dinner at the famous Loveless Cafe before heading to the Cheekwood Christmas Light Display.  

The next day we did some more shopping at a really cute local Mom and Pop Toy store.

Later that evening we headed out to the Fife's for dinner.  I can't believe I didn't take any pictures, but MaryAnn and Jerry were the perfect hosts with delicious Mexican fare and margaritas.  We even got to see Jordan's little brother Marshall and Kenzie as they came over and shared dinner with us.  Its so nice having both sides of my family so close, and even nicer that Mandy and my in-laws have such a good relationship.  I truly hit the lottery when I married Jordan.

Of course I couldn't leave without snapping some cute pictures of the kids next to the tree.

While Millie was a

perfect

little model, Henry wasn't have ANY of it...

I think these pictures are cuter than anything posed though... Does it get much better than this little pout mouth?!?!

Henry perked way up when presented with his train...

getting only briefly upset when the train fell off the track.

It was a great trip full of snuggles, good food, companionship and Christmas cheer.

Of course I'm sad that Isla couldn't make it, but know that we will all be back very soon.