The babies had their first flight, and were able to meet my Grandma for the first time! I can’t even explain how much this trip meant to me. I’m posting it on here for no reason other than to document it in some way. And also to remind all of us how special and important these moments are, because it’s easy to forget. It wasn’t easy getting there – flights are so expensive that we joked we could have flown to Paris for less – but I’m SO glad we went!
My sister Tahni flew with me to help with the babies (Blake needed to stay home to work, and we thought it would be a fun thing to do together anyways!) The babies did AMAZING on the plane, and I learned a lot about traveling! I promise I’ll have a post with travel tips for you coming soon.
I have been crazy lucky to have the most amazing Grandmas. I’ve always known that, I felt it from the time I was really small! I’m planning to take the girls to Napa this summer to meet my mom’s mom, but this trip was to see my dad’s mom in Arcata, California. Growing up we moved houses every 1-2 years, so her house was always what we considered “home.” My dad and his brothers grew up in that house.
I love the story of how they got the house. My Papa saw the house and decided he wanted it, so he knocked on the door and asked the guy if he could buy it. The guy probably thought my Papa was crazy and told him no, but my Papa kept going back and knocking :). Finally one day the guy gave in, and they’ve lived there ever since! The house just feels magic when you walk in, it’s always spotless, smells fresh and amazing (my grandma has some secret tricks for this!) and now that my Papa is gone my Grandma constantly burns a candle for him and can always feel him there.
Everyone seems to gather in her kitchen, which I love. We’ve spent countless hours in there – sitting, talking, eating, and drinking – whether it’s her “Cheer” or my Papa’s homemade root beer.
All of the babies in our family get bathed in her kitchen sink – my uncle did when he was a baby, and then me and all of my siblings and cousins did too. So putting my babies in there for a bath was such a special moment for me, and of course we had to get pictures! When we got back from our trip, my dad jokingly asked if we had “baptized the babies in the sink.” I told him of course we did – it’s a rite of passage in the Hawkins family.
We mostly stayed at the house and walked around Arcata, reminiscing of the houses and spots we loved as kids. Some things are gone – the video store we loved to walk to with our cousins to rent movies is now a natural history museum – but it’s comforting to see the things that haven’t changed. We shopped, ate at my favorite sandwich place ever (Hole in the Wall), and tried coffee and treats from a few new spots. 
But most of the trip, we just sat around my Grandma’s house and played with the babies, fed them, and held them. When they napped, we just talked and talked. It was perfect.
My Aunt and Uncle came over to see the babies. I think it’s extra special for them, because they had twin boys (I talk about it a bit in this post).
It’s so refreshing to be with family. I don’t care what I wear (notice I didn’t link anything in this post!), I can truly relax, and I can be myself with the people who know me best. So I guess this post is just a reminder to take the time to spend a few days with the ones who love you most. I promise, it’s better than Paris ;).
xx
Jen
OOTD
