Hoofprints: Surprise Visit

We had a surprise visitor this month. I was minding my own business at home, when my mom unexpectedly knocked on my door. This isn't unusual, as she stops by very frequently these days. I told her to come in and went back to attending miss Evie. I heard her open the door again but didn't know why. Turns out that she was letting my baby bro, Aaron, into the house. He came around the corner and I just sort of...well...I stared at him. It took me a moment to process that he had to fly here all the way from California in order to be standing in my house. You have to understand that he lived around us for so long, that sometimes it doesn't really feel like he's gone and moved to the coast.

So Aaron got to visit for about four or five days and it was really great to see him. The kids had a great time seeing him too. They miss him. Uncle Aaron was in their life for pretty much always until he moved and got married. When it was time for him to leave, my kiddos were actually pretty bummed. They wanted to know why he had to go back again. I tried to explain that he is married to Aunt Shelly now and they live there, but they aren't really sure why he's not coming back. The good news is that we got to see him for awhile and celebrate his birthday while he was here. The bad news is that we probably won't see him again for another year. It's always weird for me to think that he isn't around. It's funny how you take things for granted through life. I used to be able to call him for help with a flat tire or something in a pinch. Now, he's living his life half a country away. I'm happy for him though. You can't always stay at home forever. While he was here, he gave Alex his birthday present - a Star Lord mask and gun set from Guardians of the Galaxy (favorite movie). He was pretty pumped about this and wears it daily. He also shoots everyone with his Nerf Star Lord gun every day too. Which isn't annoying at all. We had a big BBQ where everyone ate too much and felt horrible later for doing so. But that's sort of our 'thing' in the family. I will always hear my dad belch and tell everyone how badly he overate while rubbing his stomach on these occasions. My dad was the other reason Aaron came down. He hadn't visited dad's grave since the burial over a year ago. I can't imagine how rough that was on the kid. I go to his grave fairly often to talk to dad. We all miss him on these kind of fun occasions.

It was great having Aaron here and we hope to see him (and hopefully Michelle) again soon.