Just the Way You Are

No Place Like Home

"Mommy, can we do more guitar?" Sutton came into my room as I was folding laundry.

"Let me get this laundry away first," I smiled as she climbed onto the bed and began strumming. "dad comes home tonight, if you wanna learn guitar from anyone - dad is your man." She shook her head.

"Daddy taught me piano, you can teach me guitar. You know how to play it." I hung up a few shirts, her persistence was humoring me.

"I would love to practice with you Sutton - but you know, dad has taught me more guitar since we've been together. I only used to play a few songs." She smiled, listening to my story and asked what the first song I learned was. "It's called You Belong With Me," I picked up my acoustic from the case and tuned it up, "Aunt Ali learned it first actually." I strummed the intro

"You're on the phone with your girlfriend
She's upset, she's going off about something that you said
'Cause she doesn't get your humor like I do.
I'm in the room, it's a typical Tuesday night.
I'm listening to the kind of music she doesn't like.
And she'll never know your story like I do. "

Sutton's eyes were sparkling just like Hunter's, "Mommy I like that. Can Aunt Ali sing like you?"

"No, not quite, but Aunt Ali hasn't played music in a long time. She used to play guitar and drums." I smiled thinking about the noisy nights of instrument practice at my house growing up. I showed Sutton the intro again and she practiced it for close to two hours as I made dinner. Just as we were tidying up our plates, the key turned in the door and the kids barreled over to see Hunter.

After hugs, hellos and kisses, I got Hunter a plate and the kids all sat around listening to his tour stories. "Were you all good for mom?" They nodded and smiled, he looked to me for validation.

"Mommy taught me a new song!" Sutton beamed and ran to get her guitar.

Hunter smiled and looked at me, "Yes I took her over to Gear Closet after we got home. She got an A on her math test." Hunter wrapped me in a side hug as we watched Sutton strum the intro.

"Mommy can you sing the words." I nodded and we played through the intro. Hunter, Easton and Beckett applauded. "I'll learn the words. Mommy can you print them out?" I nodded and told her I would. The evening was spent quietly inside as a family, cuddled up watching Finding Dory for the billionth time as thunder rumbled across the city.

Hunter and I pulled back out duvet, he thanked me for all I did while he was gone. "Babe," I started, "I appreciate that you're appreciative, but you don't need to thank me. It's what I do - I'm a mom, thanks to you," I kissed his cheek, "I'm a singer, also thanks to you. You should really just be thanking yourself." I laughed, "Sutton earned that guitar. I know she hasn't been the best at math - but she got an A on a test." He smiled and nodded. "Also, she learned that song this afternoon." His eyes got wide.

"Actually - and she learned the whole first verse?" I nodded, telling him how she practiced for two hours straight.

"She's kind of a music nerd like you." We caught up, Hunter raved about the Garth shows and how his wife, Trisha would bring goodies and homemade foods regularly. All I remember is falling asleep in his arms, happy to have him home again.

It was pretty wonderful that Hunter's touring ended the week Easton and Sutton were home for spring break. "I say we go on an adventure!" Hunter called from the kitchen. He dished up pancakes and french toast as I came into the kitchen. "What do you say, Jen?" His eyes were bright and excited, making it impossible to argue.

"What may you have planned?" I asked quietly running my hand under his shirt along the waist of his pajama bottoms, walking by him to get to the fridge.

He cocked an eye brow, a sexy smirk came across his face before he whispered."I'll get you later," he kissed me, "we should pack up the car and go somewhere." He looked at me like he had a plan and I nodded. The kids cheered from the table and dove into their pancakes. Hunter said we would just be gone for the day, so we got dressed and headed out.

"Any clues dad?" Sutton asked, somewhat impatiently.

"There will be water, and it's not far. Maybe thirty minutes." She looked puzzled, knowing we weren't going to the beach. I looked at her and said I had no idea where we were going either. As he promised, we arrived after the thirty minute drive and parked along side the reservoir, "All right - we are going on a guided fishing trip!" I smiled at the enthusiasm from the boys and laughed a little at the look of shock on Sutton's face.

"Come on sweetie," I said helping her fit her a life jacket, "this will be fun. Mommy has lived here for almost ten years and never knew we could fish here." The boys were excited and once we all had life jackets on, we climbed onto the boat. The kids learned how to fish, and although we released most of what we caught, Hunter saved a bass and a catfish to take home. We were on the water for close to five hours and I loaded up the kids back in the car as Hunter had the fish cut and gutted.

The later part of the afternoon was spent in the kitchen with Hunter cooking up the fish as I scrolled through Instagram, "Are you aware of how many of your fans think there's still a chance that you will marry them?" Hunter looked up from cutting the fish, a smirk across his face and he shook his head. "Look at this one, 'HuntersGirl090991', that's a bit much," scrolling through her profile, "I should follow her. Freak her out."

"Jenna you're so weird," he laughed, "I never pay much attention to that stuff." I nodded and decided to follow this particular profile.

"I know, but you're a guy, you just look for cars and music stuff. Similar other scenarios - there's like, this double standard." I said, "Ouch, she blocked me.... Anyway, if I had a fan meet and greet and someone touched my butt, you would probably lose it. But if a girl touched your butt, and I flipped out, everyone would just call me crazy."

"Who touched your butt?" I heard Easton's little voice. I covered my eyes.

"Nobody touched anybody." Hunter tried not to laugh as I filled Easton's water and sent him back to watch the movie. "Okay, new topic of conversation." Hunter nodded and we talked about what was up next.

"I always have this pile of songs that just don't fit the mold." He slid the fish into the oven to bake and flopped the oven mitts onto the counter. "I mean, a few of them would sound wonderful if you sang them." He nudged me.

"Nope, this is your year. I'm momming this year. Beckett and Easton asked start soccer again." Hunter raised his eyebrows and nodded. "Have you thought about giving any of those songs to anyone else?" He shrugged, explaining how they were songs about the kids and our life that wouldn't make sense to give them out. "Well, you could always let some singles go, what did you call it before we had Becks? Just making noise?" He smiled and nodded.