yes, i enjoy it.

i like escaping for a few days with my girls.

spreading out all of my supplies without worrying about little fingers "helping" me or feeling guilty for making a creative mess.

not being on a schedule or looking at a clock all weekend.

but what i like the most is this.

them clamoring over their books.

looking to see what new pages i finished.

seeing nicklaus actually reading the journaling for the first time and remembering the stories.

getting excited when they see picutres of mimi, gigi, and pop pop.

exchanging books to see what memories are in each others.

they are boys.

they don't ask to see their books.

they don't say "that's cool".

their expressions and excitement are enough.

i enjoy doing it...

for them.

 

 

caught the last rays of daylight tonight when i got home.

tom had the littles out running around.

sam came running up to tom to help him out.

of the two...

tom got the better deal.

 

not there.

i know that they went on an airboat ride.

that they climbed to the canopy walk.

middle played catcher at his basesball game.

big played with a neighbor.

little took a nap.

a four man mario cart wii tournament ensued before dinner at kazu's.

but i am here.

reliving the memories.

looking at pictures of pudgy toddler legs and rubber band wrists.

when i get home they will look so big to me after spending the weekend with pictures of them from 2,5,7 years ago.

wondering how the heck they grow up so fast...

and are still so little.

 

this morning we caught the sunrise in san diego.

sunset over the bay.

2501 miles.

we enjoyed our days.

missed our boys.

welcomed with hugs and missed yous.

homemade signs and whatcha bring us?

home in time for bath, books and bed.

back to reality.

fully recharged.

home.

 

tom loved the elephants.

baby panda for me.

we had requests for text pictures as well.

sam wanted to see the koalas.

nicklaus wanted anything poisonous.

charlie was happy to see all the random tapir and red tree kangaroo pictures.

one big thing checked off my list.

unlike any other zoo i have visited.

hope to be with my boys when they check it off theirs.