Thursday

 I love this picture. Confusion on Colby's face & pure joy on Tyler's. I love the way Tyler loves Colby...

 The excitement builds early in the morning. We rush around gathering clothes, finding shoes, packing snacks and lunch. I threaten too many times that the plan will be aborted if they don't follow directions. As we pull away from the takeout window with a hot steamy coffee and a couple of bagels, the radio goes up and we settle in. This is our adventure day, Thursday.

A weekly day off from school (a bonus of afternoon kindergarten) falls perfectly after Wednesday, the day I work and arrive home well after they fall asleep. The more I am away, the more I crave everything about them. Their hair, their laughs, their smiles, their hugs. I don't invite anyone to join us - unusual for me, but oh so needed. I need them to myself. And as we zoom down the highway to the next destination, I am so content. All my babies with me, an adventure in itself.

I am so lucky.

Going Back

 It had been almost 2 months since we went back to New Jersey. 2 months too long to see people you love...and who love you. The thing about living far away from family is that it sucks. It does. There is no way around it. Birthday parties are missed, park playdates are impossible, and Sunday dinners are smaller.

But there is a silver lining.

 The visits. The visits are awesome. The time together is suddenly upgraded to almost Holiday status. Kids are hugged tighter, the camera clicks away during the ordinary moments that are now extraordinary. Families change plans and drop everything to meet at the zoo for an hour, or grab a bite at the Diner.

It almost makes up for the time apart.

Almost.

We are Family

So much family time in the last few weeks...awesome, just plain awesome!